Dubai recorded 36,391 property transactions worth AED 25.81 billion in September 2026. That is more than 1,200 transactions every day across secondary sales, new rental contracts, residential off-plan and commercial office resales.
The activity was spread across different parts of the market. Ready-home sales remained strong, thousands of tenants chose to move, off-plan attracted more than half of the total investment and higher-value office deals pushed commercial value above AED 500 million.
Every month, White & Co analyses Dubai’s latest property data to understand where the market is moving and what it means for buyers, sellers, tenants, landlords and investors.
What September’s Numbers Show
September’s figures point to a market with movement at every stage of the property cycle.
Completed homes continued to attract buyers, particularly end users looking to move within a clear timeframe. New leases now account for a much larger share of rental contracts than they did at the beginning of 2025, showing that more tenants are choosing to explore the market rather than automatically renew.
Off-plan remained the largest category by total value, while commercial offices recorded a significant rise in average transaction size.
The next question is where this demand meets future supply. With more than 140,000 units currently scheduled for completion in 2027, the individual location, project and property will matter more than the Dubai-wide headline.
All figures are sourced from Property Monitor, as of 6 October 2026.
Ready Homes Hold Their Ground
Dubai recorded 2,820 secondary residential resales worth AED 8.20 billion in September. This category covers completed apartments, villas and townhouses resold by existing owners rather than initial sales from developers.
The average secondary sale was approximately AED 2.91 million, and transaction volume was slightly higher than in August.
Much of the ready market is driven by end users who want to move within a defined timeframe. They can make a decision around the home, location and community as they exist today, without waiting for construction or a future handover.
Ready property also gives investors the ability to assess existing rental demand and begin generating income sooner.
Browse White & Co’s latest properties for sale in Dubai or learn more about buying property in Dubai.
More Tenants Are Choosing to Move
Dubai registered 26,278 new residential rental contracts worth AED 2.89 billion in September. The figure covers new leases and does not include renewals.
New contracts represented more than 72% of all transactions covered in this report, making rentals the largest category by volume.
The change becomes even clearer when new leases are compared with renewals. In January 2025, new leases accounted for 30% of rental contracts, while renewals made up 70%. By September 2026, that split had moved to 50/50.
More tenants are now choosing to move rather than automatically renewing their existing home.
Rents have softened across some communities and property types, opening up options that may not have been available at the same budget before. Some tenants may be able to secure more space, move to a different location or upgrade from an apartment to a townhouse or villa for a similar price. Others may find a comparable home for less and reduce their annual rent.
For landlords, this creates demand but also more competition. Tenants are actively comparing their options, so accurate pricing and strong presentation matter from the moment a property goes live.
Explore current properties for rent in Dubai or speak to White & Co’s property management team.
More Than Half of the Money Went Off-Plan
Dubai recorded 7,144 residential off-plan transactions worth AED 14.21 billion in September. This figure combines initial sales from developers with subsequent off-plan resales.
Off-plan represented just under 20% of the transactions covered in the report but 55% of their combined value.
That level of investment shows the continued role off-plan plays in Dubai’s property market. Buyers are committing capital to future homes, payment plans and communities that are still developing.
The opportunity is not the same across every launch. Developer track record, build quality, payment structure, location and surrounding supply all need to support the purchase.
Explore the latest off-plan projects in Dubai or read our guide to buying off-plan property with White & Co.
The Biggest Shift Came from Dubai’s Offices
Dubai recorded 149 commercial office resales worth AED 511.20 million in September.
The number of office transactions increased by 7% from August, while their combined value rose by approximately 57%. The average commercial office resale reached AED 3.43 million, compared with approximately AED 2.34 million in August.
Commercial offices form a smaller part of the market, so larger individual transactions can have a greater effect on the monthly figures. Even with that context, September shows more capital moving through higher-value office deals.
Browse commercial properties for sale in Dubai or explore White & Co’s commercial real estate services.
The Handover Years Are Coming
Property Monitor lists 187 completed projects in 2026, with a further 113 projects shown in the 2026 pipeline.
The number of scheduled projects then rises:
- 2027: 548 projects and 140,655 units
- 2028: 601 projects
- 2029: 298 projects
- 2030: 192 projects
These projects will not be spread evenly across Dubai. Some communities will receive significantly more new stock than others, and certain property types will face greater competition when they reach the rental or resale market.
For buyers, the important comparison is not only what a property costs today. It is what else will be completing nearby, how similar those properties will be and whether local demand can absorb them.
Dubai Is Still Moving
September recorded movement across every part of Dubai’s property market.
Ready-home buyers completed 2,820 purchases. More tenants are choosing new leases over automatic renewals. Off-plan attracted AED 14.21 billion in investment, while commercial office resales passed AED 500 million.
The scale of future supply means buyers will need to be more specific in their decisions, but the wider market remains active across end users, tenants and investors.
If you are considering buying, selling, renting or investing in Dubai, speak to the White & Co team about what the latest data means for your next move.
Sources: Property Monitor, as of 6 October 2026; White & Co rental market data, January 2025 to September 2026.