Dubai, UAE –17th of April, 2025 – As well-being becomes a defining pillar of modern luxury living, a new class of property buyers is emerging—one that prioritizes balance, intelligent design, and lifestyle-enhancing features alongside traditional factors like location. According to Elite Merit Real Estate analytics, nearly 20% of the company’s recent high-intent buyer inquiries have come from tech entrepreneurs, startup founders, and digital professionals. Their preferences are beginning to influence development strategies across the city, prompting a shift in Dubai’s prime real estate market toward smart homes, flexible live-work layouts, and wellness-focused amenities.
This buyer segment brings with it new expectations—favoring properties equipped for flexible living, integrated with smart technologies, and designed to promote overall well-being. As a result, Dubai’s prime real estate landscape is adapting accordingly, with growing emphasis on smart homes, hybrid live-work spaces, and wellness-oriented amenities.
This shift aligns with broader market dynamics. In the first half of 2024, PropTech startups in the MENA region attracted over $200 million in venture capital across 14 deals—surpassing fintech for the first time. This surge in PropTech investment reflects rising demand for homes that blend innovative technology with lifestyle functionality.
Moreover, the UAE is home to 55% of all PropTech startups in MENA, underlining its position as a regional leader in real estate innovation and its growing appeal to the global tech community. Many of the new buyers are relocating from international innovation hubs such as London, Berlin, Bangalore, and Singapore, drawn by Dubai’s business-friendly environment, tax benefits, and elevated standard of living.
“There’s a clear shift in what luxury means to today’s buyer,” said Elkhan Salikhov, CEO of Elite Merit Real Estate. “Tech-savvy professionals are no longer looking for square footage alone—they’re searching for homes that integrate technology, promote well-being, and support modern, flexible ways of living and working.”
The rising demand for smart, wellness-focused living is also reshaping commercial real estate in Dubai. Buyers and tenants increasingly seek spaces that support hybrid work models and holistic lifestyles—driving interest in properties with built-in home offices, coworking lounges, biophilic design, energy-efficient systems, and wellness amenities like gyms, spas, and outdoor retreats. At the same time, corporate developments are evolving to prioritize well-being and flexibility, with smart office infrastructure and human-centric design becoming key differentiators in Dubai’s competitive property landscape.
High demand is being seen in areas like Dubai Hills, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and wellness-focused branded residences on Palm Jumeirah, where homes combine privacy, smart features, and premium health and lifestyle services. Dubai’s evolving real estate landscape reflects a global shift toward purpose-built environments that integrate technology, sustainability, and lifestyle value in equal measure.
