New Colliers Data Shows Europe Continues to Dominate Global Cross‑Border Real Estate Investment

Shared 21 May, 2026

Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) continue to dominate global cross‑border real estate investment, capturing six of the world’s top ten destination markets as international capital concentrates in larger, more liquid locations, according to Colliers’ latest Global Capital Flows report.

Over the past 12 months, the UK ranked first globally for cross‑border investment into standing assets, accounting for 16.1% of international real estate capital flows. Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, and Italy also featured in the global top ten, meaning EMEA represented 60% of the world’s leading destinations for cross‑border capital at a time of heightened geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.

Luke Dawson, Head of Global and EMEA Capital Markets at Colliers, said, “Global capital markets are becoming increasingly fragmented, and investors are responding by directing capital towards markets that offer scale, liquidity and pricing clarity. EMEA continues to stand out on those fundamentals. Europe consistently captures a disproportionate share of cross-border capital: pricing has adjusted in recent years to offer strong income growth potential, and investors can deploy capital across a wide range of established markets and asset classes.”

Global investment into standing assets rose 15% year on year in the first quarter of 2026. In EMEA, growth remained more measured, with activity continuing to concentrate in larger, liquid markets, reinforcing the region’s role as a core allocation for global capital rather than a short‑term cyclical trade.

From a sector perspective, EMEA continues to display a more balanced investment profile than other regions, although structural shifts are becoming more pronounced. Senior living emerged as a standout theme in early 2026, rising sharply to account for 11% of Q1 regional investment activity, up from just 4% previously.

Damian Harrington, Head of Research, Global Capital Markets and EMEA at Colliers, said, “What the data clearly shows is that Europe’s appeal lies in breadth rather than concentration. Alongside core sectors such as office and industrial, investor conviction is building in more specialised, operational asset classes such as senior living.”

EMEA is also playing a growing role as a source of outbound investment. France has moved up the global rankings as a major exporter of cross‑border capital, while Sweden and Norway feature among the world’s top ten capital sources, highlighting the increasingly international focus of European institutional investors.

Despite shifting interest rate expectations, yield spreads across EMEA remain supportive relative to the cost of capital following widespread repricing since the end of 2022. This continues to underpin transaction activity in markets and sectors where income durability is well established.

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