Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates remain the most sought-after destinations for Russians buying property abroad. At the same time, Indonesia, including Bali, dropped out of the top ten in 2026 due to risks related to obtaining construction permits and the legal status of land. This was reported on October 7 by Mikhail Bulanov, co-founder and managing partner of Tranio.
Based on the results for January–September, Thailand retained first place, although its share of the total number of applications fell from 22.9% to 17.8%. Turkey, by contrast, increased its share from 8.4% to 10.2% and remained in second place, while the UAE's share grew from 8.3% to 9.8%, allowing the country to keep third place.
Cyprus and Greece significantly improved their positions in the ranking. Cyprus's share increased from 5.4% to 8.1%, and Greece's from 5.4% to 7.3%, helping the countries rise from sixth place to fourth and fifth, respectively. Georgia also entered the top ten, taking sixth place, followed by Montenegro, France, Spain and Italy.
"Cyprus and Greece moved up in the ranking thanks to the visa opportunities these countries offer Russians; there, buying a home is combined with obtaining status: Greece's golden visa is arranged together with a second passport, while Cyprus permanent residence is obtained through the purchase of new housing from €300,000. Turkey, meanwhile, maintains its position thanks to a low entry threshold and visa-free entry, and it also remains a popular destination for choosing resort property," Bulanov told RIA Nedvizhimost.
The transaction budget also increased. The median amount Russians spend on buying overseas property rose 9.5% over the year to €298,000. According to the expert, the figure was affected by a change in the structure of demand: the share of more affordable Thailand declined, while interest grew in Turkey, the UAE and Cyprus, where the typical budget is €300,000–350,000.
"In 2025, the budget was dragged down by Thailand with condominiums at €120,000–150,000: the median budget for Thailand in the first nine months of 2026 was about €129,000. In 2026, Thailand's share shrank, while the share of Turkey, the UAE and Cyprus grew, where the typical budget is €300,000–350,000," the expert noted.
A separate factor behind the growing interest in Cyprus was the expectation that the country might join the Schengen area. In addition, buyers are seeking to take advantage of the current terms of the investment program for obtaining permanent residence before they may be tightened.
According to Bulanov, until the end of 2026 Russians will continue to show interest in European countries and Cyprus as additional jurisdictions for placing capital. At the same time, Thailand and the UAE are expected to retain their status as the main destinations for investment purchases.
On September 23, MegaFon presented the most popular travel destinations for Russians. According to data from the operator, based on the results of the summer tourist season, Vietnam overtook Thailand and entered the top ten most popular foreign destinations among subscribers. Turkey, Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Egypt, Georgia, Armenia, Abkhazia, Vietnam, Thailand and the UAE were also included. The top 15 is rounded out by Italy, Germany, Spain and France.