How To Submit A Real Estate Award Nomination
Submitting a Real Estate Award Nomination is a five-step process. First, select your category — most entrants enter between two and four categories, mixing corporate-level recognition (such as Developer Of The Year) with project-level recognition (such as Luxury Property Of The Year). Second, prepare your evidence — the written submission, supporting imagery, drawings, performance data and any third-party validation.
Third, complete the online entry form via the official entry portal. Fourth, pay the entry fee — multi-category entries qualify for discounted fees. Fifth, the entry is acknowledged by the awards secretariat and progresses through eligibility review, jury scoring, shortlisting and final winner announcement.
Throughout the process, entrants receive scheduled updates on category progress and gala details. We recommend submitting at least two weeks before the published deadline to allow time for any clarification requests from the awards secretariat.
Selecting The Right Categories
Strong category selection is the first step to a winning nomination. Most successful entrants compete in two to four categories, balancing project-level recognition with corporate-level recognition. A residential developer, for example, might enter Developer Of The Year (corporate-level), Luxury Property Of The Year (project-level) and Sustainable Developer Of The Year (corporate-level).
Regional category selection is equally important. Entrants can compete at country level, regional level (Asia, Europe, Middle East, Americas, Africa, Oceania, GCC) and global level. Country-level recognition is particularly valuable for developers and agencies operating in a single market; regional and global recognition is particularly valuable for cross-border organisations.
- Pick categories where your evidence is strongest — verified outcomes, quality photography, third-party validation
- Mix corporate-level and project-level recognition for maximum coverage
- Consider regional categories first — the field is narrower than at global level
- Don't over-extend — three strong entries reliably beat six weak entries
- If unsure, contact the awards team for category consultation
Preparing The Written Entry
The written entry is the heart of the submission. Strong entries are 600–900 words per category, evidence-led, with a clear narrative structure: what the work is, why it matters, how it performs and what makes it distinctive. Generic positioning language consistently underperforms specific, well-quantified narrative.
Quantification is critical. Strong entries quote specific numbers — units delivered, completion timeline, sales velocity, occupancy, embodied-carbon performance, customer satisfaction scores. Where independent third-party data is available — buyer research, market data, certification — it carries significant weight. Marketing claims without supporting evidence score poorly across all category sets.
Tone matters. The awards jury reads dozens of entries; clarity and specificity reliably outperform marketing-heavy positioning. Write in a confident, evidence-led editorial register — the way a serious industry publication would describe the work.
Supporting Evidence And Imagery
Strong visual evidence carries significant weight, particularly in the architecture, luxury and design category sets. High-resolution photography of completed work, professional renderings of under-construction work, drawings, masterplans, model imagery and short video presentations all strengthen the entry.
Third-party evidence carries particular weight. Independent press coverage, third-party certification (LEED, BREEAM, WELL, EDGE, country-specific equivalents), buyer or tenant research, independent market data and verified financial outcomes all support the jury's confidence in the entry. Where claims can be independently verified, they score significantly higher than unverified marketing claims.
Submission formats include JPG and PNG for imagery (high-resolution preferred), PDF for drawings and supporting documents, and MP4 for video. The online entry portal accepts uploads up to substantial file sizes; the awards team can provide guidance on submission of particularly large evidence sets.
Entry Deadlines And Timeline
The 2026 entry calendar runs in three windows. The early-bird window closes in early Q2 and offers discounted entry fees; the standard window closes mid-Q3; the late-entry window closes Q4 and carries a late-entry premium. Specific dates are published on the official entry portal and the resources section of this site.
Eligibility review takes approximately two weeks after entry close. Jury scoring runs over four to six weeks following eligibility review. Shortlists are typically announced four to six weeks before the gala, with shortlisted entrants notified directly by the awards secretariat. Final winners are revealed live at the gala in mid-November.
Submitting early is strongly recommended. Early submissions allow time for any clarification requests, multi-category coordination and supporting evidence requests. Late submissions cannot be considered after the published deadline.
After Submission
Once submitted, the entry is acknowledged by the awards secretariat and progresses through eligibility review, jury scoring, shortlisting and final winner announcement. Throughout the process, entrants receive scheduled updates on category progress and gala details. The secretariat may request clarifications or additional evidence during eligibility review or jury scoring; prompt responses ensure smooth progress.
Shortlisted entrants are notified directly ahead of the gala and receive a 'shortlisted' recognition asset for use during the period between shortlist announcement and final winners. Final winners are revealed live at the gala in Dubai, with recognition assets — trophy, digital seal, print seal, editorial profile, winners directory listing — issued shortly afterwards.
Submit Your Real Estate Award Nomination Now
Nominations are submitted online via the official entry portal. The form takes 20–30 minutes per category to complete. Detailed entry resources, sample entries and category criteria are published throughout this site. The awards team can be contacted directly for entry consultation, particularly for first-time entrants or organisations entering multiple categories. We look forward to receiving your nomination and reviewing your work.
