More than 80% of UAE residents are considering moving to seafront or marina communities by 2029, with 96% of them citing how proximity to water influences their daily lives as the main factor behind their relocation-related call, found a YouGov survey commissioned by Shamal Holding, the diversified investment company based in the UAE.
The survey was part of Shamal’s thought leadership initiative, “The Future of Seafront Being,” covering some 1,009 UAE residents.
“The multi-dimensional initiative contributes to Dubai’s wider industry conversation and reinforces directions set by the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033 and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. The research findings provide a practical evidence base for the broader industry as it considers how Dubai’s communities should evolve, while also informing Shamal’s long-term destination strategy,” the business said.
A clear finding emerged from the research: proximity to water is no longer simply an aesthetic preference or a luxury real estate attribute. The factor now increasingly shapes how residents structure their days, manage their well-being, and build stronger social connections—proof that seafront living is now understood in human terms, not just design terms.
“The data from the ‘Future of Seafront Being’ bridge policy, people, and place. They align with key Dubai strategies that place emphasis on well-being, access to nature, walkability, and high-quality public spaces. It also supports the broader competitiveness agenda reflected in Dubai Economic Agenda D33, where quality of life is increasingly central to how cities attract people, investment, and long-term value,” Shamal Holding noted.
For Shamal, the initiative reflects a long-held belief that exceptional destinations begin with a deep understanding of the people they are created for.
“The research enables decision-making, strategic planning, and exploring new opportunities in design, focusing on how people want to live, not only on what they buy. Additionally, the Future of Seafront Being is intended to support thinking on urban planning and destination design in Dubai and beyond,” it said further.
Shamal Holding CEO Abdulla Binhabtoor said, “In Dubai, our relationship with the sea has always shaped our identity and ambition. We believe that Seafront Being is the evolution of seafront living, from simply residing by the water to experiencing the waterfront as an integrated part of daily life, work, leisure, well-being, and belonging. At Shamal, we see this as a responsibility of design, not a benefit of position.”
“With Dubai’s advancement as a city centered around quality of life, there is a necessity to generate the evidence that informs it. That means investing in research and expert dialogue, listening carefully and testing our assumptions. As prime coastal land becomes increasingly scarce, our focus remains on creating places that enrich lives today and endure for generations to come. The Future of Seafront Being is our contribution to a much larger conversation about how Dubai and cities everywhere can be shaped around how people actually want to live,” he concluded.