A Closer Look at UAE Residents' Waterfront Preferences

A recent survey of over 1,000 UAE residents set out to understand how proximity to water shapes everyday life and property choices. The findings suggest that the relationship between residents and the coastline has moved well beyond simply enjoying a view or a prestigious address, becoming instead a factor that touches daily routines, mental wellbeing, physical activity and social life.

According to the results, 96% of participants said being close to the waterfront influences their day-to-day decisions, from choosing where to spend leisure time to how they exercise and manage stress, pointing to the surrounding environment becoming a core measure of quality of life rather than a secondary consideration.

• Survey covered more than 1,000 UAE residents
• 96% say waterfront proximity influences daily decisions
• Includes leisure, fitness and stress management choices
• Surrounding environment now a core quality-of-life factor

The Link Between Water and Wellbeing

The survey also pointed to a strong link between waterfront access and personal wellbeing. About 88% of respondents said they would be willing to change their fitness and lifestyle habits if they had regular access to waterfront walking paths, marinas or a sea-view home, while a similar share, also 88%, said the concept of waterfront living meaningfully improves both their mental and physical health.

Comfort and calm were recurring themes throughout the responses, with 91% saying they feel more at ease when near water, and roughly a third of participants describing that feeling as a deep sense of psychological calm rather than a simple aesthetic preference.

• 88% would change fitness habits for regular waterfront access
• 88% say waterfront living improves mental and physical health
• 91% feel more at ease when near water
• About a third describe it as a deep sense of calm

Preferred Activities and Investment Appetite

Among the most popular waterfront activities cited were sunset walks, favoured by 60% of respondents, sitting near marinas, chosen by 53%, and beachside dining and leisure, preferred by 51%, all of which are closely tied to relaxation, social connection and mental restoration.

On the investment side, the findings point to a clear shift in buyer priorities: 82% of respondents said they are considering waterfront or marina-adjacent living within the next two to three years, while 45% said they now prefer coastal, nature-connected settings over dense urban areas. Willingness to pay for this lifestyle was equally strong, with 93% saying they would pay a premium for waterfront living and 99% agreeing that proximity to water enhances a property's long-term value.

• Sunset walks favoured by 60% of respondents
• Sitting near marinas preferred by 53%
• 82% considering waterfront living within 2-3 years
• 93% willing to pay a premium; 99% link water proximity to higher long-term value

Redefining What Buyers See as Luxury

The findings also suggest a broader redefinition of what buyers consider luxury. Nearly half of respondents, 48%, said that meaningful, nature-connected living is the most important trait of an ideal home, ahead of design quality at 40% and social status at 33%, indicating that lifestyle and wellbeing are increasingly weighted alongside, or even above, traditional markers of prestige.

These trends broadly align with Dubai's wider urban planning direction, including its quality-of-life strategy for 2033 and its 2040 urban master plan, both of which emphasise walkable public spaces and greater access to nature within residential communities. Taken together, the results point to a maturing market where waterfront communities are expected to combine everyday wellbeing with long-term investment value, reinforcing Dubai's position as a leading destination for next-generation coastal living.

• 48% see nature-connected living as the top trait of an ideal home
• Design quality (40%) and social status (33%) ranked lower
• Findings align with Dubai's 2033 quality-of-life strategy and 2040 urban plan
• Waterfront communities positioned to blend wellbeing with long-term value