Travel News

Dubai: Home prices in the UAE could begin easing in 2026 as tens of thousands of new apartments and villas hit the market, according to a new report from Moody’s Ratings. For residents, that could mean more choice, steadier rents, and a less overheated housing market.

What residents can expect

Moody’s says over 150,000 new homes are scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2027. That’s about a 20% jump in Dubai’s housing stock. The report forecasts this wave of supply will lead to “a modest price correction starting in 2026.”

For buyers, that may mean more bargaining power. For renters, it could mean relief after years of steep rent increases.

Why demand remains high

The dip won’t come from weak demand. Dubai’s population grew 6% in 2024 to 3.9 million, supported by economic growth and new visa policies. At the same time, household sizes are shrinking — now averaging 3.9 people compared with 4.4 in 2019 — pushing up the need for more housing units.

Wealthy newcomers are reshaping the market too. Dubai is now home to more than 80,000 millionaires, double the number of a decade ago. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, over 590 homes priced above Dh20 million were sold, the highest in two years.

This mix of population growth and high-net-worth arrivals means demand is unlikely to collapse. Moody’s describes the outlook as “stable over the next 12 to 18 months, supported by strong demand fundamentals and macroeconomic resilience.”

Apartments vs villas

The type of home matters. Villas have been the big winners since the pandemic, with prices climbing 20% in late 2024 compared with the year before. Apartments rose 18% in the same period.

Moody’s expects villa demand to stay strong in the near term but warns growth will slow as more communities are delivered. Apartments, especially in mid-market areas, may see sharper price declines once supply outpaces demand.

For buyers, that could mean better deals on flats. For families, villas will remain pricey but with less aggressive increases.

Developers stronger than before

One reason residents may feel more secure this time is that developers are financially stronger.

• Emaar’s revenue backlog has soared to Dh129 billion in 2025 from Dh25 billion in 2020.

• Major builders have slashed their debt levels, with average leverage dropping to 1.4x in 2025 from 4.8x in 2020.

• Combined profits for the six biggest developers reached Dh46 billion in the past year, up from Dh12 billion five years earlier.

Moody’s says this means builders can keep projects moving, even if prices soften.

Rules that protect buyers

The past decade has also seen big regulatory changes to protect residents. Off-plan buyers’ money must now be placed in escrow accounts, only released to developers once construction milestones are reached. Developers also face stricter launch requirements, ensuring land and approvals are secured before sales begin.

Moody’s says these reforms “help safeguard buyers but also support long-term growth by mitigating systemic risks.”

In Sharjah, a new escrow law will take effect this year, bringing protections closer in line with Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

What it means for you

• Thinking of buying? Expect more choice and potentially softer prices from 2026.

• Renting? Extra supply could ease the pressure on rents, especially in apartments.

• Investing? Villas and luxury homes remain in demand, but competition is growing fast.

Moody’s sums it up: despite rising supply, the UAE housing market “will remain stable” — giving residents more security, whether they’re renters, buyers, or long-term investors.

ACCRA, Sept 10 (Reuters) – Ghana has agreed to accept West African nationals deported from the United States and 14 have already arrived in the country, President John Dramani Mahama told reporters late Wednesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a hardline approach toward immigration, aiming to deport millions of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally and seeking to ramp up removals to third countries.

A group of 14 deportees including Nigerians and one Gambian have already arrived in Ghana, and the government facilitated their return to their home countries, Mahama said at a press conference.

Mahama did not specify a cap on how many deportees Ghana would accept. He justified the decision by saying West Africans “don’t need a visa anyway” to come to Ghana.

“We were approached by the U.S. to accept third-party nationals who were being removed from the U.S., and we agreed with them that West African nationals were acceptable because all our fellow West Africans don’t need a visa to come to our country,” he said.

The Trump administration has approached a number of African governments about accepting deportees as part of its campaign to deter immigration through high-profile deportations to so-called “third countries.” In some cases migrants have voiced concerns for their safety.

In July the U.S. deported five individuals to Eswatini and eight others to South Sudan.

Rwanda received seven migrants deported from the United States in August, weeks after the two countries reached an agreement for the transfer of up to 250 people.

Trump welcomed five West African presidents to the White House on July 9, and sources later told Reuters that one of the objectives of that meeting was to press the leaders to take in deportees from other countries.

Mahama did not participate in that meeting.

(Reporting by Emmanuel Bruce; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Additional reporting by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Nia Williams and Kim Coghill)

 by Faith Yahaya, Abuja

Aero Contractors has refunded over N257 million to passengers from January to August 2025. 

Wayfair — All Things Home
Hand-curated Collection Of Products That Fit Your Style, Space And Budget.

The refund is believed to arise from flight delays, cancellations, and baggage issues. 
The amount refunded in the last eight months indicates an increase in refunds, representing a 137% growth compared to the same period in 2024. 

Wayfair — All Things Home
Hand-curated Collection Of Products That Fit Your Style, Space And Budget.

In a statement, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) stated that the refund showcases the airline’s commitment to consumer protection and compliance with the NCAA regulations.

The airline has also spent over N6m on hotel accommodations for stranded passengers between January and July 2025.

The statement by the NCAA reads: “Total refund paid January – August 2025 = 257,195,724.39 naira, compared to 108,308,037.40 naira over the same period in 2024 and 32,766,652.30 naira in 2023.
“For hotel accommodation, the total amount reported from January to July 2025 is N6,083,229. (verified records with Cocos Hotel, Grand Cubana Hotel, Abuja, NOCY Castle Hotel, Kim Royal Hotel, JC42 Apartment (Asaba), and Mayor & Diplomat Hotel, Lagos).

The NCAA stated that the figures show remarkable improvement in compliance with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023. 

While acknowledging the peculiar challenges of the operating environment, the Authority stated that it will continue to protect the rights of all stakeholders.

Sept 15 (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund’s Executive Board has approved a three-month extension of Zambia’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, the fund said on Monday.

The IMF said in a statement that the extension to January 30, 2026 would allow sufficient time to complete a sixth review of the ECF arrangement and “lay the groundwork for future programme engagement”.

Sept 15 (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund’s Executive Board has approved a three-month extension of Zambia’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, the fund said on Monday.

The IMF said in a statement that the extension to January 30, 2026 would allow sufficient time to complete a sixth review of the ECF arrangement and “lay the groundwork for future programme engagement”.

ACCRA, Sept 15 (Reuters) – Ghana’s decision to accept West Africans deported from the United States is not an endorsement of President Donald Trump’s immigration policy, and the country is not receiving anything in return, the foreign minister said on Monday.

President John Dramani Mahama last week said Ghana had agreed to welcome an unspecified number of deportees after Washington asked it to take in “third-party nationals.” Mahama said 14 had already arrived, including Nigerians and one Gambian.

A U.S. judge on Saturday said it appeared the Trump administration had intentionally circumvented immigration laws with its deportations to Ghana.

At a press conference on Monday, Ghana Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said Accra’s decision was “grounded purely on humanitarian principle and Pan-African empathy,” adding the deportees in question were being held in detention in the U.S. and risked being sent to unsafe countries.

“This should not be misconstrued as an endorsement of the immigration policies of the Trump administration,” he said.

The agreement is “not transactional” and Ghana “has not received and does not seek any financial compensation or material benefit in relation to this understanding,” he said.

The deportees will be vetted by Ghana to ensure that “hardened criminals” do not enter the country, he added.

The deportations are part of Trump’s strategy to send migrants to “third countries” to speed their removal and pressure migrants in the U.S. illegally to leave.

Opposition lawmakers in Ghana last week called for the agreement with the U.S. to be suspended and said it should have been approved by parliament.

Ablakwa said on Monday it was a memorandum of understanding that did not require lawmakers’ approval, but that lawmakers will be able to review it if it is “elevated into a full-blown agreement.”

The United States has been revoking and denying visas to people celebrating the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"America will not host foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens," Rubio said in a post on X on Tuesday.

"Visa revocations are under way. If you are here on a visa and cheering on the public assassination of a political figure, prepare to be deported," he added.

Rubio's post followed a similar warning last week by US Deputy Secretary of State Christoper Landau.

"I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country," Landau wrote on social media.

"I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalising, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action," he added.

It is unclear how many visas have been revoked or denied, or on what grounds the State Department is taking such action. It also remains clear whether any European citizens were affected by Washington's latest policy.

Kirk, 31, was shot dead on 10 September while speaking to students at Utah Valley University. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody on Friday after a 33-hour manhunt.

Prosecutors brought a murder charge against Robinson on Tuesday. They allege that he shot Kirk in the neck with a bolt-action rifle from the roof of a nearby building on campus.

Following the fatal shooting, US conservatives have criticised people who disparaged Kirk or mocked his death.

Several individuals in sectors such as aviation, education and the media have lost their jobs or been suspended over their social media posts about Kirk, according to reports.

For example, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said over the weekend that American Airlines had grounded pilots who he said were celebrating Kirk's death.

"This behaviour is disgusting and they should be fired," Duffy said in a post on X.

The Trump administration's threats to crack down on what it calls the "radical left" after Kirk's assassination raised fears that the US right is trying to harness anger over the killing to suppress political opposition.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi has blamed "left-wing radicals" for the shooting and said "they will be held accountable".

"There's free speech and then there's hate speech," Bondi said in an interview this week.

"We will absolutely target you, go after you, if you are targeting anyone with hate speech."

Her interview quickly drew criticism from commentators on both the left and the right, who highlighted that there is no exception for hate speech under the First Amendment.