Podcast Episode Summary: "Dubai Is the Fastest-Growing Real Estate Market in the World"

Podcast: Earn Your Leisure
Hosts: Rashad Bilal & Troy Millings
Guest: Dubai-Based Business Owner & Investor
Date: December 9, 2025

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings of Earn Your Leisure dive deep into Dubai's meteoric rise as the world's fastest-growing real estate market. The conversation, featuring a prominent Dubai-based business owner and investor, explores the city's unique economic climate, diverse opportunities in real estate, the dynamics of wealth and social stratification, personal branding in business, and how Dubai serves as a case study for rapid urban and financial growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Unstoppable Growth of Dubai's Real Estate Market

• Dubai's real estate market is described as "powerful stuff"—a city marked by relentless growth and opportunity.
• Phenomenal Property Value Increases:
  • "What's the percentage of growth now? 30 every year, year on year. 30, 40." — Business Owner (04:17)
  • Example: “There was a villa... four years ago for a hundred thousand. Now it's 350." — Business Owner (04:52)

Multiple Ways to Buy Property

• Mortgages are available in a system similar to the U.S., but payment terms and off-plan purchases without interest are common.
• Developers allow for direct payment, sometimes even with crypto:
  • "You can just pay directly with the developer... Otherwise you can pay cash directly. With crypto, there's multiple ways." — Business Owner (05:04)

Socioeconomic Dynamics & Sustainability

• The hosts bridge their New York perspective, expressing concerns about sustainability:
  • “Do you worry that a city like Dubai can reach that level of unsustainable... all the billionaires from all over the world come in, but people still need to work, right?” — Guest/Interviewer (05:24)
• The guest paints a nuanced picture:
  • "Dubai is like an onion and there's so many layers..." (06:16)
  • Major influx: "90,000 millionaires moved ready to Dubai and I think 20 or 17 billion bayonets moved to Dubai already." (06:16)

The Layered Economy

• There are accessible, affordable experiences and opportunities in Dubai, coexisting with extreme wealth:
  • “I can go right now and have dinner ...for four of us and we can spend less than $50. Or we... spend at least $5,000. So both levers are there. There is affordable housing here. Definitely need more of that. But it’s there, it exists." — Business Owner (10:57)

The City Reveals True Character

• Memorable quote:
  • “Dubai will show what you are. Oh, I burned out in Dubai. Dubai doesn’t burn you out. You, your true cars came out. If you’re good, you’re good. If you’re bad, now we know how bad you are.” — Business Owner (11:24)

Lifestyle, Business, and Personal Efficiency

• Business Scale:
  • The guest operates 9 businesses and holds stakes in 91 investments (11:54).
• Operational Structure & Efficiency:
  • “Most of my zoom calls are under 20 minutes... I try to keep things all in the same geographic space so I don’t have to drive it too much... my day is always structured like in to the T.” — Business Owner (12:12–13:29)
• Work Ethic:
  • “I don’t have days off. I don’t understand days off. Like, I still. Now I do 80 to 100 hours a week.” (13:31)

The Power of Personal Branding

• The guest’s persona—“Aquaman on your sleeve” and rapper-style jewelry—sparks a discussion on image:
  • "You need to be very purposeful and very intentional with every single thing you do." — Business Owner (14:12)
  • “Those are very important things. I understand the power of personal brand very, very well... If you’re authentic. If you read and you say the right things, people relate to it.” (14:12–15:07)
  • Enjoying the fruits of labor:
    • “Why not look good?... I work so hard, I got the money. Let me enjoy it. Why not keep it in a grave with me?” — Business Owner (15:07)

Dubai’s Unique Status Symbols: The License Plate Phenomenon

• License plates are serious assets and symbols of status in Dubai—a cultural curiosity to outsiders:
  • "If it’s one digit or two digits is... more expensive. So sometimes a one digit plate number... went out for $15 million. 15 million for one digit." — Business Owner (15:42)
  • “It’s a new category of assets to show who you are.” — Interviewer/Host (16:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dubai Real Estate:

  • "It’s not going to stop. ...you need to be part of it very quickly because it’s not slowing down, just, it’s just going up." — Business Owner (04:17)

• On Social Layers:

  • “Dubai is like an onion and there’s so many layers and sometimes the layers touch each other.” — Business Owner (06:16)

• On Work Ethic:

  • “I don’t have days off. ...I do 80 to 100 hours a week.” — Business Owner (13:31)

• On Personal Branding:

  • “You need to be very purposeful and very intentional with every single thing you do.” — Business Owner (14:12)

• On License Plates as Status:

  • "One digit plate number... went out for $15 million." — Business Owner (15:42)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Dubai Real Estate Growth: 04:13 – 05:24
• Geopolitics & Socioeconomics: 05:24 – 06:37
• Affordability & Lifestyles: 10:57 – 11:42
• Business Structure & Daily Habits: 11:54 – 13:42
• Personal Branding Discussion: 13:42 – 15:18
• License Plate Phenomenon: 15:18 – 16:34

Tone & Takeaways

The conversation mixes practical business advice with vivid anecdotes, leveraging the guest’s direct, unfiltered takes and boasts a “college business class meets pop culture” vibe. The message is clear: Dubai is both ultra-competitive and full of opportunity, but success there demands intentionality, efficiency, and a sharp sense for both business and branding.

This summary captures all substantial content in the episode—business growth, Dubai’s competitive environment, socioeconomics, and mentorship—making it a must-read overview for anyone interested in entrepreneurship or the Middle East’s booming markets.