The UAE Led Russian Buyers' Overseas Property Deals in Q3 2026
Between July and September 2026, the UAE accounted for 37% of overseas property deals by Russian buyers in the NF Group dataset, according to figures published by RBC Real Estate on 13 October. Thailand followed with 25%, Georgia with 17% and Turkey with 12%. Mauritius and Oman shared fifth place at 4.5% each.
We read this ranking as a signal of international visibility. It does not tell us how strong the UAE market is, and the gap between those two readings matters for anyone planning a purchase.
What the 37% measures
The figure is the UAE's share of foreign deals made by Russian buyers within the data NF Group covers. It is not the share of Russians among buyers of UAE homes. It is not the UAE's share of the global property market. It is not growth in the number of transactions either.
The publication gives no absolute deal count, no purchase values, no sample size and no methodology. So the careful reading is that the UAE led the distribution of deals captured by this dataset. A statement such as "Russians bought 37% more in the UAE" has no support in the source.
Two quarters with the same 37% could hide very different volumes. A ranking of shares tells us where attention went, and says nothing about how many keys changed hands.
Why buyers choose these destinations
Anna Larina, director of the foreign and resort property department at NF Group, links demand to friendly destinations, direct flights and visa-free entry. That is an expert's view of the factors behind the choice. It does not prove what drove this particular result, and we treat it as context.
The top five also show how different the destinations are. Thailand and Mauritius are lifestyle markets. Georgia and Turkey are close and easy to reach. Oman is a newer option in the region. The UAE sits in the first position with a mix of services, flights and a deep market.
The market behind the ranking
For scale, Dubai registered more than 270,000 property transactions in 2025, with a combined value of AED 917 billion, which is 20% higher by value than the year before (Dubai Media Office, January 2026). This describes the whole market. It is not a statistic about Russian buyers.
Earlier data shows the same direction. In the first half of 2025, Dubai recorded 125,538 transactions worth about AED 431 billion, 26% more deals than in the same period of 2024 (Dubai Media Office, July 2025).
For off-plan buyers there is a separate point. In the third quarter of 2025, primary off-plan sales made up 76% of Dubai residential market activity, as reported by Khaleej Times. That figure comes from another period and a different source, so it should not be set next to the NF Group ranking as if they measured the same thing. It does show how central projects under construction are to the city.
What the ranking does not tell a buyer
The 37% is for the UAE as a whole. It has no breakdown by emirate. We cannot say from it that Russian demand sits in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah, and any claim that the ranking proves interest in a specific project would go beyond the data.
It also leaves unstated whether Russian buyers purchased new-build off-plan units or ready homes. And it carries no forecast for prices, rents or resale.
A popular country does not mean a sound project. Before buying, a buyer should check these points separately:
The developer's delivery record and the handover schedule. The payment plan and what happens if a milestone slips. Escrow arrangements and how funds are released. The liquidity of the location and the competing stock already on the market.
Golden Visa: check the current rules
Investors who consider residency alongside a purchase should note what the UAE Government portal lists for real estate: a minimum of AED 2 million and a five-year residency term (updated 28 July 2026). Conditions change, so they should be confirmed against the official rules and with the competent authority before any decision. A busy market does not replace the visa criteria.
How we would use this data
For buyers looking at Dubai, Abu Dhabi or RAK, the practical step is to move from the national figure to local evidence. Our team asks brokers and developers for transaction data, rental yields, supply pipelines and resale records for the specific community and building. A country-level share is a starting point for questions, and the answers have to come from the project level.
When a developer cites the 37% in a sales presentation, the useful reply is a request for the numbers underneath it: how many deals, what value, which emirate, which product type.
FAQ
What does the 37% in the NF Group ranking mean? It is the UAE's share of foreign property deals by Russian buyers in the NF Group dataset for July to September 2026. It is not a growth rate and not the share of Russians in the UAE market.
Does the ranking show which emirate Russians prefer? No. The figure covers the UAE as a whole, with no split between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
Does a top ranking mean the UAE is a safe choice for off-plan buying? No. The ranking says nothing about returns, resale or developer quality. Each project needs its own checks on the developer, payment plan, escrow and delivery schedule.
Our team helps buyers evaluate UAE projects on their own data, starting with the questions a ranking leaves open.
