Developers report stronger demand from Gulf-based Indians, with Mumbai, Bengaluru and NCR emerging as key destinations
Geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia is prompting some non-resident Indians (NRIs), particularly those living in the Gulf, to reconsider where they invest their money, with premium housing in India gaining attention.
Real estate developers have reported a noticeable increase in NRI demand for high-end homes, although it remains unclear whether the trend will develop into a broader and lasting shift in investment patterns.
Puravankara said NRIs accounted for 15 per cent of its pre-sales in the first quarter of financial year 2026-27, up from 13 per cent in the previous quarter and 9 per cent in the same quarter a year earlier. About 87 per cent of the company’s NRI demand is currently coming from West Asia, according to the developer.
Buyers from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are showing greater interest in properties in Mumbai, Bengaluru and the National Capital Region. Developers said many of these purchases are in the ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore range.
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The shift comes as the conflict involving Iran and the wider regional uncertainty have raised questions about the long-term security of assets and livelihoods in the Gulf
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For some NRIs, owning a home in India provides a potential long-term base for their families and a way to diversify their assets
Lodha Developers Managing Director Abhishek Lodha has estimated that a significant portion of the money Indians previously invested in Dubai property could instead remain in India. He said about ₹35,000 crore flowed from India into Dubai’s real estate market last year and argued that uncertainty overseas could encourage NRIs to secure homes in India.
However, industry executives caution against treating the trend as a wholesale flight from overseas property. Demand remains concentrated in premium housing, while the broader impact of the regional conflict on India’s property market is still moderate.
For now, the stronger NRI interest suggests that geopolitical risk is influencing some investment decisions, with India increasingly being considered a stable long-term alternative by Gulf-based buyers.
