Dubai Rental Contracts Reach 299,000 as 10 Areas Lead Demand

Nov 07, 2026
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According to Fām Properties, the freehold rental market of Dubai has witnessed 298,984 rental contracts in the period of January to September 2026, a rise of 6.8% when compared to the year before. The increase portrays that Dubai is set for another successful year in the market, nearing the above record of 377,926 from 2025. The numbers comprise freehold territories, including both new and renewed rental contracts. They evaluate the renting process occurring within Dubai properties.

In addition to that, the numbers portray well the demand for housing in Dubai real estate, but do not indicate the average rent rates. The point is essential in analyzing how many apartments are being rented and whether they meet the needs of tenants. Also, the statistics show the distribution of the renting statistics across different parts of Dubai.

DubaiRentalMarket10AreasLeadLeasingDemand

September Records a Monthly Rise in Rental Contracts

During September, a total of 48639 rental agreements were recorded, representing an increase of 22.6% as compared to August. The written rental agreements included new agreements and old rental agreements.

The following figures reflect the rental activity during September:

New contracts: 25,345 rental agreements made during a certain month in Dubai, going up by 25.6% each month.
Renewals: 23,294 contracts made in September.
Total contracts made: 48639 contracts, going up by 22.6%.

The number of new agreements was larger than the renewal agreements during that month. The collected data does not specify the reasons why the tenants wanted to enter a new agreement. Potential seekers of townhouses for rent in Dubai may consider looking at the community level availability, property design and maintenance of each property to use as a guideline in their rental contract decision-making. In addition, the levels of rental activity greatly vary in the Dubai real estate market depending on different community characteristics and property size.

Al Warsan First Leads the Top Rental Areas

Al Warsan First has registered the highest freehold rental agreements for the nine months of 2026, amounting to 28,825. With 24,710 agreements, Jebel Ali First follows in second place, while Al Barsha South Fourth takes third with 24,564 agreements.

The ten best areas are:

Al Warsan First: 28,825
Jebel Ali First: 24,710
Al Barsha South Fourth: 24,564
Business Bay: 19,781
Marsa Dubai: 16,453
Nadd Hessa: 15,722
Al Thanyah Fifth: 12,459
Al Barsha South Third: 10,655
Wadi Al Safa 5: 10,009
Dubai Investment Park First: 9,898

Other notable rental areas include Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Downtown Dubai and Dubai Silicon Oasis, which are not mentioned in the top 10. However, the presence of such agreement numbers does not assure low rental prices. Therefore, when comparing properties for rent in Dubai, the type and size of the property must be kept in mind. A real estate company in Dubai will clear the picture regarding rental contracts.

One-Bedroom Homes Hold the Largest Share

One-bedroom homes were the most common type of rental property within the first three quarters of 2026. These properties made up 124,113 contracts and around 42% of the overall rentals. Thus, one-bedroom apartments come before all other types of housing in the relative turnover of rental markets; nonetheless, this does not allow for any correlation of rents based on the number of bedrooms or to determine the unit type that enjoys the largest rent increases.

As anyone contemplating about a 1 bedroom apartments for rent In Dubai should note, smaller apartments must be considered separately as studios are excluded from statistics concerning one-bedroom apartments. Also, the features of the apartment for rent should be compared when corresponding prices are estimated.

What the Rental Results Imply Regarding Landlords and Investors

There is evidence of continuing leasing activities as lease volumes increase in numerous freehold locations. However, this does not imply that rent will be successfully charged or that it can be obtained for a specific property.

Landlords and potential investors should consider:

Amount of rent that can be obtained according to recently signed agreements.
Length of vacancy periods and time spent finding tenants.
Utility costs, maintenance costs, and management fees.
Renewal rates and tenant turnover rates.
Transportation methods, amenities, and other services nearby.

When considering a property investment in Dubai, results at the level of the location serve as ground information only and are not sufficient for a property-specific conclusion. Anyone planning for real estate investment Dubai should be able to tell the difference between new leases and leases with renewals.

Rental Rates are Discussed by Property Type and Duration

The top-10 ratings include locations with different residential types. For example, Business Bay and Marsa Dubai have large apartment markets, while others have a wider variety of homes. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the number of contracts signed and the type of property. The same is valid for luxury real estate.

Luxury properties for sale refers to properties/events/transfers, thus the number of rental contracts does not determine the price of resale or expected appreciation. Renters interested in short term holiday rentals in Dubai should be aware that the above-mentioned figures refer to registered lease contracts in freehold areas as opposed to vacation home bookings.

Before signing a rental agreement, tenants should compare:

The rent level and payment rules.
The state of furniture and appliances.
Parking, facilities, and transport access.
Terms of re-renting and extra fees.

Knowing these aspects helps explain differences in rent prices for properties in one area.

Dubai on the Verge of Setting New Annual Leasing Record

The total of 298,984 leasing agreements in Dubai between January and September 2023 indicates that the city is likely to affordable the annual hurdle of 377,926 leasing contracts set in 2021. According to data from DXBinteract firm, quoted by fäm Properties, Dubai recorded the sale of 37,429 properties in Q3 2026, with the total value of AED 92.9 billion (USD 25.3 billion). However, sales and leasing contracts indicate different activities.

For tenants, one of the main takeaways is the most popular locations for renting and the demand for one-bedroom apartments for rent. Hence, landlords can compare them when setting rental prices. Those looking for larger and more secluded housing will be interested in luxury villas for rent. Apart from that, waterfront properties for rent in Dubai are another option for those who are looking for a home in Dubai. Whether or not Dubai manages to break its annual record will depend on the number of registered contracts made by the end of the year. January through September indicates that the year was successful though the outcome is unclear at the moment.

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