Dubai real estate projects surge 52% to Dh100 billion in first half of 2026

Dubai real estate projects surge 52% to Dh100 billion in the first half of 2026

Dubai launched around 104 real estate projects valued at more than Dh100 billion during the first six months of 2026, representing a 52 percent increase in project value compared to the same period in 2025, according to Dubai Land Department officials speaking at the Rise Summit 2026.

The developments added more than 24,000 new residential units to the market, a 36 percent rise year on year, reflecting the emirate's sustained expansion in property development and long-term investment attraction.

Omar Bu Shehab, Director General of the Dubai Land Department, said the sector's growth demonstrates Dubai's commitment to its long-term development vision, underpinned by advanced infrastructure, a competitive business environment and effective collaboration between public and private sectors.

The performance aligns with three strategic frameworks guiding the emirate's property sector: the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, launched in January 2023 with the goal of doubling Dubai's economy by 2033 and positioning the city among the world's top three global cities with economic targets of AED 32 trillion over the next decade; the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033, which aims to double the sector's GDP contribution to approximately AED 73 billion, increase homeownership rates to 33 percent, and grow the market value to AED 1 trillion by 2033; and the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, launched in March 2021, which targets increasing the residential population from 3.3 million in 2020 to 5.8 million by 2040, with a daytime population of 7.8 million.

Real estate remains central to the emirate's economic strategy, contributing to urban development while generating investment opportunities and supporting quality of life, Bu Shehab said. He added that the sector's trajectory creates further opportunities for government-private sector cooperation on projects and communities that deliver sustained economic and developmental value.

Market records Dh917 billion in transactions

Dubai's real estate market recorded Dh917 billion in transactions across more than 270,000 deals in 2025, Majid Sager Al Marri, CEO of Corporate Support and Real Estate Promotion at the Dubai Land Department, told the summit. The department released its 2025 annual report analyzing market performance.

The rental sector also showed significant activity, with more than one million rental transactions valued at approximately Dh100 billion, Al Marri said. These figures follow a year in which residential sales transaction values reached AED 541.5 billion, an increase of 26.9 percent compared to 2024, with over 200,000 sales transactions marking an 18.8 percent rise in volume.

Al Marri noted that the first half of 2026 recorded more than 104 projects, with project value climbing 52 percent from the same period in 2025. The total has since risen to over 150 projects, with a further announcement expected shortly. The developments cover around one million square meters, doubling the area from the previous year.

AI platform accelerates property registration

Dubai is deploying artificial intelligence to streamline property transactions and reduce processing times. Al Marri highlighted a new initial sale contract initiative launched in September 2026, which enables developers and investors to obtain their initial contracts within minutes rather than days.

The AI-powered Initial Registration platform, launched on September 3, 2026, uses artificial intelligence to read documents, extract information, and automatically populate transaction fields for property registration. The initiative forms part of the department's broader digital transformation efforts to improve efficiency for real estate stakeholders.

First-time buyer program supports homeownership

Dubai's First-Time Home Buyer initiative has facilitated property market entry for residents by providing access to preferential benefits from participating banks and developers. The program, developed in collaboration with the Department of Economy and Tourism and multiple financial institutions and developers, offers eligible buyers benefits including tailored payment plans and preferential pricing.

More than 3,200 first-time homebuyers utilized the program in its first year, completing transactions valued at Dh5 billion, Al Marri said. He indicated the department could consider extending the initiative to non-residents in the future. The program is designed to broaden homeownership access while supporting demand in Dubai's property market, contributing to the Real Estate Strategy 2033's target of raising homeownership rates to 33 percent.

International investor outreach expands

The Dubai Land Department is preparing to expand its international engagement through roadshows and investor events to attract additional capital to the emirate. Al Marri said plans include activities in India and participation in a conference with brokers in the United States next month.

The outreach efforts support the Dubai Economic Agenda D33's goal of increasing foreign direct investment from an average of AED 32 billion annually in the past decade to AED 60 billion annually in the next decade, reaching a total of AED 650 billion over ten years. Dubai attracted approximately 94,700 investors in the first half of 2025, a 26 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, with around 59,000 being new investors.

The department aims to collaborate with partners to promote Dubai as an investment destination and attract further capital, particularly from investment funds. These initiatives reflect the emirate's strategy to sustain real estate activity through digital transformation, homeownership support, and international engagement.

The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan also emphasizes quality of life improvements alongside economic growth, aiming to double green and leisure areas, expand nature reserves and rural natural areas to 60 percent of Dubai's total area, and increase public beaches by 400 percent. Dubai's residential real estate prices recorded annual growth of 9.81 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, according to the Commercial and Residential Real Estate Price Index released by Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment.