Dubai South leads for seventh consecutive month as primary market continues to outpace resales
Dubai, UAE, 6th October, 2026: Dubai’s real estate sector remains on track to set an all-time rental record while the off-plan segment continues to dominate sales, a new market analysis revealed today.
The report from fäm Properties says that 48,639 rental contracts were registered across Dubai’s freehold areas in September, a 22.6% month on month increase. The volume of new contracts climbed 25.6% YoY to 25,345, while renewals increased by 7.6% YoY to 23,294.
This takes the total number of freehold rental contracts recorded for the first nine months in 2026 to 298,984, a 6.8% increase on the same period in 2025 which ultimately set a full-year record of 377,926 registered contracts.
Data from DXBinteract shows the market recorded 37,429 sales transactions worth AED92.9 billion in Q3 2026, as primary sales from developers again outpaced resales.
The primary market delivered 25,441 Q3 sales worth AED52.6 billion compared with 11,988 resales valued at AED40.3 billion. Just over 67% of all secondary market sales transactions were made in cash in Q3, which culminated in September with some notable month-on-month increases in sales volumes.
Plot sales last month were up 28.8% MoM to 237 valued at AED3.8 billion, commercial transactions, including offices and shops, rose 27.7% to 539 worth AED2.2 billion, while villa sales increased by 3.9% to 1,428 at AED8.6 billion. The month also saw 9,055 apartment sales worth AED 14.8 billion.
“The figures show that Dubai’s primary sector remains the main driver of sales activity, while the resale market continues to attract significant cash investment,’ said Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties.
“At the same time, the rental figures point to sustained demand across the established freehold sector. Taken together, the data shows a market that remains active, but with different segments moving at different rates.”
The most expensive villa sold in September went for AED260 million at Eome, while the most expensive apartment was sold for AED71 million at Como Residences at Palm Jumeirah.
For a seventh consecutive month, Dubai South was the emirate’s best-performing area in primary market sales volume, recording 737 off-plan transactions worth AED980.5 million.
With properties worth more than AED5 million accounting for 8.3% of sales, 10.3% were between AED3-5 million, 14.6% between AED2-3 million, 32.4% between AED1-2 million and 34.1% were below AED1 million.
The leading area of Dubai in freehold rentals in the first nine months of this year is Al Warsan First, with 28,825 registered tenancy contracts. Underlining a consistent apartments preference in the market, 124,113 (42%) of tenancy contracts registered were for one-bedroom units.
TOP FIVE PERFORMING AREAS IN OFF-PLAN SALES SEPTEMBER 2026
Volume Sales value
Dubai South 737 AED980.5M
Wadi Al Safa 3 560 AED574.5M
Al Barsha South Fourth 442 AED491.4M
Jebel Ali First 394 AED860.5M
Al Hebiah First 361 AED720.4M
BEST-SELLING PROJECTS DURING SEPTEMBER 2026
Primary market apartments
Project Volume Value Median price
Valia – Tower 263 AED725.4M AED2.3M
Primary market villas
Project Volume Value Median price
Greenz By Danube 62 AED305M AED4.5M
Resale apartments
Project Volume Value Median price
Dune Residency Dubai 32 AED24.0M AED651.2K
Resale villas
Project Volume Value Median price
Damac Lagoons – Portofino 16 AED49.6M AED2.6M
TOP TEN AREAS BY RENTAL CONTRACTS REGISTERED IN FIRST 9 MONTHS OF 2026
Al Warsan First 28,825
Jebel Ali First 24,710
Al Barsha South Fourth 24,564
Business Bay 19,781
Marsa Dubai 16,453
Nadd Hessa 15,722
Al Thanyah Fifth 12,459
Al Barsha South Third 10,655
Wadi Al Safa 5 10,009
Dubai Investment Park First 9,898
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