Dubai Developers Hold Prices Steady as Off-Plan Sales Slow

Oct 12, 2026
News
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In Dubai, the off-plan field has seen more fluctuations in sales volume than in the reviews regarding prices during 2026. According to the research done by Fäm Properties, real estate developers continued to maintain their launch prices but made a lot of changes in the sales figures and the speed of selling projects.

Out of 717 off-plan projects that were launched from July 2023, there were 44 projects that decreased their prices below 5% after the end of February. Only 28 projects managed to sell at a price lower than the original price of the launch. This is why while checking the prices of the available Dubai properties, potential buyers should not rely on only the listed costs. This research is really useful for understanding the current situation with the Dubai real estate industry, which plays a very important role today as well.

DubaiOffPlanPricesHoldSteadyAsSalesPatternsShift

Price Cuts Have Been Limited

According to Fäm Properties, June marked the beginning of the first price cuts identified in its findings. The price adjustment was based on local trends, with the real estate market remaining stable despite challenges posed by geo-political events.

The report brings three key statistics to the attention of the market participants:

717 projects: Off-plan properties launched since July 2023.
44 projects: Have reduced their prices by more than 5% since February.
28 projects: Available at lower than the initial launch cost.

The majority of properties (more than 90%) have the same price set at the launch. It suggests that price changes are manifested in terms of reduction in sales and absorption rather than price adjustments. Those looking at property investment in Dubai estate should compare the prices of properties with similar offerings in the neighborhood rather than assume that the whole market experienced price cuts. An evaluation of the real estate investment Dubai environment should also consider the pricing practices of the developers, competition on the local market, and property sales performance.

Price Influences the Speed of Sale of Properties

The link between the price of properties and their absorption was evidenced by the results of projects launched since 2025. The results of the analysis of the 574 projects demonstrated that the average price of a property is about 4.2% higher than the average price of the area where the project is based, which helped to sell about 73.8% of the property. In contrast, projects priced 20% above the average area price only achieved sales of 60%.

The data obtained suggests that properties with a huge price difference may take longer to sell. Nonetheless, the final results in different locations, payments, designs, and developers will be different. For investors checking off plan properties for sale in Dubai, the local price guides can be as important as the advertised initial cost. When people search for the best residential projects in Dubai, they need to check absorption rates of sale and competing projects instead of focusing only on promotions and benefits offered.

Apartment Sales Show Varied Patterns in Demands

The number of apartments sold by registered developers in the first eight months of 2026 stood at 62,147, which is a 6% decline compared to the corresponding period in 2025. The dynamics of sales varied by apartment size.

Studios apartments: sales rose by 26% to 21,728.
One-bedroom apartments: sales declined by 18%.
Two-bedroom apartments: sales dropped by 16%.
Three-bedroom apartments: sales decreased by 13%.

Studios are the sole segment that recorded a growth. As for other apartment types, they had negative results. The situation indicates that a total drop in the volume of sold apartments was accompanied by diverse trends for apartments of different sizes. It is advisable that customers exploring studio apartments for sale in Dubai compare the prices, service fees, and construction periods. These factors should also be taken into consideration while analyzing the Dubai real estate market since overall sales figures may be misleading.

Dubai South Facilitates Surge in Studio Transactions

Dubai South witnessed a surge in the occurrence of studio transactions and sales which climbed significantly by 185% to a total of 11,147 for the first eight months of the year 2026 according to Fäm Properties. The increase in studio transactions is indicative of the significance of understanding certain areas instead of blindly assuming uniformity in sales patterns across the board. For example, Dubai Marina, Business Bay, Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah Village Circle are already well-known residential areas but the available numbers do not prove that their sales pattern is similar.

The concentration of studio transactions in Dubai South could clarify the success of smaller sized units as compared to bigger apartments. Investors who want to buy an apartment for sale In Dubai must consider the activity made in terms of transactions in that specific area. They should also compare different off plan apartments for sale in Dubai while looking into factors such as available units, prices and payment conditions.

What Developers Are Saying About Prices

According to Firas Al Msaddi, founder and CEO of fäm Properties, pricing is becoming more crucial in how fast projects are sold. He indicated that developers were hesitant about reducing their prices, and this is why comparing to nearby properties was crucial. Al Msaddi pointed out that over 90 percent of properties have kept their launch prices. He claimed that the properties that will be able to keep prices close to local market levels will have a much lower absorption rate than those with high markups.

When it comes to the situation of buyers looking for luxury apartments for sale, this awareness of property value, sold units, and competing supply in the local real estate market is vital. The help of the real estate company in Dubai is invaluable for finding the proper listings, but it is best to check pricing assumptions and contract terms independently.

What Buyers Should Check Before Committing

The overall findings suggest that we have a situation in the market where overall reductions in launch prices are limited while the performance of sales depends on price and type of apartment.

Before making any purchase, buyers must:

Match Comparable Properties and Price Levels in the Market.
Cross-check absorption, where relevant data exists.
Review payment plans and associated costs.
Analyze the demand for the specific type of unit.
Never think that every developer might lower their prices.

Those who are comparing luxury properties for sale should evaluate the properties separately. Those considering properties for rent in Dubai can compare their rent with their purchase commitment before making a decision. The key finding from Fäm Properties is the continuation of the practice of developers keeping launch prices intact and the rising significance of sales volume, absorption rates, and other indicators of property performance.

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