Dubai Office Market Q3 2025 — A Defining Quarter of Commercial Strength & Investor Confidence

The Dubai office market closed Q3 2025 as one of the strongest quarters in its modern cycle. Momentum has been building for nearly two years, but this quarter marks a clear shift: Dubai has transitioned from recovery and expansion into a phase of accelerated commercial maturity, where demand outpaces new supply, rents continue to climb, and investor participation remains exceptionally strong. 

Across sales, rentals, and development pipelines, the indicators all point to the same conclusion — Dubai’s office market is not just growing; it is strengthening at every level.

1. Market Momentum at an All-Time High

Q3 2025 delivered AED 3 billion in total office sales, the highest quarterly value recorded to date. This performance represents a steep rise from earlier quarters and nearly double the transactional value seen just one year ago.

Several forces are converging to drive this acceleration:

• A sustained influx of regional and global companies
• Private wealth relocation into Dubai
• Corporate expansions in technology, finance, and professional services
• Exceptional investor confidence in Dubai’s regulatory clarity and asset performance

What makes this cycle unique is not only the scale of investment but the quality of it. Activity is broad-based, balanced across prime CBD corridors and emerging commercial nodes, reinforcing the depth of Dubai’s office market.

2. Ready vs Off-Plan: Two Markets, One Direction

The narrative becomes even more compelling when we look at the composition of sales.

Ready Offices: The Stable Core

Ready office transactions have shown remarkable consistency, contributing between AED 1.3 and 2.27 billion per quarter through 2024–2025. This steady demand reflects:

• Occupiers seeking immediate operational space
• Investors prioritising rental income and stable yields
• Strong absorption in mature commercial districts

Even in Q3 2025, with off-plan activity soaring, ready offices continued performing at AED 2 billion, demonstrating the depth and reliability of end-user and investor demand.

Off-Plan Offices: The Surge Story

While ready offices represent stability, off-plan offices represent momentum.

From modest levels in early 2024, the off-plan segment erupted in late 2024 and into 2025, culminating in AED 1.1 billion in off-plan office sales in Q3 2025 — its strongest quarter yet.

This surge has been driven by:

• High-quality commercial launches
• Attractive payment structures
• A widening investor base entering the commercial sector
• Renewed confidence in Dubai’s long-term office fundamentals

Off-plan is no longer a fringe segment in commercial real estate — it has become a strategic investment avenue.

3. Where Investment Is Flowing: The Communities Leading the Cycle

The geography of demand tells a powerful story of how Dubai’s commercial footprint is evolving.

In the off-plan space, Majan and Jumeirah Village Circle lead in transaction volumes, supported by accessible pricing and increasing developer activity in these emerging business corridors. Motor City and parts of Dubailand are also gaining traction as cost-efficient alternatives to traditional CBD zones.

At the premium end, Business Bay continues to dominate with exceptionally high price points for new commercial launches. Its performance highlights a clear willingness among investors to pay for centrally located, Grade-A commercial assets with strong rental and resale prospects.

The ready office segment reinforces this hierarchy. Business Bay and JLT remain the largest and most liquid commercial markets in Dubai, consistently drawing corporates, SMEs, and regional headquarters. Barsha Heights, despite its smaller transaction count, records some of the highest average sale prices among mid-tier districts, indicating tight supply and strong occupier demand.

Dubai’s office market is evolving into a multi-nodal ecosystem — prime, mid-market, and emerging nodes all experiencing their own growth cycles simultaneously.

4. Leasing Market: Expansion Outpaces Renewal

Q3 2025 saw a total of 31,308 office lease contracts, with nearly two-thirds being new leases rather than renewals. This ratio is a clear indicator of:

• Business expansions
• New market entrants
• Companies upsizing into premium spaces
• Strong demand from high-growth sectors

The rental market’s financial value stood at AED 2.7 billion, further reinforcing the sector’s depth.

Notably, average office rental rates climbed to AED 198.49 per sq ft per year, marking a 4.11% increase over the previous quarter. The upward trend in rents has been consistent since 2019, supported by economic growth, limited Grade-A supply, and sustained corporate demand from multinational firms.

Business Bay and JLT continue to see the highest rental activity — reflecting their strategic appeal, connectivity, and blend of Grade-A and Grade-B commercial inventory.

5. Supply Dynamics: Growth Without Oversupply

One of the most encouraging indicators for long-term market health is Dubai’s disciplined supply pipeline.

By 2025, the city has delivered 11.49 million office units, with only 95,336 units currently under construction. This gradual, measured approach to office development ensures:

• No risk of sharp oversupply
• Controlled rental growth
• Stable capital appreciation
• High occupancy levels in key zones

Dubai’s office development strategy mirrors its broader urban planning philosophy — expansion that is ambitious but balanced, fast-moving but controlled.

6. What Q3 2025 Means for the Future of Dubai’s Commercial Market

The data from Q3 does not merely reflect a strong quarter — it signals a shift in Dubai’s commercial real estate narrative.

For Investors

The combination of rising rents, high transaction values, and record off-plan activity suggests a market where yields and capital growth are both strengthening simultaneously. Diversified portfolios — mixing prime ready offices and emerging off-plan assets — are likely to outperform.

For Corporates

Occupiers should prepare for continued rental increases and heightened competition for premium spaces. Strategic relocations to emerging corridors can provide cost advantages without compromising connectivity.

For Developers

The commercial segment has fully re-opened as a viable development category. Demand is deep, pricing is resilient, and investor appetite is clear. Premium-grade projects in central districts and value-driven developments in emerging areas both show strong absorption potential.

Dubai’s office market is no longer simply cyclical — it is evolving into one of the most stable and opportunity-rich commercial landscapes in the region.

Reliant Surveyors — Your Partner in Valuation, Strategy & Market Intelligence

At Reliant Surveyors, we deliver RICS-compliant valuation, strategic advisory, and investment-grade market insights tailored for institutional investors, corporates, developers, and private clients. Our expertise spans office, residential, industrial, mixed-use, and specialised assets across the UAE, with a commitment to precision, transparency, and data-driven decision-making.

As Dubai’s commercial market enters a new phase of expansion, Reliant Surveyors stands alongside our clients — helping them navigate opportunities, mitigate risks, and unlock long-term value in one of the world’s most dynamic real estate landscapes.