Spider Lily Properties, founded by real estate broker and People of Determination advocate Roberto Benitez, is recognised as Abu Dhabi’s first licensed PoD-owned inclusive real estate brokerage.
From his base in Al Bahia, he is expanding from Abu Dhabi into the wider UAE, focusing on quality, trust, and a mission-driven approach to the market.
The brokerage specialises in accessible, senior-friendly, and inclusive housing options for People of Determination, families, and long-term investors who want both comfort and stability in the capital.
In this virtual interview with GBN’s special correspondent, he shares his perspective on real estate trends in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE.
What defines the current growth in Abu Dhabi’s real estate market?
Abu Dhabi’s market feels confident and intentional. It isn’t a wild spike followed by a crash; it’s steady, policy-driven growth. Families are relocating, serious investors are thinking long term, and people feel comfortable building both a life and a portfolio here.
What is driving property appreciation in Abu Dhabi today?
Stability is the main driver. strong job creation, long-term visas, clear regulations, and a high sense of safety. On top of that, Abu Dhabi is investing heavily in lifestyle and culture – museums on Saadiyat, Formula One and major attractions on Yas Island, and the planned Disneyland Abu Dhabi resort. Infrastructure matters too.
As Etihad Rail’s passenger network links Abu Dhabi more tightly with Dubai and the other emirates, areas around future stations become more attractive. At the same time, buyers are leaving markets with bubbles, currency swings, and constant rule changes, and moving capital into a place that feels calm and well planned.
Representational Image | Courtesy of EM’s FP | Cropped by Team GBN
How are rental yields and long-term growth shaping buyer decisions?
Most buyers want balance. They care about rental yields but don’t want ‘high yield, high headache’; they want solid returns with good occupancy and reliable tenants, plus calm, fundamentals-based capital growth over time.
Which residential segments are growing fastest right now?
Family homes in good communities are very active, and so are well-designed investment apartments near hubs like Yas, Saadiyat, and central business areas. There is also a clear opportunity in senior-friendly, inclusive properties, where demand is strong but supply remains limited.
Where is Abu Dhabi’s property market headed over the next year?
Based on our experience and observations at Spider Lily Properties, we believe the market will continue on a steady upward trajectory. As mentioned earlier, Abu Dhabi’s pace of development, new perspectives, and expanding footprint are all moving strongly toward 2030.
This will attract more residents from abroad, and investors who are tired of instability in other markets will continue to invest here. We are confident that this will support controlled and sustainable growth in the years ahead.
How strong is the demand for PoD-friendly and senior-ready homes?
Demand for PoD-friendly and senior-ready homes is very real and under-served. Families with People of Determination or elderly parents are tired of “making do” with homes that were never designed for them, so when they find a place that offers lifts, step-free access, proper bathrooms, and easy parking, they rarely let it go.
What do homebuyers in Abu Dhabi prioritise?
Buyers look beyond the surface. They still compare price per square metre, but they also ask about build quality, service charges, community facilities, schools, healthcare, commute times, and – increasingly–freehold or long-term ownership structures they can keep for the next generation.
Photo: Courtesy of Spider Lily Properties | Altered and designed by Team GBN
What mistakes do first-time UAE property investors make?
A big mistake is buying the dream instead of the actual property. People fall in love with glossy renderings, lifestyle videos, and payment plans, rather than asking hard questions about what exists on the ground, how the neighbourhood will develop, and how stable the broader regulations are. Another mistake is ignoring risk management and an exit strategy.
How do you confirm a property is genuinely accessible?
For me, ‘accessible’ is not a marketing word; it’s a lived reality. I personally visit and move through the space, checking ramp angles, lift size, door widths, bathroom layouts, and parking distance from the entrance. If I cannot move comfortably and safely as an amputee, it is not truly accessible.
How did your amputation shape your work in inclusive real estate?
Losing my leg came after I had already lived through 9/11 in New York, am part of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, and later fought cancer linked to that day, so I understood very clearly how fast life can change.
It forced me to see how unfriendly many “normal” homes really are: narrow bathroom doors, bedrooms only on upper floors, no ramps or lifts, and no grab bars in showers. Many properties are designed to save space and cost, not to support someone who may use a wheelchair, a walker, or simply need more stability with age.
Those experiences pushed me toward inclusive real estate, so PoDs and seniors can live with dignity in spaces designed for real people, not just for drawings on paper.
How has buyer behaviour changed in the past two years?
Buyers today arrive with more information and more specific questions. They see what is happening in their home countries – rising rates, unstable policies, social tension – and they want the opposite, so they ask about long-term visas, legal protections, and how stable the rules really are.
Which properties are drawing the most client interest right now?
Well-managed communities with practical, livable homes are attracting strong interest. People want to be close to work, schools, healthcare, and entertainment hubs like Yas and Saadiyat, and mid- to upper mid-range apartments and villas with sensible layouts and reasonable service charges perform very well.
Representational Image | Courtesy of EM’s FP | Cropped by Team GBN
Why the name similarity with Golden Gloves champion Roberto Benitez?
People often mention the Golden Gloves boxer when they hear my name, but we are not the same person. Boxing is still in the family, though – my cousin is Wilfredo Benítez, a world champion who fought legends like Sugar Ray Leonard – so the name “Benitez” comes with a fighting history.
What shifts do you expect in UAE housing by 2030?
By 2030, I see the UAE, and Abu Dhabi in particular, becoming even more convenient, connected, and inclusive. Under the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 agenda and the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, there is a clear focus on quality of life and accessibility, supported by smarter infrastructure, shaded and air-conditioned walkways, and the national Etihad Rail network, which knits cities together.
Which new Abu Dhabi projects will shape future demand?
Major cultural and entertainment projects on Saadiyat and Yas will continue to draw global attention, from museums and waterfront districts to Formula One and the planned Disneyland Abu Dhabi resort. Mixed-use communities with good transport links, especially around key Etihad Rail corridors, will be strong long-term demand drivers.
Do you plan to expand your work to other emirates in the long run?
Yes, but with intention, not just ambition. Abu Dhabi is home base and the heart of Spider Lily, and as our systems, team, and partnerships grow, we will expand into other emirates where our focus on accessibility and inclusion truly adds value. We are not chasing dirhams; we are chasing impact and better quality of life for People of Determination, seniors, and the families and businesses that serve them.
Roberto Benitez | Driven by lived experience
Photo: Courtesy of Spider Lily Properties | Altered and designed by Team GBN
Roberto Benitez’s work is not driven by market cycles or sales metrics. It is driven by lived experience, resilience, and a clear sense of purpose. His path, shaped by survival, loss, recovery, and determination, gives him an unusual clarity about what a home should provide, and whom it must not leave behind.
In a fast-growing market where design often races ahead of real human needs, he is building a brokerage that slows down long enough to ask the right questions: Is it accessible? Is it dignified? Is it livable for every stage of life?
As Abu Dhabi evolves into a more connected, inclusive, and future-ready city, voices like his are not just welcome, they are necessary. Spider Lily Properties is still young, but its mission is already bigger than a business goal. It is a reminder that real estate is ultimately about people, and that the most valuable developments are the ones that make life better for those who need it most.
