Dubai Property Deals Reach AED90.62bn as Affordable Homes Dominate Q3

Nov 06, 2026
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A notification by Springfield Properties indicates that in the third quarter of 2026, Dubai’s residential and commercial property transactions amounted to AED90.62 billion ($24.67 billion) through 36,738 transactions. According to the price-range report, 84.28% of the amount spent on the deals were below AED3 million ($817,000).

The residential property accounted for AED72.58 billion ($19.76 billion) through the 33,949 transactions. The housing sector remained the largest contributor towards the total figure. The data shows that there is big demand for Dubai properties as far as residential properties are concerned. Such information also indicates the level of activities that are taking place in Dubai real estate, with both off-plan and completed homes contributing to residential turnover. Residential property sales comprised most of the total value while commercial property deals made up the rest.

DubaiPropertyDealsReachAED90.62bnInQ32026Report

Homes Lower than AED3M Constitute most Transactions

The proportion of dealings for properties costing less than AED3m grew to 84.28% in Q3, compared to 82.45% in Q2.

Break-up of price ranges shows:

AED1m to AED3m: 44.04% of transactions;
Under AED1m: 40.24% of transactions;
Total share of transactions below AED3m: 84.28%

The AED1m - AED3m category had the biggest share. For those planning for property investment in Dubai, figure reveal the regions of major transactions but do not define the average price of properties. Such feature again shows the uniqueness of Dubai real estate situation in Q3.

Off-Plan Properties Make up The Biggest Market Segment in Q3

Off-plan properties maintained their leadership position as the biggest segment in the residential market in the third quarter, with the total sales amounting to AED41.58 billion (US$11.32 billion) through 23,457 transactions, while the secondary market produced AED30.83 billion (US$8.39 billion) through 10,442 transactions. Off-plan is still in the leading position by value and volume, although the secondary market has also increased. The volume of transactions in the secondary market grew by 22.52%, while the value of the transactions rose by 24.22%.

When comparing the available off plan properties in Dubai, buyers need to pay attention to the construction stage, payment plan, date of handover, and reliability of the developer. Off-plan and secondary market purchases are subject to different deadlines and risks. For real estate investment Dubai it is important for the buyer to understand his time frame. Besides that, it is important for the buyers to calculate their total payment, expected time of sale, and reselling options of the assets before making the final choice.

Dubai South Leads in Residential Transactions

Dubai South has taken the top spot when considered for transactions. During Q3 of the year, a total of 5,165 transactions were recorded, with the average price being AED 1,690 ($460) per square foot. Jumeirah Village Circle is second with 2,312 transactions, up from 1,992 in Q2. The Downtown Jebel Ali came in third with 1,890 transactions. Business Bay, Dubai Creek Harbour, and Dubai Marina are also in the top-most active residential area of the quarter.

In other terms, the list includes both new places and growing buying destinations, so city averages shouldn't be applied to particular areas. The number of transactions shows the number of activities done by buyers so it wouldn't provide the rationale behind their making this choice or confirm whether their purchase was for their own use or purely for investment purposes. Residents who are deciding about properties for sale in Dubai would have to pay attention to such aspects as quality of the structure, accessibility, facilities, and price comparison. If you need to get an apartment for sale in Dubai how would you decide?

Average Selling Prices are Dependent on the Type of Property

Prices per square foot differed significantly for various categories of residential properties in Q3. Villas had the highest average price of AED2,216 ($603) per square foot; the average for apartments was AED1,794 ($488), while for townhouses it was AED1,341 ($365).

The average prices recorded were as follows:

Villas: AED2,216 per sq ft
Apartments: AED1,794 per sq ft
Townhouses: AED1,341 per sq ft

These averages should not be compared directly since location, size of the plot, property layout, and age of the property affect the price per square foot. A villa for sale In Dubai should be assessed based on the plot size and built-up area. For a 2 bedroom apartment for sale in Dubai, one should compare layout, age of the building, parking, and service charges. The average price per square foot quoted here is useful for finding out the average price of similar properties in the same community, but it does not give any clue about the particular price of the targeted property.

Understanding the Implications for Home Buyers

The data for Q3 demonstrates high levels of activity below AED3mn, steady operations in off-plan transactions, and Dubai South leading the way per volume numbers.

With that being said, buyers must:

Look at recent sales of similar units in the community in which they are buying.
Determine whether the price reflected is an asking price or actual selling price.
Evaluate service charges, maintenance requirements, and ownership costs.
For off-plan units, look into the payment plan, construction progress, and the scheduled handover date.
Evaluate the rental demand separately, rather than assuming that the sale activity would result in rental income.

When investigating the best residential projects in Dubai, one must compare the completion rates, location, facilities, and ownership costs. Real estate brokers in Dubai could provide information about the recently sold projects, but one must independently verify the documents and details of transactions. One must also take into account the registration costs, financing charges, and other relevant expenses when calculating the total expenditure for the purchase.

Overviewing Dubai's Q3 Market Beyond the Headline Total

The overall for Q3 stands at AED90.62bn, including both residential and commercial sectors. The residential statistics indicate that a vast majority of transactions occurred below AED3m, and more properties were sold off-plan than in the resale market. The statistics should not be used to predict price appreciation, rental yields, or performance of all developments. In fact, those looking at property for rent in Dubai should determine rental rates by looking at rental contracts and rent rates, rather than relying on sales numbers.

In the same way, townhouses for sale in Dubai should be analyzed against comparable townhouses rather than city-wide average for townhouses. The performance of the rental market is tied to achievable rents, incidents of vacancies, and ongoing costs. These factors cannot be guessed using sales data. Overall, the statistics indicate that there is activity happening across various price spectra, property types, and locations, but each property should still be examined individually.

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