Dubai’s real estate market has achieved new record figures, with property sales in the emirate surpassing AED 650.33 billion since the beginning of the year up to yesterday, reinforcing the continued momentum of the sector’s activity.
According to a survey by Emirates Today, based on data from the Dubai Land Department, Dubai property sales since the start of the current year have surged to approximately AED 650.33 billion. By comparison, total recorded sales in 2024 amounted to around AED 522.2 billion, reflecting an increase of AED 128.13 billion.
Source: Dubai Land DepartmentSales were distributed as follows: more than AED 374.79 billion from ready property transactions, and over AED 275.3 billion from off-plan sales.
The data also show that 204,288 sales transactions were executed from the beginning of the year until Dec.15th, compared to 180,860 transactions during the entire previous year.
This unprecedented performance is underpinned by several factors, most notably the growth in demand for residential and luxury properties, ongoing supportive government initiatives, and a stable economic environment in the emirate. These elements collectively confirm the rising confidence of both local and international investors in Dubai’s real estate sector.
The value of mortgage transactions since the beginning of the year reached approximately AED 172.22 billion across 48,960 transactions, compared with AED 187.27 billion through 35,885 transactions in 2024. Meanwhile, gift (grant) transactions totaled AED 52.85 billion across 9,119 transactions, compared with AED 51.28 billion through 9,372 transactions last year.
As a result, the total value of real estate transactions in the emirate since the beginning of the year until yesterday reached around AED 875.4 billion, exceeding the total transactions recorded in the previous year, which amounted to AED 760.73 billion—an increase of AED 114.67 billion.
Top Areas by Sales Value
Business Bay topped the list of areas with the highest sales value since the beginning of the year, with sales of approximately AED 36.69 billion. It was followed by Al Yelayiss 1 with about AED 23.35 billion, Jumeirah Village Circle with AED 23.12 billion, Palm Jumeirah in fourth place with AED 20.46 billion, and Dubai Investment Park Second with AED 20.28 billion.
Dubai Airport City ranked sixth with approximately AED 19.91 billion, followed by Burj Khalifa with AED 19.66 billion, Me’aisem Second with AED 18.71 billion, Al Yufrah 1 with AED 18.53 billion, and Palm Jebel Ali in tenth place with AED 16.78 billion.
Land Sale Worth AED 1.34 Billion
Dubai’s real estate market recorded a land sale yesterday for commercial use in the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Gardens area, valued at AED 1.34 billion, according to Dubai Land Department data.
The data showed that the total area of the plot is approximately 33.4 million square feet, at a price of AED 40 per square foot.
Apartments vs Villas: Volume Dominance vs Value Growth
Apartment sales significantly outperformed villa sales in transaction volume year-to-date through 2025, accounting for approximately 80–83% of total residential transactions in Dubai. Villas, while representing a smaller share of transactions—around 15–20%—continued to demonstrate strong value and price growth.
Transaction Volume Apartments dominated residential activity, supported by strong off-plan demand and broader affordability. In the first half of 2025 alone, apartment transactions exceeded 73,800 units, reflecting a year-on-year increase of around 15%, while August recorded more than 15,900 apartment transactions, up 29.2% YoY. In contrast, villa transactions were significantly lower, with August volumes declining by approximately 38% YoY to around 1,944 transactions, largely due to limited supply rather than weakening demand.
Sales Value and Pricing Trends Despite lower transaction volumes, villas contributed disproportionately to overall sales value, representing roughly 25% of residential value in Q3 2025. Average first-sale villa prices reached approximately AED 5.1 million, marking a 54% YoY increase, while average prices per square foot ranged between AED 1,398 and AED 1,720, up about 15% YoY.
Apartments, meanwhile, recorded an average first-sale price of around AED 1.3 million, slightly lower on a year-on-year basis, with an average price per square foot of approximately AED 1,886. However, their high transaction volume drove substantial aggregate value, including monthly sales exceeding AED 30 billion in peak periods such as August.
Key Market Dynamics Off-plan apartment sales remained the primary driver of market liquidity, particularly in high-activity areas such as Jumeirah Village Circle and Business Bay. Villas, on the other hand, experienced stronger price appreciation—ranging between 10% and 32% YoY—in premium locations such as Dubai Hills Estate and Palm Jumeirah, supported by end-user demand, lifestyle preferences, and supply scarcity.
Market Insight This divergence highlights a clear structural dynamic in Dubai’s real estate market: apartments provide liquidity and transaction depth, while villas deliver capital appreciation and value concentration, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a diversified and resilient real estate market.
Finally, Dubai’s real estate market continues to show strong momentum, with record transaction values reflecting solid economic fundamentals, supportive government policies, and high investor confidence. Apartments are driving market liquidity through high transaction volumes, while villas are leading in value growth due to limited supply and strong end-user demand. This balance highlights a resilient, diversified market positioning Dubai as a leading global real estate investment destination.
