Which Gulf markets showed improved transparency in the 2026 GRETI?

Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar have all advanced in the 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index over the past decade, showcasing significant improvements in their real estate market transparency.

What factors contributed to the Middle East's transparency gains?

Transparency gains in the Middle East, particularly in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, are largely attributed to government-led digitisation efforts, the establishment of centralised property databases, and stronger standards for listed companies.

How many markets and factors does the GRETI 2026 assess?

The 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index assesses 88 countries and territories and 146 city markets, using 260 transparency factors to determine their ranking across five tiers.

What is the relationship between transparency and capital flows?

The report indicates a clear relationship between transparency and the ability to attract global real estate capital, with Highly Transparent markets experiencing a 64% increase in transaction volumes over the past two years, attracting approximately $1.4 trillion.

What role does technology play in improving real estate transparency?

Technology, including digitised land registries, improved property data access, and the integration of AI tools for decision-making (used by over 90% of investors), is a significant driver of enhanced real estate transparency globally.

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Market·27 September 2026

UAE Markets Advance in JLL-LaSalle Global Real Estate Transparency Index 2026

The 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI) by JLL and LaSalle Investment Management reports significant advancements for Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar in real estate transparency.

The latest Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI) 2026, a biennial report by JLL and LaSalle Investment Management, highlights a growing divide between highly transparent and less transparent global real estate markets. The report, which assesses 88 countries and territories and 146 city markets based on 260 transparency factors, reveals that transparency is a key driver of global real estate capital flows.

The United Kingdom maintains its position as the world's most transparent market, followed by France and Australia. These 13 'Highly Transparent' markets collectively account for 56% of global income-producing real estate and over 80% of direct real estate investment worldwide, attracting approximately $1.4 trillion in capital over the past two years, a 64% increase.

Middle East Progress

The Middle East, alongside Asia Pacific, has shown significant progress in transparency gains. Over the past decade, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar have advanced in the rankings. This improvement is largely attributed to government-led digitisation initiatives, the establishment of centralised property databases, and stronger standards for listed companies.

Notably, Dubai is recognised for having one of the world's most advanced systems for real-time public property data. The report indicates that these gains are increasingly driven by regulatory reform rather than just market maturity, positioning these markets to attract greater global investment.

Key Transparency Drivers

The GRETI 2026 identifies several factors contributing to enhanced transparency globally:

Digitisation: Digital land registries and improved property data access.
AI Integration: Over 90% of investors and occupiers now use AI tools, increasing the demand for high-quality, standardised data.
Sustainability Reporting: Improved building-performance and energy-tracking scores.
Alternative Sectors: Growth of data centres, manufacturing, and infrastructure, which now constitute 20% of global transaction volumes, double their share from a decade ago.
Regulatory Changes: Potential to unlock over $800 billion in additional capital by 2030 through semi-liquid fund structures, requiring greater transparency around valuations and liquidity.

Frequently asked

Questions, answered

Which Gulf markets showed improved transparency in the 2026 GRETI?: Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar have all advanced in the 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index over the past decade, showcasing significant improvements in their real estate market transparency.
What factors contributed to the Middle East's transparency gains?: Transparency gains in the Middle East, particularly in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, are largely attributed to government-led digitisation efforts, the establishment of centralised property databases, and stronger standards for listed companies.
How many markets and factors does the GRETI 2026 assess?: The 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index assesses 88 countries and territories and 146 city markets, using 260 transparency factors to determine their ranking across five tiers.
What is the relationship between transparency and capital flows?: The report indicates a clear relationship between transparency and the ability to attract global real estate capital, with Highly Transparent markets experiencing a 64% increase in transaction volumes over the past two years, attracting approximately $1.4 trillion.
What role does technology play in improving real estate transparency?: Technology, including digitised land registries, improved property data access, and the integration of AI tools for decision-making (used by over 90% of investors), is a significant driver of enhanced real estate transparency globally.

Reported by

Google News — Dubai Property (7d)

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This brief was summarised and rewritten by Gaia Living from public reporting. Figures and details reflect the original sources.

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