ME Real Estate Sector Exhibits Positive Indicators

The Central Bank of UAE has observed an increase in the real estate sector in 2019 evident through 6 positive indicators, despite the predicament in the Middles East and Gulf region.

Emaar properties and Dar properties dominate with 46 per cent of the market value in the company sector, and constitutes of 13 companies, as per the financial statements published at the end of the accounting year of 2019, according to the report released by the Central Bank.

The Central Bank of UAE reports that overall profitability of the sector has progressed and is predominantly driven by the strong profits logged by Emaar Group and Aldar Properties in 2019, with regards to the positive returns on assets and equity.

The report also pointed out that the interest coverage seemed resilient, and the reports indicated the ability of companies to cover 4.9 per cent interest payments approximately through their revenues. The liquidity ratio and leverage ratio of the sector was about 1.7 per cent and under 1 per cent, respectively. Leverage ratio is the comparison of the amount of debts proportionate to a bank's equity

Due to the positive indicators of the sector, the share of real estate and construction has strengthened and loan growth in 2019 in the real estate and construction sector was 11 per cent compared to 9.8 per cent in 2018.