The Dubai property market recorded 35,664 home sales worth AED 75.8 billion in Q3 2026, and 10,635 sales worth AED 24.0 billion in September alone. Volumes are lower than a year ago, but ready-home prices are up 4.9%, resale has reached a record 47.4% of sales value and rental activity just set a new high. Here is what the data means for you.
Headlines this autumn have asked whether the Dubai property boom is over. The Dubai property market Q3 2026 data gives a more useful answer: the market has changed shape rather than collapsed. Off-plan launch activity has cooled, while ready homes, resale, mortgages and leasing have all strengthened. For buyers, sellers, landlords and investors, that shift matters far more than the headline transaction count.
Every figure below comes from REIDIN transaction, mortgage, rental and yield data for Dubai, compared with August 2026, Q2 2026 and September 2025.
Dubai property market September 2026 in numbers
| Indicator | Sep 2026 | Aug 2026 | Sep 2025 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home sales (transactions) | 10,635 | 11,507 | 19,487 | – 45.4% |
| Sales value | AED 24.01bn | AED 24.75bn | AED 45.92bn | – 47.7% |
| Average price paid | AED 2.26m | AED 2.15m | AED 2.36m | – 4.2% |
| Ready price per sq ft | AED 1,686 | AED 1,675 | AED 1,607 | + 4.9% |
| Off-plan price per sq ft | AED 1,825 | AED 1,841 | AED 2,008 | – 9.1% |
| Resale share of value | 47.4% | 42.1% | 31.1% | + 16.3pp |
| Mortgage value | AED 9.54bn | AED 7.61bn | AED 6.79bn | + 40.6% |
| Rental contracts | 67,910 | 61,616 | 63,726 | + 6.6% |
Source: REIDIN, Dubai residential sales, mortgage registrations and rental contracts.
September’s 10,635 sales were 7.6% lower than August, but value fell only 3.0%, so the average price paid rose to AED 2.26 million. The typical (median) deal climbed to AED 1.30 million ( the highest since April ) as fewer budget off-plan units were sold and more mid-market and family homes changed hands.
Q3 2026 vs Q2 2026: volume steady, value reset
Across Q3 2026 Dubai recorded 35,664 residential sales worth AED 75.84 billion. That is almost identical volume to Q2 (– 2.7%) but 14.1% less value, because July’s wave of budget launches pulled the average ticket down to AED 2.13 million. Year to date, Dubai has recorded 117,590 home sales worth AED 302.0 billion.
| Quarter | Sales | Value (AED bn) | Avg price (AED m) | Resale share of value | Mortgage value (AED bn) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2025 | 54,607 | 138.27 | 2.53 | 33.4% | 23.24 |
| Q1 2026 | 45,273 | 137.89 | 3.05 | 30.5% | 23.74 |
| Q2 2026 | 36,653 | 88.27 | 2.41 | 32.0% | 19.51 |
| Q3 2026 | 35,664 | 75.84 | 2.13 | 43.8% | 25.68 |
Sales value (AED bn)
Sales transactions
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Figure 1 — Dubai residential sales volume and value by month, September 2025 to September 2026. Alt: “Dubai residential sales volume and value by month, September 2025 to September 2026”.
Are Dubai property prices falling in 2026?
Not for finished homes. Ready properties sold at an average AED 1,686 per sq ft in September, + 4.9% higher than a year earlier. The correction has been in off-plan pricing, which fell from AED 2,086 per sq ft in April to AED 1,838 in May and has held in a tight AED 1,825–1,850 band ever since. September’s off-plan average of AED 1,825 is 9.1% below September 2025.
The lower year-on-year sales count is mostly about launches, not distress. September 2025 was the busiest month in the dataset, driven by a heavy off-plan release cycle. Ready-home sales are down far less than off-plan sales, and ready-home value rose more than 10% month on month in September.
Off-plan vs ready property in Dubai: the premium is almost gone
In September, off-plan property cost just 8.2% more per sq ft than a ready home. A year ago the gap was 25.0%; in March 2026 it was 22.4%. For buyers comparing a launch with a finished home, the price argument for waiting has largely disappeared, off-plan now makes sense mainly for its payment plan, new specification or a specific project you want.
Average achieved price (AED/sqf)
Off-plan premium over ready
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Figure 2 — Dubai off-plan vs ready price per square foot and off-plan premium, 2026. Alt: “Dubai off-plan vs ready price per square foot and off-plan premium 2026”.
Is off-plan flipping still profitable in Dubai?
On average, no longer. REIDIN records how each resale compares with its previous registered price. In September only 43% of off-plan resales (assignments) sold above the original price, down from 67% in January. Ready resales tell a different story: 79% sold at a gain, with a median uplift of 19%, and 42% for villas. If you are new to the process, our guide on how to buy off-plan property in Dubai explains payment plans, escrow and handover risk.
Dubai’s resale market takes a record share
Resale ( owner-to-owner sales ) generated AED 11.38 billion in September, 47.4% of all residential sales value. That is the highest share in the 13 months of data, up from 42.1% in August and 31.1% a year ago. Across Q3 the resale share averaged 43.8%, against 32.0% in Q2. In villas it is even higher: 65.3% of villa value in September came from resale, and ready-villa value overtook off-plan-villa value.
Secondary (resale) share of value
Sales value by sequence (AED bn)
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Figure 3 — Dubai resale share of property sales value. Alt: “Dubai resale share of property sales value, Q3 2026”.
A resale-led market is a more mature market: more end-users, more owners able to exit at fair prices, and more choice for buyers outside the launch cycle. For sellers, it means demand is there but buyers are comparing achieved prices, so pricing to real transactions rather than portal listings is essential. Our selling service starts with achieved-price comparables for your building.
Dubai mortgage market: finance-backed buying hits a high
Mortgage registrations reached AED 9.54 billion in September (3,862 registrations), the highest monthly value in the dataset, + 40.6% year on year. Across Q3, mortgage value rose 31.6% on Q2 to AED 25.68 billion. 47% of ready-home purchases in September used a mortgage, typically at around 80% loan-to-value, rising to 71% for ready villas. If you are planning to finance, see our mortgages and finance service.
Where buyers bought: top Dubai communities in Q3 2026
| Community | Sep sales | Median AED/sqf | Median price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jumeirah Village Circle | 762 | 1,405 | AED 0.95m |
| Majan | 523 | 1,403 | AED 0.65m |
| Azizi Venice | 431 | 1,719 | AED 0.69m |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | 385 | 2,563 | AED 2.32m |
| City of Arabia | 328 | 1,719 | AED 1.29m |
| Business Bay | 324 | 2,064 | AED 1.90m |
| Damac Lagoons | 318 | 1,590 | AED 1.31m |
| Dubailand Residence Complex | 302 | 1,316 | AED 0.76m |
| Business Park Motor City | 290 | 1,823 | AED 0.86m |
| Dubai Investment Park First | 271 | 836 | AED 0.93m |
Source: REIDIN, freehold sales, September 2026.
Jumeirah Village Circle remained Dubai’s busiest community, while Majan more than doubled on new launches and Dubai Creek Harbour nearly doubled on Emaar’s Valia Tower, the month’s best-selling project with 263 sales at a median AED 2.26 million. Across the quarter, Azizi Venice, JVC, Jebel Ali Downtown and City of Arabia led on volume.
At the prime end, buyers have leverage: Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Harbour sold only about 2.5% of their listings in September, and Downtown, Dubai Marina and Dubai Hills Estate around 6%. Launch-led communities such as City of Arabia, Motor City and Majan cleared more than half.
Our free Ultimate Buying Guide covers the 2026 numbers, the rules that changed, a 5-step buying method, buyer checklists and the 21 questions to ask before you commit, for apartments, villas and townhouses, ready or off-plan.
Get The Ultimate Buying GuideDubai rental market Q3 2026: a record quarter
Dubai registered 67,910 rental contracts in September worth AED 6.59 billion, the highest monthly rental value in REIDIN’s series going back to 2013. New leases rose to 31,016 (+ 16.1% YoY) and made up 45.7% of all contracts. Across Q3, rental contracts rose 20.6% on Q2 to 193,074.
Are Dubai rents going up? Yes, again. The median new-lease rent rose to AED 90.3 per sq ft, a second straight monthly increase, though still 4.2% below September 2025. Renewal rents reached AED 69.7 per sq ft, the highest in the dataset. The median new lease was AED 72,000 a year and the median renewal AED 62,000.
New-lease share of contracts
Rental contracts (total above bar)
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Best rental yield areas in Dubai, 2026
| Apartment community | Gross yield | Net yield | Occupancy (H1 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery Gardens | 9.32% | 7.67% | 95% |
| Remraam | 9.15% | 7.38% | — |
| Dubai Production City | 8.96% | 7.47% | 88% |
| Dubai Sports City | 8.35% | 6.82% | 89% |
| International City | 8.32% | 7.03% | 94% |
| Al Furjan | 7.87% | 6.69% | 83% |
| Jumeirah Village Circle | 7.63% | 6.46% | 82% |
| Business Bay | 6.58% | 5.50% | 81% |
| Downtown Dubai | 6.28% | 5.39% | 86% |
| Dubai Marina | 5.97% | 5.03% | 90% |
| Palm Jumeirah | 4.74% | 4.03% | 88% |
Source: REIDIN, latest-month apartment yields (net = after service charges) and H1 2026 average occupancy.
Affordable, established communities still deliver the strongest income: Discovery Gardens, Remraam, Dubai Production City and Dubai Sports City offer 8%+ gross yields with high occupancy. Prime addresses such as Palm Jumeirah and DIFC yield 4–5% net and are better treated as capital-preservation assets.
One caution for investors: average Dubai apartment occupancy dipped to 87.6% in H1 2026 from 90.5% in H2 2025 as new buildings handed over. The drop is concentrated in handover-heavy areas, Dubai Creek Harbour (65.6%), Sobha Hartland (77.6%), Dubai Hills Estate (80.4%) and Majan (81.1%), so budget extra letting time there. Our property management team handles pricing and re-letting.
- Discovery Gardens
- Remraam
- Dubai Production City
- Dubai Sports City
- International City
- Al Furjan
- Jumeirah Village Triangle
- Jumeirah Village Circle
- Dubailand Residence Complex
- Arjan
- Jumeirah Lake Towers
- Dubai Hills Estate
- Business Bay
- Downtown Dubai
- Dubai Creek Harbour
- Dubai Marina
- Meydan City
- DIFC
- Palm Jumeirah
Figure 5 — Best rental yields in Dubai by community, 2026. Alt: “Best rental yields in Dubai by community 2026, gross and net”.
What Q3 2026 means for you
If you are buying a home
Ready prices are up 4.9% on the year but have eased slightly since June, the off-plan premium is only 8.2%, and buyers have negotiating room in slow-clearing prime and large resale communities. Get mortgage pre-approval early, nearly half of ready buyers now finance.
If you are investing for rental income
Demand for rentals is at a record and new-lease rents are rising again. Prioritise net yield and occupancy over headline gross yield, and be realistic about letting time in newly handed-over towers.
If you are selling
Resale is close to half the market and 79% of ready resales sold above the owner’s previous price in September. Price to achieved transactions, not asking prices, in Palm Jumeirah, achieved prices have run around 15% below asking this year.
If you are a landlord or tenant
Renewal rents are at a 13-month high and the gap to new-lease rents has narrowed to about 30%. Tenants have more options to move; landlords should weigh a fair renewal against the cost of a vacancy.
Buying in Dubai?
Start with our free Ultimate Buying Guide and community guides.
Prefer to talk? Message our Dubai team on WhatsApp.
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What to watch in Q4 2026
- Does resale stay above 45% of value? A third strong month would confirm a lasting shift to an end-user market.
- Does the off-plan premium narrow further? At 8.2%, it is close to parity with ready homes.
- Do mortgages hold at record levels? Strong finance demand supports ready-home prices.
- Do new-lease rents keep rising? A third consecutive increase would lift yields across the mid-market.
- How fast is new supply absorbed? Watch occupancy in Creek Harbour, Sobha Hartland, Dubai Hills and Majan.
FAQ
How many properties were sold in Dubai in September 2026?
Dubai recorded 10,635 residential sales worth AED 24.01 billion in September 2026, according to REIDIN. That was 7.6% fewer than August and 45.4% fewer than September 2025, but the average price paid rose to AED 2.26 million.
How did the Dubai property market perform in Q3 2026?
Q3 2026 recorded 35,664 residential sales worth AED 75.84 billion, volume almost flat on Q2 (– 2.7%) and value down 14.1%. Resale rose to 43.8% of value, mortgage value jumped 31.6% and rental contracts rose 20.6%.
Are Dubai property prices falling in 2026?
Ready-home prices are not falling: they averaged AED 1,686 per sq ft in September 2026, + 4.9% year on year. Off-plan prices corrected in May and are 9.1% lower than a year ago, but have been stable since. The lower sales count reflects fewer launches rather than distressed selling.
Should I buy off-plan or ready property in Dubai in 2026?
In September 2026, off-plan cost only 8.2% more per sq ft than ready property, versus 25.0% a year earlier. Ready homes can be rented or mortgaged immediately; off-plan offers payment plans and new specification. Quick off-plan flips are less reliable, only 43% of September assignments sold above the original price.
Which Dubai areas have the best rental yields in 2026?
Discovery Gardens leads Dubai apartment yields at 9.32% gross and 7.67% net, followed by Remraam, Dubai Production City and Dubai Sports City, all above 8% gross. Jumeirah Village Circle offers 7.63% gross. Prime areas such as Palm Jumeirah yield about 4.74% gross.
Are rents going up in Dubai?
Yes. The median new-lease rent rose to AED 90.3 per sq ft in September 2026, a second consecutive monthly rise, and renewal rents reached AED 69.7 per sq ft, the highest in REIDIN’s 13-month series. Rental value hit a record AED 6.59 billion in the month.
Is now a good time to buy property in Dubai?
For many buyers, conditions are balanced: ready prices are stable, the off-plan premium is low at 8.2%, finance is widely used and rental demand is at a record. Buyers also have negotiating leverage in slow-clearing prime areas. The right decision depends on your budget, holding period and whether you need rental income from day one.
