Dubai Office Sales Surge to Dh15.8bn as H1 Investment Accelerates

Aug 12, 2026
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According to the real estate consultancy Cavendish Maxwell, total sales in Dubai’s office sector exceeded Dh15.8 billion during the first six months of 2026. The number is almost 200% higher than that in the same period last year and is twice as large as the sales amount for the last six months of 2025.

The increase demonstrates growing investment activity in Dubai properties, especially in commercial areas where limited supply has sustained demand. The results also confirm the role of Dubai real estate in the rapid expansion of businesses and companies in the emirate.

DubaiOfficeSalesReachDh15.8bnAsH1DemandGrows

Transactions Gain Momentum as Off-Plan Deals Dominate

Between the months of January and June, approximately 2,600 office transactions took place, signifying approximately 38% growth when compared to those reported in the previous year. Off-plan deals made up to 65% of the overall transactions as the total number of high-value deals soared.

Thus:

Over 220 offices were sold for over Dh20 million.
Despite that, by the end of both halves of 2025 only 20 deals were done above the Dh20 million threshold.
The overwhelming majority (95%) of the deals above Dh20 million were off-plan transactions.

Average prices also went up dramatically. Buyers of off-plan offices invested about Dh8.3 million per unit, which is 133% higher than what they were paying one year ago – Dh3.5 million. As regards the property investment in Dubai, the increase in activity hints at some strong demand for future office facilities. The demand for commercial properties for sale in Dubai remains supported by the desire of investors to acquire property in hot and new business locations.

Office Prices and Rents Continue to Rise in Dubai

In the first half of 2026, office sales prices in Dubai saw an increase of 15% year-on-year to reach Dh2,012 per square foot, while ready office prices increased by 14% to an average of Dh3 million as compared to Dh2.6 million a year ago. The rental market has also been positive with an increase of 14% on the average rent of offices, which is now about Dh189 per square foot in one year, although prices remained stable quarter on quarter.

The profitability of investing in offices for sale in Dubai is supported not only by rising prices, but also rental income. Likewise, businesses looking for offices for rent in Dubai are faced with a lack of quality space in the current market.

Signs of Moderate Activity in Q2

The excellent performance in the first half of the year saw a significant slowdown in the second quarter. Office transactions in Q2 dropped by approximately 36% from the previous quarter, with the biggest decline coming from ready properties. Cavendish Maxwell has identified factors such as the change of seasons and uncertainty in the region as reasons for the moderation.

As noted by Vidhi Shah of Cavendish Maxwell, the fundamental structure of the Dubai market remains strong, thanks to the region’s diverse economy, geographic location and favorable business environment. However, she also pointed out that the future of the market will depend on political situations, nextcoming supplies and demand from tenants. As such, the Dubai real estate market heads into H2 with strong annual figures, but a more cautious quarterly trend. According to experts of commercial property in Dubai, the purchasing process may slow down considerably if uncertainty persists.

Top 5 Areas That Have the Most Transactions

In the first half of this year Business Bay was the busiest office location, as it recorded a total of 814 off-plan and ready transactions.

In addition there were the following numbers:

All five areas accounted for over 70% of the total transactions within the office property market during the first half of the year. The greatest concentration of transactions also indicates that importance of the established commercial districts. People searching for the best real estate in Dubai continue to choose locations that have strong business connections and established occupiers’ demand. The segment of luxury properties for sale is supported by high-value purchases, as these remain commodities in demand.

Expansion of Office Supply Continues but Faces Limitations

Dubai constructed around 92,300 square meters of office area in the first half of the year, summing up an overall area of 9.46 million square meters.

There is an additional availability of office space to be put on the market:

150,000 sq m till the end of 2026
379,000 sq m in 2027
718,000 sq in 2028

If all planned constructions are completed, it is expected that not less than 10.7 million square meters of office space will be available by 2028. However, according to Cavendish Maxwell, companies will still face a struggle with lack of supply until the end of 2026 due to possibility of delays in construction projects.

This limited supply of office space in Dubai definitely affects properties for rent in Dubai given that there are many firms looking for modern office premises. When it comes to real estate investment Dubai, it is still critical to understand the future supply of office space.

Different Office Sizes Showcase Different Buyer Interests

Office demand consisted of various size classes, resulting in transactions from both small-scale investors and sizable tenants. Although a large share of transactions involved offices under 1,000 sq ft, the interest in units exceeding 2,000 sq ft has also increased.

In case of ready offices, there was a different trend where offices of sizes from 1,000 sq ft to 2,000 sq ft made 53% of the sales. For real estate brokers in Dubai, the indicated figures suggest what offices caught buyers’ attention. Moreover, off plan properties for sale in Dubai will likely remain in demand as long as supply is low. However, the weaker figures for Q2 suggest that buyers may become more picky in the second half of 2026.

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