Camping chairs and spare batteries: a load of real estate agents in Dubai up to 24 hours on site.

In the wake of the Covid pandemic, demand for real estate in the country has steadily increased as the UAE has become a destination for high-net-worth individuals.

Dubai resident Jeff Kuruvilla always has a list of items in his car - a folding chair, portable charger, water bottles and snacks. A Positive Properties agent needs this because they spend 12 to 18 hours standing in line in front of real estate offices at least two or three times a month. "I have two of each kind because often my colleagues are in line with me," he said.

Demand for real estate in the country has steadily increased since the Covid pandemic as the UAE has become an attractive destination for high-net-worth individuals. Over the past two years, Kuruvilla has noticed that the time he spends in lines in front of real estate offices has also increased. "We were in line in 2013-2014," he recalls. "Now, since the Covid pandemic, we have the same queuing system for many projects that are in high demand. In fact, I waited up to 24 hours to launch several projects, including Nakheel, Nshama and Dubai South, recently. "

When he arrives on site, the first step is to find the toilets. "It's a different place every time, so we have to coordinate with the security guards who always kindly allow us to use the restroom," he says.

Last month, real estate agents and investors waited for up to 13 hours in front of Nakheel's offices ahead of the launch of the much-awaited Palm Jebel Ali project, and many were unable to get their desired properties due to the rush. Jeff always insists on going with a coworker. "It's easier to spend time in line talking to friends," he says. Laura Ahmad, senior director at B1 Properties, agrees. "I usually go with coworkers," she says. "But we don't socialize much because the stress of getting housing is always on my mind. "

She adds, however, that she has reached a point in her career where such queues have become rare. "Now I'd say every quarter there's at least one launch that's worth waiting in line for," she says. However, she adds that for many, the wait doesn't end when the doors open. "Agents usually start lining up hours before the launch," she says. "Once it starts it usually takes about 2-3 hours to get to you. However, many are waiting until the evening to check for cancellations.

Many real estate agents say queues now are very different from those that were common in 2014. "At the time, Dubai was emerging from the global housing downturn with revised mortgage regulations and a number of new real estate laws that supported investors, contributing to a surge in demand and prices," says Madhav Dhar, founder and CEO of ZāZEN Properties. "However, the main reason for the long queues now is the lack of high-end and luxury real estate in Dubai. This shortage has been exacerbated by a significant influx of affluent individuals who have chosen Dubai as their preferred place of residence over the past 2 years. "

There is a growing demand for exclusive sea-view villas or spacious apartments located near Dubai's beaches or in the central tourist or business district, he said. He says real estate on the Dubai islands is expected for the same reason. "They represent one of the last remaining onshore land banks in Dubai," he says. Laura adds that there are a few more launches to look forward to with great anticipation. "Some of the most anticipated projects in the near future include the further launch of villas in the remaining Palm Jebel Ali palms," she says. "The upcoming launch of the City Walk central plaza by Meeras is also generating significant interest. We are also keeping an eye on Ellington and their upcoming project in RAK after the successful launch of Porto Playa, which sold out on the same day. "

Changes in the system According to Tina Angelo of A1 Properties, the queuing system needs to be changed. "The longest queue was seen at the launch of Emaar projects earlier," she says. "Now Emaar has a reservation system that prevents queues, but with other developers we still face queues." She says the queuing system can be easily avoided. "If an electronic tokenization system is implemented, it could be beneficial for everyone. The recent real estate launches in Dubai and Meraas are good examples." Madhav also agrees, saying his company has taken a similar approach. "We have implemented a waiting list system for our properties, offering interested buyers an efficient and organized way to get the properties they want," he says. "This approach not only ensures a smoother interaction with our customers, but also highlights the continued attractiveness of the real estate market in Dubai. "