The sharp decline in oil prices over the past one year has started to impact the UAE real estate market in a big way, with property transaction levels falling across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, said a report.

A further reduction in oil prices is also likely once Iran receives the green light to begin oil exports. In turn, this will impact on the rate of office space take up and subsequently, the creation of households and overall residential demand, stated top international real estate consultancy Cluttons in its latest report.

The impact is expected to be variable across the nation’s three largest emirates, it stated.

However, the return of an Iranian variable to the national real estate equation could be particularly momentous for the real estate market, it added.

Cluttons in its annual 2015 UAE Property Report pointed out that the direct correlation between hydrocarbon revenues and state spending would further put pressure on the rate of job creation.

Steve Morgan, the chief executive, Cluttons Middle East, said: "We see a number of economic factors at play which will impact the level of transactions in the near term. The decline in oil prices has seen the government take necessary fiscal measures to boost its financial position, including the deregulation of fuel prices and the much talked about future move towards the introduction of VAT and corporation tax."

"These initiatives will likely cause consumer price inflation levels to increase, resulting in a reluctance of tenants to pay higher end rents and families to purchase homes. However, some of the rises may be off-set by the fall in diesel prices, helping to maintain the UAE’s competitive edge, which is unchallenged in the region," observed Morgan.

"With the expected lifting of Iranian trades sanctions, it is our view that Iranian nationals will seize the opportunity to make significant real estate investments in the UAE, particularly Dubai, pushing them back up the buyer nationality league table," said the expert.

"In 2010, Iranians accounted for 12 per cent of Dubai’s real estate transactions, positioning them in fourth place behind Indians, Britishers and Pakistanis. Data from the Dubai Land Department on investment volumes showed investment from Iranian’s had dwindled to a low of just three per cent during the first quarter of 2015," he added.

Commenting on the residential market, Cluttons said in capital Abu Dhabi, the house prices slipped by 0.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2015, the first contraction since the third quarter of 2012, and leaves the current average house price standing at Dh1,336 ($364) sq ft.

Demand remains stable in the top-end luxury market according to the report, and more affordable sub Dh1,000 ($272) sq ft properties. This is driven by affluent Emirati and GCC buyers continuing to home in on schemes based on perceived exclusivity, while the large expat population that is being squeezed out of the rental market due to rampant rental growth, is targeting more affordable properties that are perceived as better value for money, said Cluttons in its report.

The property expert pointed out at a 1.5 per cent-rise in average rents, registered during the second quarter, pushing annual growth in the capital up to 3.9 per cent. Hydra Village was the strongest performing submarket, with rents for three bedroom for villas surging by almost 32 per cent during the first six months of the year to Dh125,000 ($34,023) per annum.

Faisal Durrani, the head of research at Cluttons, said: "With government spending subsiding, the rate of job creation and residential demand is also expected to stabilise. With this in mind, it is our view that the residential market will see further slight to moderate price falls over the remainder of 2015."

"Overall, quarterly house price declines of between 0.5 per cent and one per cent can be expected in both Q3 and Q4, while rents are expected to remain largely flat during the second half," stated Durrani.

In Dubai, the total number of residential real estate transactions has remained fairly stable this year, according to data from Reidin. There has been almost no change in average apartment values during the first half, with a 0.6 per cent fall recorded between January and June.

“The villa market continues to bear the brunt of the federal mortgage cap restrictions, which have made affordability a central issue for potential buyers who are now required to hold significant equity to fund upfront costs," explained Durrani.

"Values on average declined by 3.4 per cent during the second quarter, bringing the annual rate of change down to - seven per cent. We expect a further 5 to 7 per cent fall in villa values is expected this year as supply levels rise and affordability issues challenge buyers," he added.

Cluttons’ report shows that during the second quarter of this year, average rents in Dubai declined by 0.9 per cent, taking the overall change in the six months to June to -1.3 per cent. Apartments in affordable communities have held steady in 2015, while the villa market has witnessed a one per cent drop during Q2.

On the future outlook, Clutton said: "Looking further ahead, the rental market is set to be boosted by Expo 2020 moving from being on the medium-term event horizon to the short term, with infrastructure projects moving forward and in turn supporting job creation."

The expected population growth to 2.8 million by 2020 will also help to increase demand for space.

"We expect the sales market to weaken further this year based on a combination of the Federal Mortgage Cap, affordability challenges and a strengthening supply pipeline, which has seen 41,000 new units announced already this year," stated Durrani.

"It is our view that the rental market will continue to perform at a reasonably stable level, with further declines in the region of 1.5 to 2 per cent likely during the second half of the year. The severity of the decline is being hugely offset by the strong rate of job creation and population growth, which remains stable, strong and diverse," he added.

In Sharjah, tenants are now firmly in the driving seat as the lettings market slows in response to declines in Dubai and the introduction of what is perceived to be high-quality accommodation in neighbouring Ajman.

The emirate recorded a 2.3 per cent dip in average rents, yet these still stand 3.3 per cent ahead of this time last year. Apartments registered a 4.2 per cent decline during the second quarter, while villa rents edged up slightly by 1.4 per cent.

“In the sales market, world-class master planned communities such as Al Zahia and Tilal City are quietly growing in popularity and setting the benchmark for future master planned communities. These affordable upscale developments, which are designed around the emirate’s rich Islamic heritage are allowing for the emergence of a niche residential market that caters for families who have been priced out of other UAE markets and those that have been waiting for more affordable communities in surroundings that echo their more traditional lifestyles,” said Durrani.

The report indicates that the lifting of trade sanctions on Iran could boost the UAE’s economic activity. Prior to the introduction of the sanctions, Iran was the UAE’s biggest trading partners, while in the past both local and global businesses hubbed any Iranian operations out of Dubai.

Morgan continued: “We have already noted an upturn in speculative requirements from Dubai-based Iranian businesses looking to expand their premises in anticipation of a resumption in normal trade with Iran. Furthermore, we have also already noted several instances of Iranian businesses in the emirate approaching banks for loans to fund planned expansion”.

In addition, Cluttons anticipates an upturn in international businesses looking to service any Iranian operations out of Dubai, which will once again place upward pressure on Grade A rents in sought after submarkets, particularly the city’s primary free zones such as the DIFC, the Internet and Media Cities, D3 and Dubai Airport Free Zone.

Cluttons latest research also shows that in Abu Dhabi the office market’s recent stagnation is in large part linked to the slowdown in public spending, which has translated into a drop in demand for new office space.

"However, due to a general lack of supply, particularly at the Grade A end of the market, rents have held steady and are expected to remain stable over the course of 2015, with occupancy levels close to 100 per cent," explained Durrani.0

Abu Dhabi’s dependence on hydrocarbon revenues, he stated, has meant that the rate of office take up, which is traditionally dominated by oil and gas companies has cooled significantly.

"This is likely to put increased downward pressure on more secondary and tertiary locations in the first instance, with prime rents likely to face headwinds at the beginning of 2016," he added.

For Sharjah, office rents in the main submarkets held steady during the second quarter, following no change in the previous quarter. The flat performance of the office market reflects a scaling back in overall requirements and take up levels while the dominant oil and gas occupiers assess their expansion plans, said Cluttons in its report.

The ability of the market to weather the continued low oil price environment, or weakening demand, is expected to put rents under pressure, particularly at the top of the market, it noted.

Morgan said: “In more secondary and tertiary locations landlords are adjusting rents downwards in an effort to generate demand. This widening gap between the two tiers of the market is unlikely to be sustainable, with Grade A rents likely to slip later on in the year."

"Overall, rent declines of up to five per cent are likely across the board before the end of the year," he added.-TradeArabia News Service