Executive Overview

The Dubai real estate market 2026 continues to demonstrate strong momentum. During the fourth week of February 2026, the market recorded 4,337 sales transactions with a combined value of AED 13.98 billion, highlighting sustained investor confidence across residential, commercial, and land segments.

Residential properties remained the primary driver of market activity, contributing 4,114 transactions worth AED 11.62 billion. In addition to strong sales activity, mortgage transactions and rental renewals continued to indicate healthy participation from both investors and end-users.

These numbers reinforce the Dubai real estate market current trends 2026, where financing availability, population growth, and international investor demand are playing a major role in sustaining market activity.

Week 4 Key Market Indicators

• Total Sales Transactions: 4,337

• Total Transaction Value: AED 13.98 Billion

• Average Market Price: AED 1,958.6 per sq ft

• Mortgage Transactions: 1,044

• Mortgage Financing Value: AED 5.92 Billion

• Total Rental Contracts: 21,779

• Total Rental Value: AED 1.98 Billion

• Off-Plan Share of Sales: 68%

The latest Dubai property market update 2026 suggests that the market is not only active in terms of transaction volume but also structurally supported by financing and sustained demand.

Overall Market Activity

Across all asset classes including residential, commercial, and land, Dubai recorded 4,337 transactions valued at AED 13.98 billion in Week 4.

Sales Breakdown by Property Type

Off-Plan Properties

• 2,960 transactions

• AED 9.19 billion total value

• Average price: AED 2,087.8 per sq ft

Ready Properties

• 1,377 transactions

• AED 4.79 billion total value

• Average price: AED 1,680.9 per sq ft

Off-plan properties accounted for 68% of total transactions, reflecting strong investor interest in upcoming developments and Dubai’s expanding development pipeline.

Interestingly, off-plan properties are currently selling at approximately 24% higher price per square foot than ready properties, indicating strong expectations of price appreciation between launch and project completion.

At the same time, the AED 4.79 billion recorded in ready property sales highlights continued demand from end-users and investors seeking completed properties capable of generating immediate rental income.

Residential Market Performance

The residential sector remained the core pillar of the Dubai real estate market 2026.

Residential Sales

• Total Transactions: 4,114

• Total Value: AED 11.62 Billion

• Average Price: AED 1,934.4 per sq ft

This consistent level of activity reflects sustained demand from international investors, expatriates, and long-term residents who are increasingly considering property ownership amid rising rental costs.

Residential Mortgage Market

Mortgage activity remains one of the most reliable indicators of long-term market stability.

During Week 4, the residential segment recorded:

• 928 mortgage transactions

• AED 2.20 billion in financing value

• Average mortgage price: AED 1,082.5 per sq ft

Mortgage Distribution

Off-Plan Mortgages

• 7 transactions

• AED 104.86 million

• AED 1,089.8 per sq ft

Ready Property Mortgages

• 921 transactions

• AED 2.09 billion

• AED 1,082.4 per sq ft

Among ready property mortgages:

• Apartments: 629 mortgages | AED 770.5M | AED 1,072 per sq ft

• Villas: 270 mortgages | AED 1.25B | AED 1,144 per sq ft

• Serviced Apartments: 4 mortgages | AED 11.6M | AED 1,825 per sq ft

• Villa Plots: 18 mortgages | AED 63.3M | AED 344 per sq ft

The 270 villa mortgages worth AED 1.25 billion stand out as a notable indicator of lender confidence in Dubai’s villa segment.

Across the entire property market, mortgage activity reached 1,044 transactions totaling AED 5.92 billion, reflecting healthy credit availability within the Dubai property market update 2026.

Commercial Property Market

The commercial segment also recorded notable momentum.

Commercial Sales

• Transactions: 155

• Total Value: AED 944.6 million

• Average Price: AED 3,137.9 per sq ft

Commercial Sales Breakdown

Off-Plan Commercial

• 87 transactions

• AED 757.2 million

• AED 3,854.3 per sq ft

Ready Commercial

• 68 transactions

• AED 187.4 million

• AED 2,221.2 per sq ft

Off-plan commercial assets recorded a 74% price premium, highlighting strong demand for modern Grade-A office spaces as global companies continue relocating and expanding operations in Dubai.

Commercial Rental Activity

The commercial leasing market recorded 7,175 contracts during the week.

New Commercial Contracts

• 3,815 contracts

• AED 270.2 million

• AED 211.9 per sq ft annually

Renewed Contracts

• 3,360 contracts

• AED 385.9 million

• AED 219.2 per sq ft annually

Renewals recorded a 3.4% premium, suggesting a balanced commercial leasing market where landlords maintain moderate pricing power.

Dubai Rental Market Overview

The broader rental market recorded 21,779 contracts with AED 1.98 billion in annualised rental value.

Rental Market Summary

New Contracts

• 9,597 contracts

• AED 890.3 million

• AED 194 per sq ft

Renewed Contracts

• 12,182 contracts

• AED 1.09 billion

• AED 255.8 per sq ft

Renewals exceeding new contracts by 1.27 to 1 suggests strong tenant retention.

A 31.8% premium on renewals also indicates rising costs for tenants who remain in existing properties, which continues to strengthen the financial argument for property ownership.

Residential Rental Insights

Residential leasing activity displayed significant price variation across property types.

New Residential Contracts

• Total: 5,776

• Value: AED 618.7 million

Breakdown:

• Apartments — 5,114 contracts | AED 431.6M | AED 154.4 per sq ft

• Villas — 547 contracts | AED 175.5M | AED 463.2 per sq ft

• Serviced Apartments — 115 contracts | AED 11.6M | AED 89.2 per sq ft

Renewed Residential Contracts

• Total: 8,766

• Value: AED 695.7 million

Breakdown:

• Apartments — 7,990 contracts | AED 531.9M | AED 195 per sq ft

• Villas — 749 contracts | AED 160.9M | AED 1,075.6 per sq ft

Villa renewals recorded a 132% price premium, reflecting strong tenant retention in established villa communities where available supply remains limited.

For property investors, this trend significantly strengthens rental yield potential in the villa segment.

Strategic Investment Considerations

Based on the latest Dubai real estate market current trends 2026, several investor profiles may find opportunities in the current cycle.

Investors likely to benefit

• International investors seeking AED-denominated assets with long-term appreciation potential

• Buyers targeting off-plan apartments in emerging communities such as JVC, Dubailand, Dubai South, and Dubai Islands

• Residents facing rising rental renewals who may consider transitioning from renting to ownership

• Commercial investors targeting Grade-A office assets in prime business districts

Situations requiring careful evaluation

Investors should exercise caution when:

• Entering high-priced emerging villa communities without a long investment horizon

• Relying solely on headline rental averages instead of detailed unit-level analysis

• Purchasing without clear mortgage approval or financing strategy

Dubai Real Estate Market 2026 Outlook

Looking ahead, the Dubai real estate market 2026 outlook remains supported by several structural factors.

Key indicators to monitor include:

• Continued growth in mortgage participation

• Limited supply of ready villas in established communities

• Rising demand for waterfront developments such as Dubai Maritime City and Dubai Islands

• Increasing corporate demand for modern Grade-A office space

• A widening rent-versus-own gap encouraging residents to purchase property

Final Perspective from Reliant Surveyors

The Dubai real estate market 2026 continues to show strong liquidity, stable financing activity, and sustained investor participation. Transaction volumes, mortgage expansion, and tightening rental supply all point toward a market driven by structural fundamentals rather than short-term speculation.

At Reliant Surveyors, our role goes beyond reporting transaction data. We analyze market trends, financing patterns, and community-level performance to provide investors, developers, and homeowners with strategic insights that support informed real estate decisions.

As Dubai’s property market continues to evolve, data-driven analysis and disciplined investment strategies will remain essential for long-term success.

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