Cavendish Maxwell states that student housing and senior-care concepts could shape the GCC property market over the next decade, adding to the region’s expanding portfolio of serviced living, co-living and private-club models.
Shift from luxury to flexible living
For ten years the Gulf’s residential scene has been defined by luxury brands, five-star hotels and mixed-use towers that aim to place Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh on the global investment map.
Governments across the region want to attract new international talent, grow tourism, expand universities, increase home ownership and diversify their economies. At the same time, populations are growing and becoming more internationally diverse, while the expectations of residents are changing. Increasingly, people are not simply buying or renting four walls; they want convenience, flexibility, community, services and experiences.
This changes the conversation for developers and investors. It is no longer a question of whether to build residential or hospitality: it’s about understanding who will live there, how they want to live, what services they value and what they are prepared to pay for them. The GCC continues to demonstrate an extraordinary ability to deliver high-quality real estate at scale and, with the economic and demographic changes taking place across the region and strengthening the case for new concepts, there is a real opportunity for investors and developers to apply that capability to a wide and diverse range of alternative living concepts that will further enhance the strength of the property sector.
Senior-living opportunities
Cavendish Maxwell cautions that established models from other countries cannot simply be copied into GCC cities. Local demographics, cultural expectations, affordability, regulation and family structures would all affect how co-living, student accommodation or senior living developments are designed and operated.
“With the rising cost of living, accommodation and care in countries such as the UK, the UAE is potentially an attractive alternative for internationally mobile retirees seeking a high quality of life, safety, connectivity, year-round sunshine and access to high-quality healthcare and hospitality led services,” said Zacky Sajjad, Director of Business Development and Client Relations at Cavendish Maxwell. “Rather than replicating the traditional retirement home model there is an opportunity to rethink senior living altogether combining independent living, hospitality, wellness, healthcare and community.”
He adds that senior projects could blend independent apartments, hospitality touches, wellness facilities and healthcare services, creating a hybrid that differs from traditional retirement homes.
Student accommodation gains traction
The higher-education sector in the UAE has grown rapidly, with new universities and a goal to attract students from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Co-living as a flexible entry point
Dubai’s rental market has begun to moderate after pandemic-driven spikes, yet affordability remains a challenge for young professionals and newcomers.
Data and market intelligence is critical in identifying genuine gaps in demand rather than following the latest property trends. The next stage of the GCC property market will not only be about building more homes or hotels, but more about creating more sophisticated choices for living and delivering the next chapter in the region’s real estate success story.
