Century 21 Brand Expands Global Footprint With Opening of First United Arab Emirates Office

Uae office launch

The UAE operation is led by Peter Matthews, Group CEO of CENTURY 21 UAE and India, whose oversight spans the brand’s presence across South Asia and the Middle East. The Dubai office, home to 30 affiliated agents and growing, is helmed by Alex Pearson, Managing Director, who brings deep on-the-ground experience in both the off-plan and secondary markets. Together, they lead a team built with a deliberate emphasis on broker expertise and client outcomes.

The UAE launch carries the imprint of CENTURY 21 Australasia, whose Chairman Charles Tarbey has been instrumental in expanding the brand’s international footprint. Tarbey’s track record of building one of the most successful CENTURY 21 regional networks in the world, sustained by a commitment to quality service, agent development, and innovation, has set a benchmark for how the brand enters and grows in new markets. That same standard is the foundation on which CENTURY 21 UAE is being built.

Market dynamics

The UAE market activity includes notable market dynamics and population growth. Dubai recorded significant transaction volume in early 2026, driven by continued foreign investment and a population that has grown from 2.65 million in 2016 to over four million today, with projections pointing to 5.8 million by 2033. While broader regional conditions have introduced new variables for investors, Dubai’s underlying economic fundamentals, a diversified buyer base, and structural demand drivers have sustained activity in the market.

“The UAE government’s focus on attracting leading global businesses has created a market with strong fundamentals and long-term visibility,” Peter Matthews, Group CEO, CENTURY 21 UAE and India. “Establishing our regional headquarters here reflects both the scale of opportunity and the depth of demand we are seeing across our global network. We are bringing together the trusted power of the CENTURY 21 brand with deep local expertise, and that combination is built to deliver for clients on both sides of a transaction, wherever in the world they are.”

For buyers, sellers, and investors in Dubai, the CENTURY 21 UAE provides access to a network of offices and agents with experience in local markets to support transactions in a dynamic and diverse market. Whether a first-time buyer in Abu Dhabi, a luxury investor in Dubai, or an international client making a cross-border move, CENTURY 21 UAE offers on-the-ground knowledge to guide every step of the transaction.

“The CENTURY 21 brand has always grown by going where the opportunity is real and where clients need a trusted partner to help them navigate it,” shared Mike Miedler, President and CEO, Century 21 Real Estate LLC. “The UAE is exactly that kind of market. It draws buyers and investors from every corner of the world, and it deserves a level of professional service that matches its ambition.

What Peter, Alex, and the agents affiliated with their offices are building in the UAE reflects everything this brand stands for: local expertise backed by a global network, and a genuine commitment to delivering for clients at every step of the transaction. That combination is what has made our brand a leader for more than 50 years, and it is what will define our presence in the Middle East for years to come.”

*1Study Source: 2025 Kantar Study. The survey results are based on 1,200 online interviews with a national random sample of adults (ages 18+) who are equal decision makers in real estate transactions and active in the real estate market (bought or sold a home within the past two years or, plan to purchase or sell a home within the next two years). Recognition question based on consumer awareness of brand in question.

Results are significant at a 90% confidence level, with a margin of error of +/-2.4%. The study was conducted by Kantar Group Limited, a leading global market research organization, from November 17 - December 3, 2025.

2Dubai Land Department Q1 2026 Report, April 9, 2026, Dubai’s real estate transactions surge 31% to reach AED 252 billion in Q1 2026