Sharjah sets a record for real estate transactions in January 2025, with 11,116 deals totaling $1.91 Billion. In January 2024, the local real estate market saw 5500 transactions worth $1.06 billion, marking a significant increase in activity over the past year.

A major factor in attracting investments was the 2022 decision to lift restrictions on foreign ownership of real estate. Previously, foreigners could only lease properties for long-term periods of 25, 50, or 100 years, and any actions related to the property required the landlord’s approval.

Another crucial step was the establishment of the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre, modeled after Dubai’s RDC. This helped resolve long-standing issues such as lengthy court proceedings in civil courts, the lack of specialized dispute resolution mechanisms, difficulties with eviction, and unjustified rent increases.

The surge in buyers primarily came from Dubai, as many major employers are based there, but real estate prices in the emirate remain high. Sharjah, located just a few kilometers away, offers properties at an average of 60% lower prices.

Real Estate price comparison across the UAE:

Emirate

Average apartment price (AED per m²) / USD

Average house price (AED per m²)

Difference compared to Sharjah

Sharjah

13,941 / $3795

10,714 $2917

-

Dubai

22,620 / $6158

14,819  / $4034

+62% (apartments), +38% (houses)

Abu Dhabi

19,210 / $5230

15,651 / $4261

+38% (apartments), +46% (houses)

Ajman

9500 / $2586

7800 / $2123

-32% (apartments), -27% (houses)

Ras Al Khaimah

11,000 / $2995

8500 / $2314

-21% (apartments), -20% (houses)

As seen in the table, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah offer even lower prices than Sharjah, but their markets have not experienced the same demand surge. This is because foreign ownership has been allowed there for a long time, leading to a stabilized market. In contrast, Sharjah’s market remains relatively new and continues to attract investors.

However, the key factor driving Sharjah’s real estate boom is its proximity to Dubai. Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost and most remote emirate in the UAE, while Ajman, though closer, is less developed than Sharjah and is considered a budget-friendly option.

Experts predict that Ajman will be the next hotspot in the real estate market once Sharjah reaches its full potential and prices align more closely with those in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.