Dubai’s property market has started 2026 on a strong note, with developers leading new sales and cash buyers dominating the resale segment. The latest data highlights continued momentum in the emirate’s real estate sector as investor demand remains robust across residential and commercial assets.
According to a report by fäm Properties, the primary market — which includes direct purchases from developers — accounted for the majority of transactions in February. Developers recorded 11,351 property sales valued at AED 42.1 billion, significantly higher than activity in the resale segment.
The secondary market registered 5,628 transactions worth AED 18.6 billion, indicating that while resale activity remains healthy, buyers continue to prefer newly launched and under-construction projects across the city.
Cash Buyers Dominate Resale Transactions
One of the most notable trends in February was the strong presence of cash buyers in the secondary market. More than 69% of resale transactions were completed without mortgage financing, demonstrating the high liquidity in Dubai’s property sector.
Analysts say this trend reflects the growing participation of international investors and high-net-worth individuals who prefer faster transactions and simplified purchase processes. Cash deals typically reduce delays associated with loan approvals, making Dubai an attractive destination for global property investors.
The increasing share of cash purchases also signals strong confidence in the long-term outlook of Dubai’s real estate market.
Overall Property Sales Continue to Rise
Data from DXBinteract shows that February 2026 recorded property sales worth AED 60.8 billion from 16,979 transactions, marking an 18.4% increase in value compared with February 2025. Transaction volumes also grew by 5.1% year-on-year.
Looking at the first two months of the year, Dubai’s property market has already generated AED 133.3 billion in sales from 34,452 deals. This represents a 38.8% jump in value and a 13.32% increase in transaction volume compared with the same period last year.
Industry observers believe the market is continuing the strong momentum seen in 2025, which was one of the most successful years on record for Dubai real estate in both value and deal volume.
Stability Strengthens Investor Confidence
Commenting on the market performance, Firas Al Msaddi said the emirate continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the world’s most active real estate markets.
According to him, Dubai’s property sector benefits from a stable economic environment, investor-friendly policies and a strong regulatory framework. Government initiatives aimed at maintaining economic stability and security have further enhanced investor confidence during uncertain global conditions.
These factors continue to position Dubai as a reliable global destination for property investment, residential living and business expansion.
Commercial Real Estate Sees Strong Growth
Dubai’s commercial property sector also recorded significant growth in February. Sales of office and retail spaces surged to 804 transactions valued at AED 4.1 billion, representing an 81.5% increase in transaction volume year-on-year.
The surge reflects growing demand from companies expanding operations in the emirate and new businesses establishing regional headquarters.
Residential properties, however, continued to dominate the overall market.
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Apartment sales: 12,916 deals worth AED 26.6 billion, up 13.4% year-on-year
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Plot sales: 446 land transactions valued at AED 11.2 billion, rising 25.3%
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Villa sales: 2,802 transactions worth AED 18.8 billion, though volumes declined 29.3% year-on-year
Average property prices also showed steady growth, reaching AED 1,740 per square foot, representing a 12.2% increase compared with last year.
Five Years of Rapid Market Expansion
Dubai’s real estate sector has experienced remarkable expansion over the past five years.
Monthly February sales have grown steadily:
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2021: AED 7.4 billion across 3,800 transactions
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2022: AED 15.5 billion
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2023: AED 27.2 billion
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2024: AED 36.9 billion
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2025: AED 51.3 billion from 16,200 transactions
The consistent growth highlights the emirate’s ability to attract global capital and maintain strong demand across property segments.
Luxury Deals Continue to Grab Headlines
Luxury real estate remained a key highlight of February’s transactions.
The most expensive villa sold during the month was located in La Mer, changing hands for AED 350 million.
Meanwhile, the highest-value apartment transaction reached AED 226 million at Palm Jumeirah, specifically within the Alba Residences development.
Despite these headline-grabbing luxury deals, mid-market properties continued to account for the largest share of transactions.
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AED 1M – AED 2M: 32.41% of sales
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Below AED 1M: 24.1%
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AED 2M – AED 3M: 18.14%
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AED 3M – AED 5M: 12.67%
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Above AED 5M: 12.68%
This distribution indicates a balanced market where both high-end investors and mid-segment buyers remain active.
Outlook for 2026
With strong developer activity, increasing cash transactions and rising commercial demand, Dubai’s real estate market appears set to maintain its growth trajectory in 2026. The combination of global investor interest, stable economic policies and continuous infrastructure development continues to strengthen the city’s position as a leading international property hub.
