New Partnership: ThinkProp

The CCIM Institute, the global standard in commercial real estate education, has announced a strategic initiative to expand its CCIM Designation curriculum in the United Arab Emirates. The Institute has partnered with ThinkProp, a leading government-recognized real estate training institute in the UAE, to deliver CCIM Designation courses and professional development programs throughout the region.

As a government-aligned real estate institute, ThinkProp operates at the intersection of policy, education, and innovation, working closely with the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Center (ADREC) and the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) to support the UAE’s national vision for smart governance, PropTech leadership, digital transformation, and sustainable real estate development.

This partnership also creates significant new opportunities for the CCIM global network by strengthening its presence in one of the world’s most active and fast-growing real estate markets. Expanding into the UAE gives CCIMs increased access to a region renowned for innovation, investment activity, and cross-border commercial development.

“ThinkProp was built to serve as a public platform, connecting government vision, global knowledge, and regional market execution,” said Moath Maqbol, General Manager of ADRES. “Through this partnership, we are creating an exclusive gateway for international standards to take root in the UAE and the surrounding region, accelerating professionalism, transparency, and institutional-grade real estate practices across the region.”

This expansion reinforces The CCIM Institute’s mission to elevate commercial real estate professionals worldwide through rigorous, skill-based education in financial and market analysis, investment strategy, and ethics. With a presence in more than 30 countries, the Institute’s global growth strategy focuses on partnering with leading regional organizations to deliver consistent education that responds to local market needs. CCIM members include commercial real estate brokers, investors, appraisers, bankers, attorneys, fiduciaries, asset managers, property managers, among others.

“Commercial real estate professionals around the world continue to seek education that brings clarity, confidence, and measurable results to their work,” said Steve Rich, CCIM, 2025 Global President of The CCIM Institute. “This partnership with ThinkProp represents an important step in strengthening our global community. By expanding access to the CCIM Designation curriculum in the United Arab Emirates, we’re helping more professionals apply proven analytical frameworks that support smarter investment decisions and sustainable growth—particularly in a market where technology and data are rapidly transforming how real estate decisions are made.”

This partnership is grounded in a shared commitment to developing real estate talent and fostering a culture of continuous learning. With ThinkProp’s strong presence in professional training and CCIM’s globally recognized curriculum, practitioners in the UAE will gain new pathways to deepen their expertise and broaden their career opportunities.

“This partnership represents more than educational collaboration. It is the foundation of a regional intelligence platform for real estate investment and asset strategy,” said Jasem Alhosani, CEO of ThinkProp and Operations Lead at ADRES. “By aligning CCIM’s globally respected financial and analytical frameworks with ThinkProp’s regulatory partnerships, market intelligence, and PropTech-driven innovation, we are equipping professionals with the tools to make smarter, data-driven investment decisions while strengthening the UAE’s position as a global center for real estate excellence.”

Following recent institutional alliances in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, this collaboration with ThinkProp further supports The CCIM Institute’s strategic goal of building long-term partnerships that empower commercial real estate professionals worldwide. The UAE’s rapid adoption of PropTech, digital governance, and smart-city innovation provides a strong foundation for this partnership to advance analytical and technology-forward real estate education.

“At The CCIM Institute, we are committed to building partnerships that not only broaden our global footprint but also meet the evolving needs of regional markets,” said Paul Rumler, Chief Executive Officer of The CCIM Institute. “The United Arab Emirates is experiencing significant momentum in commercial real estate, especially as PropTech reshapes valuation, property management, and investment strategies. Collaborating with ThinkProp allows us to deliver the education and resources that professionals in this market need to compete and lead. We’re excited to support the continued development of talent in this important part of the world.”

As the exclusive strategic partner and regional delivery hub for CCIM in the UAE, ThinkProp will anchor program delivery, industry engagement, and international investor collaboration, reinforcing the UAE’s role as a global benchmark for innovation-led, knowledge-based real estate development.