A Dubai Land Department study approved by The Executive Council puts residential occupancy at 97% and projects 1.1 million square metres of new office and retail space by 2030.
November 12, 2026 | Tripti Mehta | UAE | Real Estate | 2 Min Read
Image Courtesy: Gulf News
Dubai is projected to add 365,000 new residential units and about 1.1 million square metres of office and retail space by 2030, according to a Dubai Land Department (DLD) study approved by The Executive Council of Dubai. The study puts residential occupancy across Dubai at 97%, with retail occupancy at 98% and office occupancy at 94%.
The findings were approved at a meeting of The Executive Council chaired by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, held as part of the UAE Annual Government Meetings 2026.
The study is intended to give developers insights to guide investment and development planning, improve project quality, speed up delivery and strengthen investor confidence.
It reflects a data-driven approach to planning the real estate market, using market indicators to shape policy, respond to changing demand and keep supply and demand in balance.
The study supports the Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033. The strategy aims to double the sector’s contribution to Dubai’s GDP to AED73 billion, increase the volume of real estate transactions by 70% to bring the market’s total value to AED1 trillion, and double the value of real estate portfolios to AED20 billion.
“Dubai’s real estate sector continues to demonstrate strong, resilient performance, bolstered by investor confidence and diverse range of investment opportunities. The findings of the new study will guide policy and development decisions made with the private sector, supporting the Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033 and further solidifying Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most competitive and sustainable real estate markets,” said HH Sheikh Hamdan.
Source: Dubai Media Office, Gulf News
