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Signal · Geopolitical Risk

‎Real estate sales down 50%: Alabbar

Argaam - UAE News Trade press Published 22nd September 2026 UAE

What the source reported

Source-reported

‎<p ><span ><span ><img src="https://argaamplus.s3.amazonaws.com/a731daa7-c813-48a0-86d8-f6666ce4c6cf.png" ><br> <span >Mohamed Alabbar, Managing Director of Emaar Properties PJSC</span></span></span></p> <hr> <p ><span ><span >Mohamed Alabbar, Managing Director of <a href="https://www.argaam.com/ae-en/companies/dfm/emaar/overview" target="_blank">Emaar Properties PJSC (EMAAR)</a>, said hotel occupancy rates currently stand at nearly 60%, while sales at shopping centers slipped about 15%, even as visitor numbers held steady. He described this as a natural post-cycle correction, following five years of consistent 15% annual growth.</span></span></p> <p ><br> <span ><span >In an interview with CNBC Arabia, Alabbar explained that real estate sales were also impacted, experiencing a decline that could reach up to 50%. However, collections and home cancellation rates have not been affected, maintaining the same levels as before the current tensions.</span></span></p> <p ><br> <span ><span >On the recently approved exceptional dividend from Emaar Properties, Alabbar said that the payout was the result of consistent six-year efforts to control sales growth, construction activity, and reduce debt. He added that after assessing cash flows and sales at the onset of the current regional tensions, liquidity remained strong with additional available cash, prompting the company to allocate a portion to shareholders.</span></span></p> <p ><br> <span ><span >Alabbar confirmed there have been no supply chain delays and stated that several projects will be handed over ahead of schedule. He pointed out that the company resumed tendering for contractors after a temporary pause due to port disruptions following the outbreak of war.</span></span></p> <p ><br> <span ><span >Regarding projects in Syria, he said that all anticipated projects—estimated at $15 billion—will be signed during the first week of October.</span></span></p> <p ><br> <span ><span >He added that investment in Syria is a well-calculated, attractive risk, noting that stability there has markedly improved over the past 22 months and the country is currently in an excellent position.</span></span></p>

Publication
Argaam - UAE News · Trade Publication
Published
22nd September 2026
Original report
argaam.com

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What ProcIntel recorded

ProcIntel-derived
Category
Geopolitical Risk
Geography
UAE
Organisations
None identified
Collected
22nd September 2026 · 15:58

Initial assessment ProcIntel's automatic, provisional read of this individual Signal -- Initial Significance and Initial Confidence, computed deterministically before any Event extraction or human review.

A provisional, automatically computed reading of this individual Signal, before Event extraction or human review. Not a final rating.

Significance 2 · Moderate
Confidence 2 · Low

Initial Significance Moderate (20.0/100). Strongest contributor: Procurement Impact (12.0/30 points). Limiting factor: Geographic Breadth (0.0/10 points). Initial Confidence Low (26.5/100, data sufficiency: Partial). Strongest contributor: Source Authority (20.0/40 points). Limiting factor: Corroboration (2.5/25 points).

Strongest contributor
Procurement Impact
Limiting factor
Geographic Breadth