In some emerging markets, geopolitical unrest is increasing'real estate risk.'

Real estate risk to both assets and workers is on the rise in many emerging-market economies, according to Cushman & Wakefield's recent white paper, "Emerging and Frontier Markets: 

Assessing Risk and Opportunity."

"For occupiers and investors, emerging and frontier markets offer some of the most important opportunities," said John Santora, President and CEO of Cushman & Wakefield Corporate Occupier & Investor Services. "The coming months will be difficult, but in most markets, the prospects for growth should outweigh the risks." buy property in qatar for expats

Transparency risks regarding the reliability and accessibility of information about property rights, as well as corruption risks associated with business partners' reputations and the possibility of bribery or unethical business practices, remain at the forefront for any company intending to lease, own, or operate property in emerging and frontier markets. 

Recent political events in Ukraine, Iraq, and Venezuela, on the other hand, have raised the profile of geopolitical threats, as well as the health and safety risks associated with keeping workers safe and stable.

"Adequate security plans must address the physical asset, the staff, and the company's details," said Cushman & Wakefield Risk Management Services President Raymond W. Kelly. "The best pre-occupancy plan and protocols address on-site and off-site protection, business continuity, crisis management, and recovery assistance."

Many countries' political structures are under threat, and countries with weak governance and cultural tensions are vulnerable to terrorism and other crimes like kidnapping. As businesses become more global, cyber security is becoming increasingly important. Furthermore, assets affiliated with more contentious sectors, such as oil and gas mining, are more vulnerable.

Though countries with rising geopolitical threats have temporarily lost popularity with most occupiers, many developing and frontier markets still offer substantial growth opportunities. Strong population growth, an increasingly educated and prosperous labor force, and more open governments are all factors that multinationals see as driving factors for expansion. Property developers are aggressively constructing 21st century buildings in many central business district (CBD) locations due to a lack of adequate real estate to satisfy corporate demand.

Africa and the Middle East dominate the low-risk emerging and frontier real estate markets, with eight of the top ten most productive and open countries. South Africa ranks highly in terms of property acquisition ease and has one of the more mature property markets in the country. The office market in South Africa has continued to recover slowly, with demand from multinational occupiers for well-located, high-quality space expected to remain stable, despite relatively high overall availability.

Peru (8th overall), Mexico (15th overall), and Uruguay are the top three places in Latin America (18th overall). Mexico's performance is mixed, with high scores in some categories like market openness but low scores in others like property registration and political stability. Mexico City's building pipeline has reached an all-time high of 1.4 million square meters. Rents are continuing to grow moderately, owing in part to the higher standards of new buildings and significant absorption.

In the Asia Pacific region, Indonesia is the most transparent market (5th overall), followed by Thailand (11th overall), and the Philippines (12th overall) (14th overall). While the Indonesian office market is in a "wait-and-see" mode until after the country's 2014 general elections, demand for space has been strong and in line with the country's expanding economy, though rents in Jakarta are expected to fall in 2014-2015 due to increased supply.

The study by C & W assesses four main risks and ranks 42 countries based on a weighted index to decide which markets offer the best chance for global expansion.