Over 20,000 delegates from 90 countries gathered in Cannes for the 35th edition of MIPIM 2025, the premier global urban festival where investors, political leaders, and industry executives addressed key real estate challenges and opportunities. Discussions spanned geopolitical uncertainties, AI’s transformative impact, decarbonisation, data centres, and shifting tenant demands.
Expanding Global Reach and Market Influence
MIPIM 2025 welcomed strong delegations from the UK, Germany, and Italy, alongside increasing Middle Eastern participation. Debut appearances from Uzbekistan, Bahrain, South Korea, and the Philippines underscored MIPIM’s expanding influence. Returning delegations from Japan, Canada, the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, India, Türkiye, Oman, the UAE, and Qatar further cemented the event’s global relevance.
Tackling the Housing Crisis
The event commenced with the Housing Matters! Conference, addressing pressing residential challenges, including housing shortages and student accommodation deficits. France’s Housing Minister, Valérie Létard, announced €100m (£85.5m) to support mayors in housing development and €230m (£196.5m) for brownfield regeneration in the 2025 state budget.
Landmark Investment Announcements
Significant investment projects were unveiled, including:
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London: Mayor Sadiq Khan launched a €25.7bn (£22bn) investible prospectus.
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Riyadh: The Media and Innovation District in Diriyah, part of a €58.2bn ($63.2bn) masterplan.
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Manchester: A €2.3bn (£2bn) regeneration plan featuring a new 100,000-capacity stadium for Manchester United.
Khan emphasised London’s attractiveness for investment: “I'm attending the MIPIM property conference to bang the drum for London, seeking new investment to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes and unlock infrastructure and jobs.”
Expert Insights and AI’s Role in Real Estate
Dr Mario Draghi delivered the keynote address, discussing Europe’s economic resilience, the future of interest rates, and the crucial role of decarbonisation. AI’s impact on digital real estate was another dominant theme, explored through MIPIM’s collaboration with Columbia University.
Emerging Investment Trends
The RE-Invest Summit highlighted growing interest in data centres, despite uncertainty surrounding AI-driven demand. Discussions on the German real estate market signalled cautious optimism, with Farrah Brown, Head of Debt Capital Markets at Nuveen Real Estate, stating: “It’s a time to be more disciplined but have conviction.”
Nicole Poetsch, Co-Head of Investment Europe at PIMCO Prime Real Estate, reinforced this sentiment: “Investors continue to find real estate attractive. Valuations have bottomed out and are increasing slowly.”
MIPIM 2025: A Catalyst for Market Revival
Nicolas Kozubek, MIPIM Director, reflected on the event’s impact: “This week has confirmed that when the global property community comes together, MIPIM doesn’t just reflect the market but helps shape its future.”
The MIPIM Challengers Conference concluded the event, featuring fresh innovations from young professionals across the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, and Italy, covering topics from climate-proof sponge cities to blockchain material passports.
MIPIM Awards 2025:
Recognising Excellence
The annual MIPIM Awards celebrated outstanding projects, including:
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Germany: Green Bunker
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China: Sky Mirrors
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USA: Wildflower Film Studios
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Poland: Fuzja (Fusion) – Special Jury Award
MIPIM returns to Cannes from 9-13 March 2026, with MIPIM Asia Summit scheduled for 3-4 December 2025 in Hong Kong.
Europe Real Estate — an overview of real estate developments in European countries.
