Negative equity hits 70% of expat property owners in UAE

Seven out of 10 expatriates who own a property in the UAE have revealed if they sold it now they would lose money, according to the findings of a new study.

The research by market research firm Real Opinions found that four out of 10 UAE expatriates had bought property in the country, of which 22 percent had bought off-plan and still had further installments to pay.

Of these a quarter said it was unlikely that they would be able to make the next payment – highlighting the importance of job security in the region at present, according to CEO of the research firm, Dan Healy.