Bahrain continues to be an attractive location for firms looking to setup a base in the GCC. Particularly as the region’s largest economy, Saudi Arabia, continues to open up. Bahrain will increasingly be considered as a hub location given its direct access to Saudi Arabia via the King Fahd causeway and growing number of direct flights from its new terminal in Q4 2019.

For Dubai the tourism market has historically been a strategically important sector. In 2017 it is estimated that the sector contributed over AED150bn to GDP (4.6% of GDP), and provided almost 570,000 jobs (4.8% of total employment).

Healthy tenant demand, relative good value and an attractive lifestyle offer will ensure price growth in markets like Paris, Berlin and Madrid comfortably exceeds 5% in 2019.

With the new UAE regulations, real estate investors can receive a five-year residence visa when they purchase a property worth over Dh5 million (for both secondary and new properties over Dh5 million and Dh10 million).