In the global real estate investment landscape, rental yield remains a core indicator for measuring asset value. While traditional investment hotspots are experiencing slower returns due to high housing prices, a number of emerging markets are rising rapidly, driven by policy dividends, industrial growth, and demographic dividends, becoming the focus of attention at overseas real estate exhibitions. These cities not only offer rental returns above the global average but also open new avenues for wealth appreciation for investors through diversified market structures and growth potential.
Dubai leads the world with rental yields of 6%-8%, its tax-free policy and the dual drivers of tourism and finance creating a thriving ecosystem for its high-end rental market. In 2025, the local government relaxed the permanent ownership limit for foreigners to 999 years, directly stimulating long-term rental demand. Data shows that apartments near technology industry clusters such as Canary Wharf have seen annual rent increases of up to 18%, while the operating costs of smart apartments are 12% lower than traditional properties, further boosting net returns. At overseas real estate exhibitions, Dubai projects often attract investors with the combined advantages of “zero property tax + residency visa,” becoming a popular asset allocation option for high-net-worth individuals.
Southeast Asian markets exhibit a distinct characteristic of “low cost, high return.” Phnom Penh, Cambodia, has become one of the cities with the highest rental yields globally, thanks to its open foreign investment policies and tourism recovery. For example, the City Center project, Yi Yuan, boasts an annual rental yield exceeding 10%, with some units even reaching 15%, far surpassing mature markets like Singapore (3.4%). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s “Malaysia My Second Home” program has also proven highly effective, with strong supply and demand for high-end serviced apartments. Digital management tools have increased rental efficiency by 75%, driving vacancy rates in core areas down to below 3%. Exhibition booths in these cities often attract attention with slogans like “starting from US$100,000 down payment,” catering to the budget needs of small and medium-sized investors.
The African continent is emerging as a new investment hotspot. Nairobi, Kenya, set a new global record with a combined return of 13.3%, driven by a mining recovery that has boosted employment. Its rental inventory turnover period is only 1.2 months, and its rental growth leads the nation. Northeast England, with a gross yield of 7.9%, has become a European investment hotspot. Areas like Barking-Dagnum, with their lower total property prices and stable tenant base, have become “hidden champions” in the buy-to-rent market. These cases are often associated with keywords like “counter-cyclical assets” and “stable cash flow” in the exhibition, attracting conservative investors with lower risk appetites.
Technology-driven and policy innovations are reshaping the rental market landscape. Berlin reduces operational costs through smart home integration, Perth attracts young talent with a five-year property tax exemption, and East London achieves rental yields 2.1 percentage points higher than the core areas thanks to the expansion of technology companies. These innovative models are presented intuitively in the exhibition through VR property viewings, smart contract demonstrations, and other technological means, helping investors understand the value-added logic of “traditional real estate + digital technology.” For example, the app-based booking system for serviced apartments in Kuala Lumpur reduces cross-border management costs by 40%, becoming a benchmark case for digital operations.
The regional differentiation and industry linkages of global rental yields provide rich narrative material for overseas real estate exhibitions. From Dubai’s tax haven to Phnom Penh’s hotbed for foreign investment, from Nairobi’s resource advantages to London’s East End’s technological transformation, each high-yield city embodies a unique economic logic and investment opportunities. For exhibitors, these cases are not merely data listings, but also a source of inspiration for asset allocation—by combining cities with different risk levels, return levels, and growth potential, investors can construct cross-market, cross-cycle investment portfolios to capture certain returns amidst the wave of globalization.
