Why Football Stars Are Buying Property in the UAE

Two high-profile footballers have made property headlines in the UAE within days of each other. Karim Benzema has acquired several residences in Dubai, while Erling Haaland has announced a new home in Abu Dhabi, where his father, Alfie Haaland, has also purchased a neighbouring property.

Their purchases have brought renewed attention to the UAE's appeal among international sports figures, but the developments themselves are equally interesting. Benzema has bought into a Mercedes-Benz-associated residential project, while Haaland's new home is part of a community developed in partnership with Manchester City.

The announcements add to a growing list of footballers linked to the UAE's luxury property market, including Neymar Jr. and Aymeric Laporte, who have both bought penthouses at Bugatti Residences by Binghatti in Dubai.

The French footballer has acquired several residential units at Mercedes-Benz Places, including a luxury residence in Vision Iconic Tower, the masterplan's largest tower.

Binghatti announced the purchases in October 2026, adding another prominent buyer to a development that brings Mercedes-Benz's design identity into residential real estate.

Mercedes-Benz Places is an AED 30 billion master-planned community in Nad Al Sheba, introduced in January 2026. The project significantly expands the partnership between the German automotive brand and Dubai developer Binghatti, following their earlier collaboration on Mercedes-Benz Places in Downtown Dubai.

The broader project is a multi-tower residential district, with the automotive brand shaping the architectural language and overall design concept.

Benzema's purchase value has not been publicly disclosed. However, the acquisition is notable for its scale: rather than buying a single apartment, the footballer has acquired several residences within the development.

The Manchester City striker revealed that he had bought a home at Manchester City Yas Residences by Ohana, a waterfront residential community being developed on Yas Canal. His father, Alfie Haaland, has also bought a property, and the pair are expected to live next door to each other.

The announcement was made in October 2026 at an event promoting the development. The specific properties purchased by the two have not been disclosed.

Developed by Ohana Development in partnership with Manchester City, the AED15 billion project is planned across approximately 1.67 million square metres. The masterplan includes villas, townhouses, duplexes and a range of sports, leisure and community facilities.

The Manchester City connection is central to the project's identity, with plans for a training academy and spaces designed around the club's sporting culture.

Haaland's purchase is particularly interesting because it demonstrates how football's global following can extend beyond merchandise, sponsorships and match-day experiences into residential property. The partnership gives the club a presence in a residential development, while the project provides buyers with a home associated with an internationally recognised sporting brand.

Footballers buying property in the UAE is not a new phenomenon. One of the most prominent recent examples came in November 2024, when Neymar Jr. acquired a penthouse at Bugatti Residences by Binghatti in Business Bay for AED 200 million.

The residence belongs to the development's Sky Mansion collection and includes a private swimming pool, views of the Downtown Dubai skyline, and a private car lift that lets vehicles be transported directly into the home.

In 2025, Spanish international Aymeric Laporte also acquired a penthouse at Bugatti Residences. The development's appeal to high-profile buyers has been closely tied to its unusual concept: a residential project built around an automotive marque's identity, with design features that reflect its association with Bugatti.

Together, Neymar's and Laporte's purchases offer an earlier example of a trend that has continued with Benzema. The buyers are not simply choosing luxury apartments; they are acquiring homes within developments built around globally recognised brands.

The latest announcements also include former Morocco captain Medhi Amine, who has purchased an apartment at Eywa Tree of Life in Dubai as he prepares to relocate to the emirate.

Benzema, Haaland, and Amine's recent purchases are notable because the properties span different developments and two emirates. They also reflect different approaches to branded residential living, from automotive design to a football club partnership and a wellness-focused residential concept.

The individual motivations behind these purchases are not fully disclosed, so it's difficult to attribute them to a single factor. However, the UAE offers international connectivity, an established luxury property market, and a broad choice of residential developments, from waterfront villas to branded penthouses.

For professional footballers, whose careers often involve regular travel and international commitments, buying property can serve several purposes. It may be a private residence, a base for family life, a longer-term investment or a combination of these. The precise role will differ from one buyer to another.

The developments themselves also illustrate the variety of properties available. A penthouse in Business Bay, a residence in a large masterplanned Dubai community and a home on Yas Canal represent very different ways of living in the UAE.

One common thread connects several of these purchases: the growing prominence of branded residences in the UAE.

Mercedes-Benz Places, Bugatti Residences, and Manchester City Yas Residences by Ohana each use a different global identity to shape their residential propositions. The brand is not limited to a name on the building. It forms part of the concept, influencing the design, amenities or lifestyle associated with the development.

For developers, partnerships with globally recognised brands can help distinguish a project in a competitive market. For buyers, they offer a more specific proposition than a conventional residential building, although each development's value still depends on its location, design, services, and execution.

Benzema's and Haaland's purchases are therefore relevant beyond the names involved. They highlight two developments that show how different brands are being incorporated into the UAE's residential market.

Celebrity ownership can generate visibility, but it should not be confused with a guarantee of investment performance. A property's long-term value will still depend on fundamentals such as supply, demand, delivery, build quality and its position within the wider market.