Looking ahead to 2026: Essential insights for Real Estate investors in Romania
Setting the stage for 2026: Insights from SEE Property Forum
Each autumn the SEE Property Forum gathers all the major real estate players of Romania, from all areas: residential, office, industrial and logistics, to discuss the most relevant current topics that influence the sector, and to get a glimpse of the coming year. This year was no different: on the 13th of October, at the SEE Property Forum 2025, organized at the Marriott Hotel in Bucharest, the key players of the real estate market shared their visions of the future.
Our colleague, Gijs Klomp, Business Development Manager at WDP Romania, in the company of other key market players and major consultancy firms, took part in the industrial panel, bearing the title Key Predictions for 2026: The Investor Checklist.
The panel tackled different aspects of investing in the coming year, from a general image of the investment climate, to a more detailed view, discussing such topics as the asset classes that are expected to draw the most investors in 2026, or legal and regulatory changes that will affect investor behavior.
The key takeaways
2026 is a promising year for investments, despite this year’s political and economic turmoil, Romania is still an appealing market to investors. Romania’s EU membership, joining the Schengen area, and being a NATO member country are all of key importance when assessing the safety and stability of businesses – both aspects being of major importance for investors. Demand and supply are in balance, explained Gijs, and there are healthy fundamentals for demand.
The continuously improving infrastructure, the growing length of highways are opening up new areas of the country: in the North-Eastern region, as well as the Eastern part of the country the increasing accessibility is expected to bring increase in investments. Constanta Port, which is the largest port of the Black Sea, has become a significant hub since the start of the war in Ukraine, and when reconstruction will begin, the new highways that are linking the capital, the port and the North-Eastern part of the country, are to become connectors for larger hubs and will ensure fast and smooth transportation of goods and materials.
Romania: The next hotspot for major investments
Romania is clearly on the map as the next destination for major investments, and this is a significant opportunity for the economy of the country. Moreover, the smooth and relatively short permitting process and available energy at the sites are both key when we are talking about the decisions pertaining to investments, and in Romania both factors are present – says Gijs.
Simplicity and flexibility are key, there are many promising deals on the horizon, with a clear plan there is a clear path ahead, concluded Gijs.