According to W. Jonathan Wride, Managing Director of Capital Partners, the Dubai-based American real estate private equity fund, the wild west days of anything goes has come to an end. Prices are still climbing and purchases are still a profitable investment, yet the exponential growth rates have slowed in many areas.

The Bust

Not much of a bust but more of a slowing of the rapid growth rates real estate has experienced in the UAE, mainly Dubai, the last 7 years. This is not to say real estate prices are not going up. To the contrary some unique properties, like the world's tallest building Burj Dubai, are still seeing those double digit annual rates, but overall prices have slowed their pace. This unique growth is tampered by huge internal factors affecting the market. The large volume of construction projects set to come on the market beginning in 2007 and continuing through 2010 have some individuals jittery.