Located about 12 miles west of Damascus, Yaafour, one of Syria’s most exclusive residential areas, is once again attracting attention as investment interest grows around reconstruction projects and economic reopening efforts.

Housing projects in Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem are being marketed to buyers in Western cities through developers, brokers, and mortgage advisers targeting investors from London to New York and beyond.

Months after the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the resulting strikes weakened the UAE’s image as a safe hub for business and investment, Abu Dhabi launched a nationwide campaign urging citizens, residents, and institutions to sign a document expressing support for President bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

Of the total of $56 billion spent by foreign buyers in the U.S. housing market between April 2024 and March 2025, $13.7 billion alone came from Chinese buyers.

In a striking revelation, a British money launderer has been identified as purchasing two opulent apartments in Dubai while incarcerated in a prison in northern England.