Long-term plans in the UAE are encouraging renters to explore homeownership
Dubai, UAE – October: Nearly half of renters searching for property in the UAE have considered buying a home instead, according to a new market sentiment survey conducted by Bayut and dubizzle.
The survey, which gathered 2,000+ completed responses across both platforms, found that 45% of renters have considered moving into homeownership. However, their readiness varies significantly: 18% are actively comparing purchase options, while 26% would consider buying once they save for the downpayment and associated initial costs.
The findings point to a sizeable group of renters whose interest in buying is already established, but whose ability to proceed depends on affordability, financing and greater clarity around the overall cost of ownership.
Among renters actively comparing purchase options, 52% said their main motivation was a desire to remain in the UAE for the long term. A further 34% said mortgage and rental payments now appeared comparable, suggesting that the decision is increasingly being shaped by longer-term financial considerations rather than short-term market movements alone.
Fibha Ahmed, VP of Property Sales at Bayut and dubizzle, said:
“Property journeys do not always fit into fixed categories. A renter today may already be planning to buy, while another may want to take that step but needs a clearer and more achievable path to ownership. What stands out is how closely this interest is linked to people building a longer-term life in the UAE. This creates an important role for platforms and agents to make the journey easier to understand through transparent pricing, trusted market context and practical guidance around the true cost of buying a home.”
Rental decisions remain time-sensitive:
Although many renters are considering ownership, their immediate housing requirements remain pressing. Nearly half, 47%, said they needed to move or renew their tenancy within one month. This rises to 71% when the timeframe extends to three months.
Rent expectations, however, remain broadly balanced. Half of renters expect rents to remain stable over the next 12 months, while 25% expect an increase and 25% anticipate a decrease.
The findings suggest that urgency within the rental market is being driven by immediate housing needs rather than a single expectation about the future direction of rents.
Among respondents currently looking for a new rental home, preferences were almost evenly divided. Around 32% wanted to upgrade to a larger or better property, while 31% were looking for a more affordable home. A further 26% wanted to remain in a similar type of property.
This reflects a rental market serving different consumer priorities at the same time, from households seeking more space to those reassessing their budgets and housing costs.
Buyers remain positive about the market:
The wider survey findings also indicate that prospective buyers remain positive about the UAE property market.
Around 46% of buyers expect property prices to increase over the next 12 months, compared with 35% who expect prices to remain stable and 20% who anticipate a decline.
Longer-term confidence is also relatively strong, with 60% of buyers describing themselves as either very confident or cautiously optimistic about the market over the next five years.
Importantly, demand appears to be supported by personal housing needs. Around 72% of prospective buyers said they intended to purchase for personal use, while attractive property prices and the need for a home for personal or family reasons were the two most frequently selected motivations for buying.
However, much of this demand remains at an early stage. Nearly half of buyers, 49%, said they were still researching online, highlighting the importance of timely advice, relevant property recommendations and clear information around prices and communities.
Greater transparency could help consumers take the next step:
The survey also asked people exploring the property market what would give them greater confidence to make a decision.
Half said they wanted a better understanding of market trends, while 40% selected greater price transparency. Recent transaction data was identified by 34%, and 26% said more reliable guidance from agents would increase their confidence.
These findings reinforce the importance of credible market information throughout the property journey, particularly for renters weighing up whether homeownership is financially achievable.
For real estate professionals, the results also highlight an opportunity to build longer-term relationships with rental clients. A rental enquiry may represent an immediate housing requirement, but it can also be the beginning of a future homeownership journey. Addressing affordability questions, explaining financing options and providing transparent market evidence can help consumers understand when buying may become a realistic next step.
Methodology:
The UAE Market Sentiment Survey collected 2,014 completed responses from users of Bayut and dubizzle through 23 September 2026. Findings relating to rental sentiment are based on responses from approximately 669 renters. The question examining the motivations of renters actively comparing purchase options had a base of 122 respondents.
The survey reflects the views of participating Bayut and dubizzle users and should not be interpreted as a nationally representative poll of the UAE population. Percentages may vary slightly because of rounding, and some questions allowed respondents to select more than one answer.
