Dubai apartments deliver highest returns in Asian real estate market: report

Apartment prices in Dubai have delivered the highest returns for property investors across major Asian cities, with local values doubling in the last three years, according to a November 2025 report by Singapore-based moneylender Quick Loan.

The study, which examined apartment price changes, rental income potential, and macroeconomic factors across several major Asian cities, highlights stark divergences in the region’s real estate fortunes.

As per the report, Dubai stands out, with its apartment prices yielding the highest returns, cementing its position as a global investment hub.

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“Dubai ranks first among Asian cities for real estate returns. Apartment prices here doubled in three years, jumping from $2,812 per square meter to $5,663. Since the inflation is only around 1%, owners keep almost all of that gain too. Dubai property investors also have strong rental income, with yields reaching 7.5% per year, the highest rate in Asia,” the moneylender company’s study mentioned.

A financial expert from the moneylender company in Singapore commented on the study:

“The Asian real estate market is really popular among Western investors right now, especially in Dubai, where there has been a big construction boom lately. This made it easy even for smaller investors to buy apartments. And with Dubai’s growing tourism, these apartments can be rented out short-term all year round.”

Meanwhile, despite a recent 80% price jump, Istanbul currently offers the cheapest apartments among the surveyed cities, averaging $2,240 per square metre.

“Istanbul comes second as the most competitively priced market in Asia. Apartments that used to cost $1,252 per square meter now go for $2,238. Despite this 80% price increase, Istanbul remains one of the most affordable cities to purchase an apartment. Rental properties are also in high demand here, and investors can expect 7% yields, like in Dubai,” read the report.

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Major Chinese metropolitan areas are ranked among the worst choices for investors, with Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai collectively registering value losses between 22% and 30% over the three-year period.

The research factored in inflation and mortgage rates to provide context on market conditions, concluding that the stability and growth experienced in the UAE’s real estate sector have far outpaced its regional peers.