DUBAI — in its latest market update webinar, betterhomes, one of Dubai’s largest real estate brokerages, says its Q2 2026 market report points to a property pipeline that is narrowing in volume but strengthening in quality, underpinned by delivery numbers, regulatory safeguards, and demand data that reflects a market built for the long term.
The supply story: A measured pullback, not a slowdown
According to Harry Martin, Director of Off-Plan & Capital Markets at betterhomes, new unit launches fell from around 45,000 in Q1 2026 to around 5,000 in Q2, a sharp quarter-on-quarter contraction. Off-plan sales still accounted for over three-quarters of every transaction in Q2, even as overall off-plan volumes were down about 12% and value down about 15%.
“You’ll see a maturing, things start to settle and find their feet as to where the true value is,” said Martin. “The developers that are launching are the more established: full supply chain, full ecosystem, backing their product and their brand, a far more secure product coming to market.”
Built to deliver: The credibility behind the pipeline
Martin says betterhomes remains on track to see around 75,000 units delivered across Dubai this year, developers having locked in their procurement” and secured their supply chains years in advance, backed by “pretty strong presales. On-time completion rates are also improving, up from 50% in 2024 to 64% in 2025, supported by a regulatory framework that includes verified escrow accounts and structured sale-purchase agreements designed to protect buyers on delivery timing.
For betterhomes, that’s the throughline: a more selective pipeline, delivered by developers built to see it through, proof, the brokerage says, that Dubai’s supply story is only getting stronger.
The upside for buyers:
A more selective launch calendar isn’t a constraint for buyers, Martin says, it’s leverage. Asked whether fewer new project launches would limit choice for buyers going forward, he pointed to the negotiating room a more disciplined pipeline creates.
“I don’t think the issue in this market is choice,” said Martin. “Having a softening in the off-plan market, or the real estate market as a whole is a good thing for you as a buyer. You have slightly more buying power, more chance of negotiating, more chance of getting favourable terms from a developer, whether that’s payment-plan led or incentive led. A slowing in launches overall for the market will be a good thing. Don’t be put off as a buyer that it limits your choice, it just makes it a lot more selective than it was previously.”
For betterhomes, that’s the throughline of Q2: a more selective calendar of launches, delivered by stronger developers, meeting buyers with more room to negotiate than they’ve had in years, proof, the brokerage says, that Dubai’s supply story is only getting stronger.
About betterhomes:
betterhomes is Dubai’s longest-standing independent real estate brokerage, part of Cencorp, a group spanning sixteen companies across residential, commercial and professional real estate services. Since 1986, betterhomes has supported buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants across Dubai with data-led market insight and end-to-end property services.
