Dubai property market 2025 – 2026: The questions global investors are asking right now
Dubai closed 2025 with its strongest residential performance on record. But beyond the headline numbers, the market’s structure has shifted. Using insights from the betterhomes Dubai Residential Market Report FY 2025, here are the answers to the questions global investors and institutions are asking most.
Why hasn’t Dubai followed the slowdown seen in other global property markets?
This is because demand in Dubai has been structural rather than cyclical. Activity remained consistent throughout 2025 instead of peaking early or fading late. The market recorded 203,000 transactions worth AED 547 billion, with Q4 alone delivering AED 141 billion, signalling depth rather than a short-term surge. Demand stayed broad-based across price points and property types, reinforcing resilience.
What type of property is most liquid?
Liquidity remains concentrated in smaller homes. Studios, one- and two-bedroom units made up 77% of transactions, while 72% of deals fell between AED 500,000 and AED 3 million, where rental absorption, financing access, and resale velocity are strongest. These segments continue to anchor market turnover.
Is off-plan dominance a risk signal?
Not in its current form. Off-plan recorded 132,000 transactions worth AED 286 billion, while the secondary market still delivered AED 262 billion across 71,000 deals, indicating a two-track but balanced market. Strong resale activity alongside off-plan absorption limits delivery-driven risk.
Are prices still rising, or starting to cool?
Prices are rising at a more measured pace. Average values increased 12% year-on-year to AED 1,673 per sq ft, signalling moderation without correction. This shift allows rents, incomes, and financing conditions to realign more sustainably.
What does the return of mortgage-led buying indicate?
This is a strong indicator of confidence and longer-term commitment. In 2025, 52% of transactions were mortgage-backed, overtaking cash purchases. This reflects growing end-user participation and comfort with holding property through market cycles rather than short-term positioning.
Is now a good time to buy, or has the market already peaked?
Price growth has moderated, not reversed. Average values rose 12% year-on-year to AED 1,673 per sq ft, marking a shift from rapid acceleration to more sustainable growth. Historically, this phase tends to favour income-focused and selective investors rather than speculative entrants.
What is the risk of oversupply in 2026?
New supply is rising, but risk is location- and segment-specific, not market-wide. While a higher volume of apartment handovers is expected in 2026, demand remains underpinned by population growth above 5%, record leasing activity, and strong absorption in mid-market price bands. Established, well-located communities continue to show resilience.
What returns are investors seeing in Dubai today?
Returns continue to compare favourably with other global cities. Gross rental yields in Dubai widely sit above those in markets such as London, Hong Kong, and Singapore, particularly in well-located mid-market apartments and townhouses where tenant demand remains strong. As price growth moderates, income performance is becoming a more central part of investment decision-making.
