You probably heard about Colliers if you are a buyer, investor, or normal tenant looking for a better real estate partner in Abu Dhabi. Colliers is one of those companies that appear in almost all significant discussions on the UAE market. But truly, who are they? In Abu Dhabi, what do they do? And how do they compare to other well-known figures in the industry? Let’s answer all of these questions in one simple read.
Company Background & its Founding
The origins of the worldwide brand Colliers can be traced back to Australia in the middle of the 1970s. It developed into one of the leading real estate companies in the world over the years. Colliers currently employs more than 18,000 people around the globe and has more than 480 offices. That is a massive reach, and it is seen in the way they manage work in several markets simultaneously.
Colliers has been operating in the United Arab Emirates since 1996 and has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This is due to almost thirty years of practical experience in this area. Jay S. Hennick is the CEO of Colliers. Serving both domestic and international clients, the Abu Dhabi office operates as Colliers International Middle East LLC in the Middle East.
In 2008, Colliers took on a more structured and legal form in the UAE with the formal establishment of the FZ-LLC organization.
Colliers Services & Sectors
Colliers is more than just a brokerage, as their range of real estate services is offered in the MENA region. These services include valuing both commercial and residential properties, managing properties and assets, selling, renting, and marketing real estate projects, as well as market research, consulting, feasibility studies, development advice, and managing investment funds.
The number of services in Abu Dhabi means that Colliers International Middle East LLC can help you with a deal from start to end, from making sure that a project makes sense on paper to taking care of the property once you own it.
Along with trading, Colliers also has a division that handles projects. In the UAE, the Project Leaders branch has worked on multibillion-dollar projects for companies like DP World, Dubai Holding, Sobha, and Emaar, as well as well-known companies like Mace and Turner & Townsend.
They provide services to the following sectors in Abu Dhabi and the UAE:
- Offices: Grade-A commercial space is leased and sold.
- Retail: Advice and market research for shopping centers and retail parks.
- Residential: Rental guidance, off-plan sales, and resale.
- Hotels & Leisure: Advice on hotel assets and viability for hotels and leisure.
- Industrial: Logistics and warehousing properties are considered industrial.
Projects & Deals in the UAE
Companies like Colliers do not publicly announce every sale it closes, but open-source data shows that its staff has worked with some of the biggest names in the UAE. Colliers Project Leaders team members have expertise working on major UAE projects like the World Trade Center in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Creek Harbour, and Marsa Al Seef.
Collaborating With Aldar Properties
Aldar Properties, the top developer in Abu Dhabi, is another company they advise. Colliers' physical presence at Yas Mall places them in proximity to Aldar's management of Yas Island's retail, hotel, and mixed-use assets.
Research & Valuation
The company has also been involved in research and valuation initiatives for mixed-use projects in Khalidiyah, Saadiyat Island, and Al Reem Island, all of which are important areas on Abu Dhabi's property map. Colliers has frequently been among the first companies to release price information and supply projections for buyers and renters looking at these locations.
Colliers Market Position
There is a moderate degree of competitive concentration in the UAE real estate services sector. The top tier of this sector is anchored by multinational corporations like CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, and Colliers. They can secure mandates for complicated headquarters relocations, data center searches, and extensive mixed-use feasibility studies.
Colliers is therefore solidly in the top tier. However, it is not at the top in terms of world rankings. As of 2024, CBRE is the top player in the worldwide commercial real estate sector with a 22% market share. In terms of size, JLL and Cushman & Wakefield are also larger than Colliers.
Depth rather than size is frequently what makes Colliers different in Abu Dhabi. Overall, with around 500 employees (in the Middle East) and a bilingual team of real estate professionals, the company provides a local service experience supported by international resources.
How Colliers Operates in the Middle East
The Middle East branch works as a regional division within a complete global structure. Because Colliers International Middle East helps property owners, buyers, and investors in the region with real estate services and investment management, its Abu Dhabi office is part of a regional network, with local Arab directors taking care of work that is special to the city.
The company does not own or build infrastructure in the UAE. It is basically a consulting and services company that makes money from fees tied to deals, values, and management contracts. There are no assets that it holds to make a profit otherwise. Investors should be aware of this because they sometimes mix up property experts and developers.
