Sales recovered sharply between May and July, while 81% of communities tracked by Betterhomes recorded year-on-year price growth.
September 21, 2026 | Riya Malhotra | UAE | Real Estate | 2 Min Read
Image Courtesy: WAYA Media
Dubai’s residential property market saw transaction activity recover during the summer, with sales rebounding 38% from a three-year monthly low, according to a Betterhomes analysis of Dubai Land Department data.
Sales fell to 9,536 transactions in May, the lowest monthly level recorded in three years, before increasing 28% month-on-month to 12,185 in June.
Activity strengthened further in July, when transactions reached 13,116, representing a 38% recovery from the May low. Sales subsequently moderated to 11,087 transactions in August.
While transaction volumes fluctuated, property values remained comparatively resilient.
Price per square foot increased year-on-year across 81% of the Dubai communities tracked by Betterhomes, with the median annual increase standing at 6.6%.
Some communities recorded considerably stronger appreciation. Palm Jumeirah Garden Homes villas rose 37% year-on-year, while apartments in Al Jaddaf increased 35.5%.
The data indicates that price growth remained spread across a large proportion of Dubai’s residential market rather than being confined to a small number of prime communities.
Off-plan property continued to account for the majority of residential activity, representing between 71% and 76% of monthly transactions from May through August.
Demand for larger off-plan homes also remained notable. Off-plan villa and townhouse transactions increased 27% year-on-year during the second quarter, while their combined transaction value climbed 83%.
The summer figures point to a market where transaction volumes were more volatile than pricing. Although activity recovered substantially from May's low, August sales remained below July levels, making the coming months important for assessing whether the rebound develops into a sustained trend.
Source: Betterhomes analysis of Dubai Land Department data, reported September 2026.
