Newsletter

Written by Taco Heidinga, IQI Global Strategic AdvisorAs Q4 of 2025 begins, Dubai remains a standout in the global real estate market, attracting investors with its strong liquidity, high rental yields, and investor-friendly environment. Backed by ongoing infrastructure development and a continuous flow of international capital, Dubai offers both income stability and capital appreciation, making it a preferred destination amid global uncertainty.In Southeast Asia, Vietnam and the Philippines are emerging as investment hotspots due to urban expansion, foreign investment, and a rising middle class. Cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Manila, and Cebu are drawing attention from growth-focused investors. Georgia also continues to attract yield-driven buyers, particularly in Tbilisi and Batumi, thanks to its low entry costs and liberal property ownership rules.In Europe and Latin America, Portugal’s inland regions offer long-term potential, while countries like Albania and Moldova present early-stage opportunities. Meanwhile, Mexico and Colombia benefit from nearshoring and tourism-driven growth. For October, a smart strategy combines secure, high-liquidity markets like Dubai and Lisbon with higher-growth plays in Southeast Asia and Latin America, especially as global trade shifts favor these regions.Juwai IQI October NewsletterDownload Now!

Written by Shan Saeed, IQI Chief EconomistFinancial Innuendos and Market Emotions. Reading between the Lines.The markets are dancing between what we might call economic escapades and mercantile mischief. We’re seeing a landscape where the S&P 500 is climbing, electricity prices are surging, beef and industrial metals are on the rise, and even precious metals are glittering at new heights. Equities are at all-time highs while currencies are meandering in unpredictable directions. In essence, the marketplace finds itself in a convoluted state of mind, one where it’s hard to discern where the next escapade ends and the next mischief begins over the coming quarters.And so, the entire financial market landscape has transformed dramatically in the last 17 years. We’re witnessing shifts of a magnitude not seen in a generation. There’s a palpable flip in the nature of asset classes: equities are behaving like bonds, bonds are behaving like equities, and suddenly everyone’s a daytime trader navigating this grand economic escapade. In the end, the markets are indeed in a realm of mercantile mischief, where the only certainty is that the rules are being rewritten in real time.FED Action in September - Rate Cut and Late to the Party.There is now a 100% chance of a September rate cut and an 8% chance that it will be 50 bps. How do US stocks perform when the Fed is cutting interest rates? Over the last 25 years, recessions or macro events have been a negative trigger for stocks, not the Fed cutting rates. The Fed usually cuts rates in response to economic weakness, but it’s often too late.Treasury Market is Sending a Signal - Investors to Stay Awake and Agile10-Year Treasury Yield plunges to 4.1%, its lowest level in 5 months. ConvolutedGold Market Outlook - Yellow Metals Shine in the MarketOn 20 January 1980, gold reached $850 per ounce – equivalent to $3,590 in today’s dollars – during one of the most turbulent periods in U.S. economic history, marked by a collapsing currency, runaway inflation, and recession. Today, with gold trading around $3,650 per ounce, it has surpassed that milestone and is up 39% year to date. With rate cuts on the horizon and inflation showing little sign of slowing, the bull market for gold and other hard assets appears far from over.Discover more by reading here!Download Now!

Written by Dave Platter, Global PR DirectorTSaudi Arabia is making a historic move by opening its residential real estate market to non-resident foreign buyers starting January 2026. This marks a pivotal shift that could reshape the entire Gulf property landscape, positioning the Kingdom alongside Dubai and Abu Dhabi as a regional investment magnet. Juwai IQI Group CEO Kashif Ansari believes this will provide a clear path for foreign ownership and anticipates strong momentum from high-net-worth investors—particularly in cities like Riyadh and Jeddah. Major projects like The Line, Laheq Island, and the Red Sea development showcase Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in scale, design, and sustainability, with The Line envisioned as a 170 km-long linear city. Already, engagement from Chinese firms has tripled, contributing over US$19 billion in developments. While Makkah and Medina attract Muslim buyers, Riyadh and Jeddah are set to lead international interest. The anticipated introduction of golden visa-style residency incentives, similar to those in Dubai, could further supercharge demand. As these mega-developments come to life, Saudi Arabia isn’t aiming to compete with its neighbors but to elevate the Gulf region into a globally dynamic investment corridor. This is just the beginning of a transformational journey. For more countries updateDownload Now!

The contents of this article were contributed by Taco Heidinga, IQI Global Strategic Advisor.In the second half of 2025, global real estate investors are focusing on markets that combine strong rental yields, capital appreciation, and strategic growth potential. The United Arab Emirates—particularly Dubai—continues to lead with robust price growth, high liquidity, and investor-friendly policies, while Seoul and Tokyo offer stability and consistent capital gains due to limited supply and institutional interest. Portugal’s Lisbon remains attractive for EU residency and property growth, with its interior regions gaining traction post-Golden Visa reforms. Georgia presents an early-stage opportunity with 8–12% rental yields and liberal ownership rules, while Latin America (especially Colombia and Mexico) benefits from tourism, nearshoring, and resilient rental markets. Southeast Asian cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Manila, and Cebu are becoming increasingly appealing due to rapid urbanization and strong foreign demand, though better suited for experienced investors. Meanwhile, emerging European nations such as Moldova, Lithuania, and North Macedonia offer high yields and low entry costs, ideal for early adopters. South Africa’s Cape Town rounds out the top picks with strong luxury market growth and lifestyle appeal. For yield-focused strategies, the UAE, Georgia, and Latin America stand out; for capital growth and long-term value, investors should consider Seoul, Dubai, Lisbon, and Cape Town. For more countries updateDownload Now!

By Muhazrol Muhamad, GVP, Head of Bumiputra SegmentMalaysia’s property market reached a decade-high in 2024, recording over 420,000 transactions worth RM232.3 billion, with residential properties making up the majority. While Q1 2025 saw a slight cooldown—with transactions down 5.6% in volume and 12.9% in value—this appears more like a breather than a downturn. Johor led market activity, and new launches were concentrated in the RM300k–RM500k range. Landed homes continued to outperform high-rise units in sales. However, a sizable residential overhang persists, especially in high-rise and serviced apartments, particularly in Johor, Kuala Lumpur, and Selangor. Price trends reflect growing market polarization. While terraced and semi-detached homes saw modest price gains, high-rise units declined slightly. Demand is softening in the sub-RM500k segments, while the RM500k–RM1 million and above RM1 million categories showed resilience, indicating sustained buying power among higher-income groups. Despite a dip in new sales, residential development remains active, with a strong pipeline of completions and new starts. With lower financing costs and targeted incentives, Malaysia’s mid-market—particularly landed homes in well-located areas—offers promising potential for the rest of 2025. For more countries updateDownload Now!

Written by Irhamy Ahmad, Founder and Managing Director of Irhamy Valuers InternationalMalaysia’s data centre industry is experiencing rapid expansion, cementing its position as a key Southeast Asian digital hub. By Q1 2025, operational capacity reached 522 MW, with an additional 1.1 GW expected by year-end, pushing total capacity towards 5 GW. This growth is backed by strong government support and significant global investments. Major milestones include AWS launching its Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Region in August 2024, Google beginning work on a US$2 billion facility in Selangor in October 2024, Microsoft’s first Malaysian cloud region scheduled for Q2 2025, and Alibaba Cloud opening its third local site in July 2025. In 2024, Tenaga Nasional Berhad boosted the national grid with nine projects adding 1.3 GW of maximum demand, while MIDA confirmed six operational sites by mid-year. Local players are also scaling up rapidly. Equinix expanded its KL1 facility by 450 cabinets in May 2025, bringing capacity above 4.5 MW, while Telekom Malaysia’s KVDC2 (9.2 MW) and IPDC2 (10 MW) are set to go live in late 2025. AIMS completed its Cyberjaya Block 2 (8 MW) in April 2024 and Block 3 (12 MW) in mid-2025. Growth is concentrated in Klang Valley and Johor, the latter expected to hit 1.6 GW by mid-2025 due to its strategic proximity to Singapore. As energy and water usage rise, the sector is increasingly shifting towards sustainable, high-efficiency solutions to support long-term growth. For more countries updateDownload Now!

Written by Shan Saeed, IQI Chief EconomistIn early April 2025, President Donald Trump’s announcement of “Liberation Day” tariffs rattled global markets, with fears of a trade war driving volatility in equities, currencies, and commodities. While the initial levies caused a sharp sell-off, a quick de-escalation—reducing most tariffs to 10% by April 9 and extending similar terms to China in May—helped financial markets rebound swiftly. Although macroeconomic uncertainty eased, tariffs remain a central part of the U.S. administration’s strategy. This backdrop has influenced commodity and currency markets, with gold and silver leading strong year-to-date gains, while the U.S. dollar index has fallen sharply. Equity markets tell a different story—market concentration in the U.S. has reached unprecedented levels, with the top 10 stocks comprising a record 40% of the S&P 500’s market cap, up from 27% at the height of the dot-com bubble. Yet, these companies contribute only 30% of total earnings, raising questions about sustainability. The world’s largest companies, led by Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon, dominate both investor attention and market value. Berkshire Hathaway’s record $344 billion cash position underscores a cautious stance amid “considerable uncertainty,” driven by trade policy shifts and macroeconomic headwinds. For more infoDownload now!

Written by Hamid R. Azarmi, Head of Business DevelopmentIn September 2025, global markets are navigating a complex macroeconomic landscape marked by persistent but uneven disinflation, diverging monetary policies, and slowing yet resilient growth. U.S. core PCE inflation remains elevated at 2.8%, fuelling cautious optimism for a Federal Reserve policy shift. The Bank of England has begun gradual rate cuts, while the Bank of Japan maintains its stance amid upward inflation revisions. These differing approaches are adding volatility to interest rates, currencies, and capital flows, requiring investors to adopt a more strategic and risk-aware posture. Portfolio positioning now calls for a focus on quality, liquidity, and selective opportunity. Short-duration sovereign and investment-grade corporate bonds remain preferred to manage policy uncertainty, supported by diversified global exposure and currency hedging. In equities, defensive holdings in companies with strong balance sheets, stable cash flows, and pricing power are favoured, with Europe and select Asia-Pacific markets offering better value than the U.S. Real estate investments should prioritise structurally resilient sectors such as logistics, data infrastructure, and ESG-compliant residential, avoiding underperforming legacy office and retail. Selective exposure to emerging markets like India and Southeast Asia is attractive due to improving yields and strong domestic demand, but active management and currency vigilance remain key.