Emaar Becomes World's Third Most Valuable Real Estate Brand in 2026
Emaar has climbed to become the world's third most valuable real estate brand after growing its brand value by 21% to USD4.9 billion, making it one of the sector's strongest performers in a year marked by declining brand values across the global property industry.
The ranking, published by Brand Finance in its Real Estate 25 2026 report, places the Dubai-based developer behind only China's Poly Development and China Resources Land, while highlighting Emaar as one of the few global real estate brands to deliver significant growth despite challenging market conditions.
According to the report, the combined value of the world's 25 most valuable real estate brands fell 14% to USD54.9 billion, reflecting a sector adjusting to higher capital costs, sustainability requirements, and the accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence. Although transaction activity has improved in parts of the market, Brand Finance said the recovery remains uneven as investment continues to concentrate in resilient sectors and technology-enabled businesses.
Against that backdrop, Emaar delivered one of the biggest gains among the world's leading real estate brands.
Brand Finance attributed the company's performance to its diversified business model, noting that Emaar has successfully balanced earnings across real estate development, retail and hospitality, allowing it to navigate changing market cycles more effectively than many of its global peers.
Alex Haigh, Global Sector Head of Real Estate at Brand Finance, said the latest rankings underline the growing importance of brand strength in an increasingly complex property market.
"The 2026 real estate rankings demonstrate that brand strength has become an increasingly important differentiator in a complex and evolving market. Brands such as Poly Development, Welltower, Emaar, CBRE, and JLL illustrate how strong brands can create resilience, whether through scale, specialised market positioning, or long-term investment strategies."
He added that the sector's best-performing companies are those able to combine financial resilience and operational excellence with the flexibility to adapt to changing customer expectations and investment priorities.
Global rankings
China's Poly Development retained its position as the world's most valuable real estate brand, despite a 12% decline in brand value to USD5.9 billion, reflecting continued weakness in China's residential housing market.
Second-placed China Resources Land saw its brand value fall 28% to USD5.1 billion. Brand Finance said the company's recurring income from commercial assets helped offset weaker sentiment surrounding residential development.
Fastest-growing brand
While Emaar recorded one of the strongest increases among the industry's largest brands, Welltower emerged as the fastest-growing real estate brand worldwide, with its brand value soaring 76% to USD1.7 billion.
The report attributed the growth to continued expansion of the company's senior housing portfolio, supported by demographic trends and rising demand from the growing "Silver Economy." Welltower also recorded its 14th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in net operating income from its Senior Housing Operating Portfolio.
Hospitality gains momentum
Brand Finance also highlighted the growing appeal of hospitality-linked real estate.
Host Hotels & Resorts entered the Real Estate 50 rankings for the first time after increasing its brand value 17% to USD998 million. The consultancy said improving hotel performance, higher room rates and resilient luxury travel demand have strengthened investor confidence in the sector.
Strongest brands
Despite facing significant financial challenges, Country Garden retained its position as the world's strongest real estate brand, achieving a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 89 out of 100 and an AAA rating. Brand Finance said the ranking reflects the developer's longstanding brand recognition in China, although investor confidence has been affected by debt restructuring.
Vinhomes ranked second for brand strength with a BSI score of 84.7 and an AAA rating, while JLL placed third with a BSI score of 84.3 and an AAA- rating, reflecting the resilience of global real estate advisory firms.
Commercial property recovery
The report also points to a gradual recovery in commercial real estate services as leasing activity improves and transaction volumes stabilise across key markets.
CBRE remained the world's most valuable commercial real estate services brand after increasing its brand value 25% to USD4.1 billion. JLL followed with a 24% increase to USD1.6 billion, while Cushman & Wakefield ranked third after growing 8% to USD665 million.
Source: Brand Finance – Real Estate 25 2026 Report.
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