Sharjah: Emirati women investors drive AED 2.7 billion into real estate

The emirate of Sharjah is confirming its growing appeal among a very specific category of investors: Emirati women. Between January and August 2026, 3,737 women investors carried out 3,385 real estate transactions in the emirate, for a combined value of AED 2.7 billion. These figures, published to mark Emirati Women's Day, show growth across every indicator compared with the same period in 2025: the number of women investors rose 4.2% (up from 3,586 a year earlier), the number of transactions rose 1.9% (up from 3,322), and the total value invested rose 1.2% (up from AED 2.6 billion).

Local authorities link this momentum to the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Emirati Women (2023–2031) and to an increasingly favourable legislative environment for female investment. Beyond this institutional reading, these figures also confirm an underlying trend I observe on the ground: Sharjah is gradually establishing itself as a market in its own right, and no longer just a "cheaper" alternative to Dubai.

The UAE's cultural emirate benefits from its own strengths — a significantly more accessible entry ticket, immediate proximity to Dubai, and freehold zones now open to foreign buyers in several recent developments. These factors, combined with a strong wealth and family anchoring, explain why both local and international buyers are showing growing interest, beyond price alone.

For an investor discovering Sharjah, this data confirms genuine momentum rather than a one-off opportunistic effect. I follow this market closely and support investors looking to position themselves there, in addition to or as a diversification from an investment in Dubai.