Emaar, DAMAC & Sobha Realty Look Beyond Dubai with Bold Global Moves

By Nazish Shah • Sat Sep 27 2025

Dubai’s leading property developers are increasingly looking beyond the emirate’s borders, pursuing aggressive international expansion strategies to diversify revenue streams and reduce dependence on local market cycles. Emaar, DAMAC, and Sobha Realty have all benefited from soaring Dubai property prices and foreign investment, but are now casting wider nets across global markets and even new industries.

Emaar, developer of the Burj Khalifa, reported Dh46 billion in domestic property sales in the first half of 2025, up 46% year-on-year. With a Dh146 billion project backlog and low debt levels, the group has the confidence to look outward. Founder Mohamed Alabbar told the Financial Times: “The board is exploring a global acquisition strategy,” targeting the US, India, China, and Europe. Rather than building operations from scratch, Emaar favors acquiring established players. Market analyst Josh Gilbert (eToro) noted: “Buying into established developers offers a quicker route to market. It reduces project lead times, helps navigate regulatory environments, and gives Emaar access to supply chains and local know-how.” However, past ventures in Egypt and Saudi Arabia remind investors that international expansion carries risks.

DAMAC, led by Hussain Sajwani, is diversifying beyond real estate with a $20 billion plan to build data centers across Texas, Arizona, and Oklahoma. At the same time, it continues luxury real estate projects abroad, from DAMAC Tower Nine Elms in London to a Mandarin Oriental-branded resort in the Maldives. DAMAC’s partnerships with Versace, Cavalli, and de GRISOGONO further position the company to attract affluent global buyers while expanding into high-growth sectors.

Sobha Realty is also going global, with projects in Dallas, Virginia, and a long-term focus on Texas markets including Austin and Houston. The company has opened a U.S. office with a target of $1 billion in first-year sales and a $10 billion goal over the next decade. Its fully integrated “backward integration” model ensures quality control across every stage of construction. Sobha also issued a $750m green sukuk, the largest by any real estate developer, to support its expansion and sustainability ambitions.

In contrast, Nakheel and Meraas continue to focus primarily on Dubai’s depth. Nakheel is developing Dubai Islands and the expansion of Palm Jebel Ali, while Meraas, part of Dubai Holding since 2020, is consolidating its land bank with lifestyle-oriented projects such as The Acres, Nad Al Sheba Gardens, City Walk, and Jumeira Bay.

The international push highlights a pivotal moment for Dubai’s property industry. While some developers see global expansion as essential, others are doubling down on Dubai’s resilience. The winners will be those able to combine Dubai’s strong track record with smart acquisitions, disciplined diversification, and global partnerships, defining who emerges as a true international player in the years ahead.