Stacy Pereira
Dubai’s residential property sector surged past AED 262.1 billion in sales during the first half of 2025, marking a 36.4% year‑on‑year increase, according to Cavendish Maxwell. Sales transactions grew to 91,900, up 23% from H1 2024.
Although over 61,800 new units are under construction, just 21% of the developments slated for completion this year have surpassed the 75% construction milestone, the report shows, indicating setbacks in delivery timelines.
Key highlights from the report
- 17,200 new residential units completed, with half of all handovers in Jumeirah Village Circle, Sobha Hartland, and Mohammed Bin Rashid City.
- Sales prices climbed nearly 17% (YoY), and ~8% compared to H2 2024.
- Rental rates rose almost 10% (YoY), but slipped 0.6% since H2 2024.
- 300 new projects launched, delivering 87,900 units.
The report shows that off‑plan sales continued to dominate (~70% of all transactions), reaching 64,500 deals—up nearly 30% (YoY) but down 4% from H2 2024. On the other hand, ready property sales have hit record highs with 14,200 transactions in Q2 and 27,400 in H1 total, representing 10% (YoY) growth. There is also a shift toward larger homes. Off‑plan apartment share fell to 76.7%, while villas and townhouses increased by 5% (YoY). Studio and 1‑bed units rose in popularity, especially off‑plan (studios ~25%; 1‑beds 44%)
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Cavendish Maxwell’s Director, Ronan Arthur, noted the market’s strength in buyer demand and rising sales, tempered by moderating rent growth, which signals balance. “Looking ahead, we anticipate that the market will remain resilient, with new project launches and initiatives like the First-Time Buyer programme encouraging new investors to enter the market. With a steady flow of completions in the pipeline, Dubai’s property sector is poised to evolve into a more mature, balanced phase, creating new opportunities and greater accessibility.”
Developer & Location Insights
Top developers by sales volume include Emaar, DAMAC Properties, Sobha Group, along with Binghatti, Danube, and newcomer Beyond in the top 10. As for trending locations, Jumeirah Village Circle led in apartment sales for both off‑plan and ready segments (~8,000+), followed by Business Bay (~5,000). DAMAC Islands, The Valley, and DAMAC Hills 2 topped villa and townhouse sales.
