Nomo has reported a 16% increase in UK residential property searches from Gulf Cooperation Council investors during the first quarter of 2026, with demand broadening beyond the UAE.
Nomo has reported a 16% increase in searches for UK residential property from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) investors during the first quarter of 2026, pointing to continued overseas interest in the UK housing market.
The digital bank, which provides Sharia’a-compliant UK property finance to GCC residents, said the data from its latest Property Pulse report showed demand becoming more geographically diverse across the region. While the United Arab Emirates remained the largest source of enquiries, accounting for 47% of searches, this represented a lower share than the previous quarter as interest grew elsewhere.
Qatar accounted for 14% of searches, followed by Kuwait on 13%, Saudi Arabia on 20%, Bahrain on 5% and Oman on 2%. Bahrain recorded the largest increase over the quarter, rising from 2% to 5% of total searches.
The report also found Westminster remained the most searched UK location among GCC investors, accounting for 7.1% of enquiries. However, Hammersmith and Fulham entered the top 10 most searched locations at 3.3%, just behind Kensington and Chelsea on 3.4%, suggesting buyers are increasingly considering areas beyond Prime Central London.
Outside the capital, Milton Keynes accounted for 6.6% of searches, double the level seen in the previous quarter, while Liverpool represented 5.3%, an increase of 2.4% over the same period.
Layla Hamidian, head of property finance sales and servicing at Nomo, said: “UK residential property continues to resonate with GCC investors looking for stability, transparency and long-term value. As overseas buyers reassess where to allocate capital, the UK’s well-regulated property market remains an attractive destination.”