Dubai’s residential market held steady in November, with both sales and leasing activity reflecting confidence and consistency as the city moves toward 2026, according to betterhomes.
Off-Plan Drives 70% of Transactions as Prices Rise 2.5%
On the sales side, average prices rose 2.5% month-on-month to AED 1,950 per sqft, continuing the upward trend seen across Q4. The market remained steady as Dubai recorded 17,812 sales transactions worth AED 46 billion, only marking a seasonal 2.9% dip in volume. Off-plan remained the dominant driver with 12,429 transactions, while the secondary market recorded 5,383 sales, maintaining healthy absorption across established communities.
Developer activity was led by Emaar across both off-plan and title-deed sales. At betterhomes, buyer demand rose 3% month-on-month, underscoring resilient demand despite year-end pacing. Sales interest continued to centre around established apartment hubs including JVC, Business Bay and JVT, along with villa communities such as Jumeirah Golf Estate, Dubai Land and Mohammed Bin Rashid City.
“November showed strength without the noise,” said Louis Harding, CEO at betterhomes. “With prices up 2.5%, AED 46 billion transacted, and buyer leads growing 3%, the sales market is moving with confidence driven by real demand and well-positioned projects.”
Renewals Climb to 59% as Tenant Mobility Eases:
In leasing, the city recorded 45,771 rental transactions in November. Renewals strengthened to 59% of all leases (26,763 contracts), while new contracts totalled 18,873, reflecting a continued preference among tenants to stay put as the year closes. At betterhomes, enquiry levels followed the usual year-end rhythm, with activity moderating as residents delayed moves until early 2026.
Rental growth was community-specific: Dubai Festival City villas rose 4.5%, while Dubai Hills Estate saw a 2% uplift, supported by strong family demand.
Payment terms remained flexible, with 4-cheque agreements representing 34% of leases and single-cheque agreements 27%. Demand continued to cluster around established apartment communities such as JVC, Business Bay and Dubai Silicon Oasis, and villa hubs including Dubai Hills Estate, Damac Hills 2 and The Valley.
“The leasing market moved with clarity and consistency in November,” said Rupert Simmonds, Director of Leasing at betterhomes. “With renewals making up nearly 60% of all activity and strong interest across our core communities, tenants are prioritising neighbourhoods that support everyday living as we head into the new year.”
Outlook: A Stable Platform for 2026
Across both sales and leasing, betterhomes expects November’s steady performance to support a balanced start to 2026, underpinned by population growth, liquidity, and sustained developer and tenant engagement across Dubai’s key communities.
