Nomo, the digital bank that provides Sharia’a compliant UK property finance to residents in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has revealed that searches for UK residential property in the UK from GCC investors has risen by 16% in Q1 of 2026.
This increase in searches indicates a growing breadth of interest in UK property across the GCC. Whilst the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to dominate searches, with 47% of all searches originating from there, this proportion has dropped from last quarter, indicating that interest is diversifying across the region.
Qatar (14%), Kuwait (13%), Bahrain (5%), and Oman (2%) have all seen an increase in searches since last quarter, whilst Saudi Arabia also remains a significant originator, making up 20% of all searches. Bahrain has seen the largest increase in searches in the same period, rising from 2% to 5%.
Nomo’s Property Pulse report provides crucial insights on the current state of the market, helping brokers to understand the scale of GCC demand for UK property. Nomo also launched the Nomo Academy this year, providing vital learning materials, product updates and guidance for brokers supporting GCC residents with residential property purchases in the UK.
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.”
Westminster, London, remains the most desirable location for GCC investors, making up 7.1% of searches. Hammersmith and Fulham (3.3%) made a surprise entry in the top 10, just 0.1 percentage points behind the more traditionally popular borough of Kensington and Chelsea (3.4%) – indicating a potential increasing willingness among GCC investors to purchase property out of Prime Central London (PCL).
Outside of London, searches for Milton Keynes are at 6.6%, doubling from the previous quarter, and Liverpool is at 5.3%, up by 2.4% in the last quarter.
With Property Pulse, Nomo aims to offer a comprehensive, recurring insight into this increasingly important investment corridor in the UK property market. Future editions will continue to spotlight search trends, broker feedback, and current data from Nomo’s financing pipeline.
