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A new market analysis by W Capital Real Estate Brokerage has revealed that Dubai’s real estate sales during the first nine months of 2026 reached the second-highest level on record for the period, surpassed only by the record value registered in 2025.

Based on data from the Dubai Land Department (DLD), W Capital’s analysis showed that property sales exceeded AED 380 billion through more than 123,000 transactions during the first nine months of 2026, compared with AED 495.8 billion generated from 157,306 transactions during the same period last year.

Transactions during the first nine months of this year comprised more than 103,000 residential units, approximately 9,500 buildings, and more than 9,600 land plots.

Mortgage transactions rose by 14% to AED 150

6 billion during the first nine months of the year, compared with AED 132.21 billion during the corresponding period of 2025.

Property gifts increased by 9% to AED 43.5 billion during the period, compared with approximately AED 40 billion in the same period last year.

The analysis also showed that the total value of real estate transactions — including sales, mortgages, and gifts — exceeded AED 575 billion during the first nine months of 2026, across 159,908 transactions, compared with AED 668 billion across 202,111 transactions during the same period last year.

September Performance

W Capital’s analysis showed that total real estate transactions in September 2026 amounted to approximately AED 49.22 billion across 15,531 transactions.

Property sales during September reached AED 28

7 billion across 11,063 transactions. Mortgage transactions amounted to approximately AED 16.26 billion across around 3,700 transactions, while property gifts totaled AED 4.26 billion across 766 transactions.

Third-Quarter Sales

Dubai’s real estate sales reached approximately AED 92.3 billion in the third quarter of 2026, compared with AED 169 billion during the same period last year.

The number of sales transactions stood at 37,124, compared with 59,044 transactions in the third quarter of the previous year.

The analysis showed that mortgage transactions totaled AED 48.48 billion across 11,226 transactions, while property gifts reached AED 12.14 billion across 2,162 transactions.

Walid Al Zarooni: Market Performance Reflects the Sector’s Continued Strength and Appeal

Walid Al Zarooni, Chairman of W Capital Real Estate Brokerage, said Dubai’s real estate market performance during the first nine months of 2026 reflects the sector’s continued strength and appeal, despite being compared with the exceptional record levels registered last year.

He stressed that recording the second-highest sales level on record for the period is a strong indicator of sustained demand and the resilience of real estate activity across the emirate.

Al Zarooni said Dubai’s property market has demonstrated a remarkable ability over recent months to navigate a range of regional and global developments, including geopolitical tensions, while maintaining its momentum and investment appeal. This, he said, reinforces Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most active and diversified real estate markets.

He added that continued investment inflows, combined with a diverse buyer base and strong demand for residential units and new developments, support expectations that the market will maintain robust sales levels in the coming period.

Al Zarooni noted that the fourth quarter of 2026 is showing highly positive indicators and could witness exceptional momentum in both demand and transactions, potentially paving the way for new record sales levels.

He said new real estate project launches remain one of the key drivers of current market activity, particularly as developers continue to introduce a diverse range of projects designed to meet the needs of both investors and end-users.

These projects offer a broad selection of locations, price points, and unit types, while new launches continue to attract considerable interest from both local and international investors.

Al Zarooni said Dubai’s real estate market is entering the final quarter of the year with strong momentum, further supported by the increase in mortgage and gift transactions during the first nine months. This reflects the broad-based nature of market activity rather than reliance on a single category of transaction.

He added that continued demand for luxury properties and residential developments in prime locations, alongside sustained interest in mid-market projects, provides the market with a broad and diversified buyer base.

Al Zarooni expects strong competition among developers during the fourth quarter of 2026 as they seek to launch new projects and capitalize on robust demand. This is expected to expand the supply of high-quality properties and provide investors with a wider range of options.

He also expects foreign capital inflows into Dubai’s property market to continue, supported by growing international confidence in the local economy and Dubai’s investment environment.

Al Zarooni concluded by saying that current indicators suggest the final months of 2026 could be an exceptionally active period for Dubai’s real estate market, supported by continued sales momentum and new project launches. He added that demand has remained broadly resilient despite geopolitical tensions, supporting the potential for transaction values to reach new record levels before the end of the year.

Dubai Real Estate Sales in the First Nine Months – Last Five Years

Value in AED Billion

Source: Dubai Land Department

The figures contained in this report are based on data issued by the Dubai Land Department covering the period from January 1 to September 29, 2026.