Engel & Völkers says Dubai recorded 320 residential deals above $10 million in the first half, while commercial property sales reached AED62.2 billion.
August 10, 2026 | Riya Malhotra | UAE | Real Estate | 2 Min Read
Image Courtesy: James Edition
Dubai’s ultra-prime residential market reached a new high in the first half of 2026, supported by demand for high-value homes and a surge in commercial real estate investment, according to Engel & Völkers Middle East.
The emirate recorded 320 residential transactions valued above $10 million each during H1 2026, marking a 23 percent increase from the same period last year. These ultra-prime deals had a combined value of $6 billion and accounted for 9.7 percent of Dubai’s total residential sales value during the period.
Across the broader residential market, Dubai registered 80,509 sales worth AED226.5 billion in the first six months of the year.
Engel & Völkers said transaction volumes started the year ahead of H1 2025 levels before regional uncertainty from late February led to more cautious buyer behaviour. Activity began recovering in June as market conditions improved.
Property values remained resilient across much of Dubai, particularly in established villa communities and the prime residential segment. The consultancy said buyers placed greater emphasis on property quality, location, developer reputation and long-term value during the period.
Daniel Hadi, CEO of Engel & Völkers Middle East, said the first half of 2026 reflected the resilience and increasing maturity of Dubai’s real estate market. He noted that buyers became more considered during the period of regional uncertainty, but “demand remained present” as activity strengthened again.
High-value transactions were recorded in areas including Jumeirah, Jumeirah Asora Bay and along the Dubai Water Canal. Engel & Völkers said the spread of activity shows Dubai’s luxury residential market is expanding beyond its traditional prime locations, with newer lifestyle-led developments also attracting high-net-worth buyers.
Dubai’s commercial real estate market also recorded strong performance in H1 2026, with 6,470 sales worth AED62.2 billion. Transaction volume rose 7 percent year-on-year, while sales value increased 6 percent. Engel & Völkers said both figures were the highest ever recorded for a first-half period.
Office and retail assets were among the strongest-performing segments. Office sales increased 35.3 percent year-on-year to 2,570 transactions, while retail property sales rose 50.2 percent to 853 transactions.
The value of office sales reached AED15.8 billion, almost three times the AED5.4 billion recorded in H1 2025.
Off-plan commercial investment also accelerated sharply. Off-plan commercial transactions rose to 3,123 in H1 2026, compared with 1,239 a year earlier. Their combined value increased to AED17 billion from AED3 billion, reflecting investor demand for Grade A offices, premium retail assets and commercial developments in Dubai’s expanding business districts and mixed-use communities.
Dubai also recorded 163,356 commercial rental transactions during the first half, broadly in line with the same period in 2025.
Engel & Völkers said residential rental demand continued to be supported by Dubai’s growing population and established resident base, while greater availability in some parts of the market gave tenants more choice.
Looking ahead, the consultancy expects activity to remain more measured during the summer period before the market enters the final months of the year. It added that regional developments may continue to influence short-term sentiment, but population growth, international capital inflows, economic diversification and infrastructure investment are expected to support Dubai’s residential and commercial property markets over the longer term.
Source: Gulf Business, Zawya
