Dubai-based advisory expands its leadership team in response to sustained international demand for UAE property

THE STORY AT A GLANCE

• Alexander Johnson Group expands, appointing a Partner and Head of Residential and launching a dedicated luxury residential practice in response to the strength of the market
• Dubai closed H1 2026 with AED 419.9 billion in real estate transactions, one of the strongest half years in its history
• June sales rose more than 30 per cent month on month to AED 32.66 billion, the strongest month since the spring
• 19 homes sold above AED 30 million in a single month as the luxury segment led the market
• Abu Dhabi activity more than doubled year on year as international investment reached record levels
• HSBC, Brookfield, and Blackstone amongst others have reaffirmed commitment to the region

Download full Press Release here: AJG_Press_Release_Franky_Spencer_29_July_2026

Dubai, UAE / London, 29 July 2026 – Alexander Johnson Group, the Dubai-based real estate advisory taking a private banking approach to commercial, hotel and luxury residential property investment, is expanding its leadership team in response to sustained growth in demand for UAE property from investors across the globe. The expansion follows the establishment of the firm’s dedicated UK presence earlier this year.

As part of the expansion, Alexander Johnson Group has appointed Franky Spencer as Partner and Head of Residential. Franky joins from Elysian Real Estate and brings 21 years of experience in the Dubai property market. A 15-year veteran of the British forces, he has built his career across multiple market cycles, with deep experience in both the off plan and secondary markets and long-standing relationships with the emirate’s most prominent developers.

The firm has built its reputation on commercial transactions, including hotels, offices and commercial land, in response to the long-term infrastructure projects and investment in the region, and the creation of a dedicated residential practice extends that same advisory led approach to private buyers, families relocating to Dubai and residential investors.

The growth also comes despite the perceptions created by the regional conflict. The fundamentals that made the UAE one of the world’s leading property markets remain intact, and major international institutions including HSBC have reaffirmed their commitment and investment in the region, alongside Brookfield and Blackstone. Brookfield’s new joint venture in Dubai Hills was announced as a statement of conviction in the long-term fundamentals of the region, Blackstone plans a return to Dubai with a new office in the DIFC, and global asset managers are pressing ahead with plans for offices in Abu Dhabi.

The numbers tell the same story. Dubai closed the first half of 2026 with AED 419.9 billion in real estate transactions, one of the strongest half year performances in its history, while activity in Abu Dhabi more than doubled year on year as international investment into the capital reached record levels. The latest monthly market data confirms the momentum, with sales in June rising by more than 30 per cent month on month to AED 32.66 billion, the strongest month since the spring, and the luxury segment leading the way with 19 homes sold above AED 30 million in a single month. At the top of the residential market, where the most interesting homes are rarely advertised, demand for discreet, experienced advice has never been stronger.

Alex Johnson, CEO of Alexander Johnson Group, said: “Our ambition is to build one of the region’s most trusted advisories across commercial and luxury residential property. Franky is our expert at the residential end of the market, and his arrival means we can support our clients from commercial land and property right through to luxury residential, including off plan, with the discreet service and private banking approach the firm was founded on.”

Franky Spencer, Partner and Head of Residential at Alexander Johnson Group, said: “I have watched Dubai transform over two decades. The market has matured, and the government’s D33 agenda aims to double the city’s economy by 2033 and make Dubai one of the world’s top cities to live, work, invest and visit. The investors coming to Dubai today see the long-term vision of the region, and they want experienced advisers, not salespeople. That is exactly what the private banking approach at Alexander Johnson Group delivers, and I could not be more excited to be part of the next chapter.”

Franky’s appointment brings the combined experience of the Alexander Johnson Group team to over 100 years across banking and real estate, spanning markets around the globe.

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AVAILABLE TO MEDIA
Alex Johnson, CEO, is available for interview in Dubai, London and by video. High resolution photography is available on request.

NOTES TO EDITORS
Alexander Johnson Group is a Dubai-based real estate advisory taking a private banking approach to property investment, founded by Alex Johnson. The firm specialises in high-end residential, commercial, hotel and luxury property services for high-net-worth investors, institutional clients and family offices across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with a team drawn from senior banking and real estate backgrounds bringing over 100 years of combined experience. Record investor interest in Dubai drove the establishment of the firm’s dedicated UK presence in early 2026, and the firm and its leadership have been featured in publications including Arabian Business, Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, USA Today, IB Times and CEO Weekly.

Market data referenced in this release is drawn from Dubai Land Department transaction records, Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre figures and published June 2026 market reports. Details of Brookfield’s Dubai Hills joint venture were announced publicly in May 2026.

MEDIA CONTACT
Kate Woodyatt Hudson
kate@alexanderjohnsongroup.com
+44 7736 676136