Emaar Eyes China Market | Alabbar Confirms Global Expansion Plans

Dubai-based real-estate giant Emaar Properties is signalling its ambition to expand into China’s property market, according to founder and chairman Mohamed Alabbar. At the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Alabbar described China as “very interesting”, though he emphasised that the timing must align with broader market recovery.

Expansion Strategy Beyond the UAE

Currently, Emaar is prioritising growth in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and India. “Expanding into India is our next big step. We have been operating there for 20 years and it is a big market for us,” Alabbar said. The China interest reflects the company’s intent to diversify geography and capitalise on global real-estate opportunities.

Why China? Why Now?

China remains one of the world’s largest real-estate markets, offering long-term scale. Emaar’s earlier MoU with Beijing New Aeropolis Holdings for a UAE Dhs 40.5 billion ($11 billion) project at Beijing Daxing indicated prior interest. While China’s housing sector has faced headwinds, Alabbar noted that once recovery takes hold, the opportunity will be significant.

Implications for Investors

For investors tracking UAE developers with global ambitions, Emaar’s China aspirations mark a strategic pivot:

• A successful entry into China could unlock a large new revenue stream, diversifying beyond the Gulf region.

• For existing UAE assets, this signals that Emaar is evolving from a regional developer to a global platform — which could enhance brand value and support long-term growth in its home market.

• India and Eastern Europe remain active geographies as well, indicating a multi-regional approach rather than a China-only focus.

• Outlook

  While Emaar’s China expansion remains exploratory and subject to conditions, the announcement alone highlights the developer’s global ambition. For Masid Properties’ clients and partners, this development underscores the value of monitoring major UAE-listed developers for international deal-flow and strategic shifts. The key takeaway: Emaar is raising its growth horizon — now counting China among its sights.