Christie's International Real Estate Expands into Booming Abu Dhabi

The new venture, Christie's International Real Estate Abu Dhabi, is led by Jackie Johns and Dinesh Chhatwani. The pair previously steered the brand’s Dubai operations to Affiliate of the Year status in 2025, providing a blueprint for their expansion into the capital. Their arrival coincides with a period of intense activity where total real estate transactions hit AED 117 billion, already matching 82% of the entire 2025 volume.

This growth is underpinned by the emirate’s $1.7 trillion in sovereign wealth and a decade-long 80% rise in the local millionaire population. Johns and Chhatwani view the move as a strategic long-term play rather than a spillover from Dubai’s success. With property prices spanning from AED 2 million to over AED 200 million, the market is increasingly defined by high-end branded residences from operators like Four Seasons and The St. Regis. As global capital flows into major cultural and commercial projects, the duo intends to leverage the firm’s international referral network to connect developers and investors within this rapidly maturing landscape.