Dubai recorded AED 28.51 billion in residential and commercial property transactions across 10,218 deals in May 2026, with off-plan generating AED 14.18 billion.
June 10, 2026 | Riya Malhotra | UAE | Real Estate
Dubai's residential and commercial property market recorded a combined AED 28.51 billion in transactions across 10,218 deals in May 2026, according to data compiled by Springfield Properties, a figure that reinforces the emirate's continued role as one of the most active property markets globally, while also pointing to a moderation in pace compared to earlier months of the year.
Residential transactions accounted for the bulk of activity, generating AED 22.01 billion across 9,507 sales. Commercial transactions added AED 6.50 billion across 711 deals.
Within the residential segment, the off-plan market remained the dominant contributor, recording 7,079 transactions worth AED 14.18 billion. Secondary market activity added 2,422 deals worth AED 7.74 billion, reflecting sustained demand for ready, completed homes across established communities.
On the commercial side, office transactions led the value contribution at AED 2.52 billion, followed by whole-building transactions at AED 1.77 billion. Land transactions also contributed, alongside other smaller commercial sub-segments.
Farooq Syed, CEO of Springfield Properties, characterised the May figure as reflective of continued confidence in Dubai as a place to live, invest, build businesses, and plan for the future, with activity supported by a diverse mix of local, regional, and international buyers.
The Springfield Properties framing tells part of the May story, but not all of it. Independent research released the same week by Cavendish Maxwell adds an important nuance.
According to Cavendish Maxwell's analysis, Dubai's residential market secured 66,900 sales in the first five months of 2026 with a combined transaction value of AED 196.2 billion. That total is lower than the AED 217.8 billion recorded over the same January-to-May window in 2025, indicating a year-on-year decline in cumulative residential transaction value.
Cavendish Maxwell specifically noted that while off-plan sales remained relatively resilient through the first four months of 2026, May recorded a notable decline in both transaction volumes and values. The May number, in other words, is strong in absolute terms but materially softer than earlier 2026 months, a fact that matters for anyone reading the data as a forward indicator.
For the wider industry, this matters because it provides the first clear data signal that the post-February pace has slowed measurably. The Q1 2026 totals (AED 252 billion in DLD-recorded transactions, up 31 per cent year-on-year) had pointed to acceleration. The May figure is the first to indicate that the pace has moderated.
For developers, brokers, and property managers, the layered picture has direct operational implications.
For developers, the moderation in off-plan transaction values from the Cavendish Maxwell data, alongside Dubai's expanding pipeline (around 120,000 units scheduled for handover in 2026), suggests increased competition for buyers in the mid-market off-plan segment. Differentiation, payment plan structure, and delivery track record become more decisive selling levers in this environment.
For brokers, the resilience of the secondary market, AED 7.74 billion across 2,422 transactions in May alone, indicates that buyer demand for completed homes is holding up well. Secondary inventory specialists are likely to outperform colleagues focused exclusively on new launches in this phase of the cycle.
For commercial property managers and FM operators, the AED 6.50 billion in commercial activity, with offices leading at AED 2.52 billion, reflects the prime office demand story that JLL's Q1 2026 data already flagged. Commercial absorption continues to be a structural strength even where residential pace is moderating.
The May figures sit against the backdrop of Dubai's record 2025, when the city recorded approximately 270,000 transactions worth AED 917 billion. The 2026 pace is likely to settle at a slightly lower level, still very strong by any historical benchmark, but more measured than the 2025 peak.
For industry professionals reading the market direction, the right framing is moderation, not correction. Dubai's commercial and residential markets continue to record high absolute transaction values. The pace of growth, however, is normalising, and the May data is the first clear evidence of that.
Sources: Springfield Properties May 2026 Dubai property market data, with commentary from Farooq Syed, Chief Executive Officer, Springfield Properties, via company release reported by Construction Week Online and Economy Middle East; Cavendish Maxwell Dubai residential market analysis for January–May 2026, reporting AED 196.2 billion in total transaction value across 66,900 sales; Dubai Land Department Q1 2026 transaction data showing AED 252 billion in total transaction value; supporting market context referenced from JLL UAE Real Estate Market Dynamics Q1 2026 report on Dubai commercial office demand and Driven Properties' market commentary on the 120,000-unit handover pipeline for 2026.
