Edinburgh-born Calum White has spoken of his pride after his real estate company was recognised for having sold the most property over the past 12 months in Dubai’s freehold areas.
The accolade was handed out to the rapidly-growing White & Co. brokerage by the Dubai Land Department (DLD), the government agency that manages, regulates and records all real estate transactions, property ownership, and land development in the city.
Designated freehold areas in Dubai allow foreign nationals to own property outright, which has been a major part of Dubai opening its property market to international buyers, with the most popular communities including Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Hills Estate and Jumeirah Golf Estates.
White & Co. picked up the honour after selling over 3000 properties in the past 12 months.
Mr White, who established the firm in 2021, said: “This is the most prestigious recognition a real estate brokerage in Dubai can receive because ultimately it comes down to the most important metric in our industry: transactions.
“This is the biggest accolade White & Co has received since we started the company. For me, there isn’t a bigger one and is my proudest moment in business.
“We have been fortunate enough to win some fantastic awards over the years, including awards from the major property portals and international industry bodies.
“Those have all been great achievements but there can sometimes be a perception within the industry that portal awards are influenced by how much companies spend with those platforms, and you regularly see multiple agencies claiming to be ‘No. 1’ in different categories.
“This is different.
“When the Dubai Land Department tells you that you are No. 1, nobody can argue with it. It is based on the actual transactions taking place in the market, and this particular award goes to one brokerage and one brokerage only.
“For a company that has only been operating for just over five-and-a-half years, that is an unbelievable achievement and testament to the people we have working within the business.”
The recognition caps a remarkable rise to prominence for the firm, which has grown consistently since opening its doors in Motor City. 2025 revenue was £63 million (307 million UAE Dirhams), up 75% from the year prior. Staffing levels sit around the 700 mark, with 90% coming from the UK.
“When we started White & Co., I don’t think anyone expected us to do this,” added Mr White (32), who grew up in the Inch area of Edinburgh, before moving to UAE 10 years ago.
“But it couldn’t have been achieved without our amazing team, who work tirelessly to get results for their clients and continue raising the standards in the market. I can confidently predict that what they have accomplished in just over five years will never be done again.
“This award solidifies White & Co’s position in the market place.
“If you’re a seller, the argument is very simple: we are selling more property in Dubai’s freehold areas than any other brokerage. That means our sellers have access to an enormous ecosystem of buyers and some of the highest-performing agents in the market.
“If you’re a buyer, we have access to an incredible amount of stock. Alongside our transaction performance, we are also currently leading the market for listings and leads. For an expat arriving in Dubai, that means we’re able to provide access to an enormous part of the market through one company, whether they’re looking to buy, sell, rent or invest.”
