Dubai recorded 37,429 property sales worth AED92.9 billion in Q3 2026, with the primary market continuing to lead transactions as rental registrations also built momentum towards another potential annual record.
October 07, 2026 | Palak Kataria | UAE | Real Estate | 3 Min Read
Image Courtesy: fäm Properties
Dubai’s property market maintained strong activity through the third quarter of 2026, recording 37,429 sales transactions worth AED92.9 billion, as primary-market sales continued to account for the larger share of transactions.
According to market analysis from fäm Properties, developers recorded 25,441 primary sales worth AED52.6 billion during Q3, compared with 11,988 resale transactions valued at AED40.3 billion. More than 67% of secondary-market transactions during the quarter were completed in cash.
September added further momentum across several property segments. Plot sales increased 28.8% month-on-month to 237 transactions worth AED3.8 billion, while commercial transactions, including offices and shops, rose 27.7% to 539 deals valued at AED2.2 billion.
The month also recorded 1,428 villa sales worth AED8.6 billion and 9,055 apartment transactions valued at AED14.8 billion.
Dubai’s rental market showed similarly broad activity.
DXBinteract recorded 48,639 rental contracts across Dubai’s freehold areas in September, representing a 22.6% month-on-month increase. New rental contracts rose 25.6% year-on-year to 25,345, while renewals increased 7.6% to 23,294.
Across the first nine months of 2026, 298,984 freehold rental contracts were registered; 6.8% above the corresponding period in 2025. Last year ultimately closed with a full-year record of 377,926 contracts.
Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties, said the figures indicate that Dubai’s primary sector remains the main driver of sales activity, alongside significant cash participation in the resale market.
Dubai South remained the emirate’s leading area for primary-market sales volume for the seventh consecutive month, recording 737 off-plan transactions worth AED980.5 million in September.
Wadi Al Safa 3 followed with 560 sales worth AED574.5 million, while Al Barsha South Fourth recorded 442 transactions valued at AED491.4 million. Jebel Ali First and Al Hebiah First completed the five leading areas.
Activity remained spread across price points. Homes below AED1 million represented 34.1% of sales, followed closely by the AED1 million to AED2 million segment at 32.4%. Properties above AED5 million accounted for 8.3%.
On the rental side, Al Warsan First led Dubai’s freehold communities, recording 28,825 tenancy contracts during the first nine months. One-bedroom apartments accounted for 124,113 contracts, representing 42% of all registrations.
Together, the figures show activity extending across primary sales, resales and rentals, with different areas and price segments contributing to Dubai’s property market through Q3.
Sources: fäm Properties; DXBinteract
