Dubai’s real estate market recorded a strong recovery in October 2026, with property sales value rising approximately 18% month-on-month to AED 34 billion, compared with AED 28.8 billion in September. The increase was accompanied by growth in transaction volumes, indicating renewed activity among property buyers and investors. Land sales emerged as a major contributor to the monthly improvement, with both transaction numbers and total value increasing significantly.
The latest figures, based on Dubai Land Department (DLD) records analysed by Masdar Real Estate, point to continued interest in the emirate’s property market despite fluctuations in monthly activity. October’s performance also reflects the importance of land transactions and residential demand in driving overall sales. However, differences between market data providers and their treatment of unusual transactions mean that monthly comparisons should be interpreted carefully.
Dubai Property Sales Reach AED 34 Billion in October
Dubai recorded more than AED 34 billion in property sales through 11,948 transactions in October, according to the Masdar Real Estate analysis.
In September, the market registered approximately AED 28.8 billion in sales through 11,182 transactions. The October figures represent an increase of around 18.1% in sales value and 6.9% in transaction volume.
| Indicator | September 2026 | October 2026 | Month-on-month change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property sales value | AED 28.8 billion | AED 34 billion | +18.1% |
| Sales transactions | 11,182 | 11,948 | +6.9% |
Source: Masdar Real Estate analysis of Dubai Land Department records, as reported by DXB Rest.
The increase in transaction value was considerably stronger than the rise in transaction numbers. This suggests that the mix of properties sold and the average value of transactions contributed to the monthly increase.
However, aggregate figures do not establish that individual property prices increased by the same percentage. Changes in property type, location, size and transaction composition can influence total sales value.
Land Sales Drive Dubai’s Property Market Growth
Land transactions were a major contributor to October’s increase.
The value of land sales climbed to approximately AED 13.2 billion through 1,463 transactions, compared with AED 8.8 billion through 783 transactions in September.
This represented a 50% increase in land sales value and an 86.8% rise in transaction volume.
| Land sales indicator | September 2026 | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Sales value | AED 8.8 billion | AED 13.2 billion |
| Transactions | 783 | 1,463 |
| Value growth | — | +50% |
| Volume growth | — | +86.8% |
The increase indicates stronger activity in Dubai’s land market, where developers and investors acquire plots for residential, commercial and mixed-use projects.
Land transactions can have a significant impact on monthly property sales figures because individual deals may involve substantial amounts. A rise in plot purchases can therefore lift total market value even when growth in other property categories is more moderate.
For developers, land acquisitions are often an early stage in the property development process. The subsequent impact on housing supply depends on project approvals, construction schedules, financing and market demand.
Residential Properties Continue to Support Demand
Residential real estate remains an important part of Dubai’s property market, attracting both end-users and investors.
Separate figures analysed by Property Finder from DLD records showed that residential property transactions increased 6% to 11,294 in October, while their combined value rose 18% to AED 30.2 billion.
The secondary market also recorded stronger activity. Resale transactions increased 13% to 5,304, while the value of secondary-market sales climbed to AED 18.1 billion from AED 15.8 billion in September.
Off-plan properties continued to attract buyers. The number of primary-market transactions remained broadly stable at 6,579, but their combined value increased to AED 16.7 billion from AED 13.6 billion.
These figures indicate that both newly sold developer properties and existing homes contributed to the market’s activity.
Mortgage Activity Shows Growing Buyer Participation
Mortgage registrations also increased in October, providing another indication of activity among buyers using financing to purchase properties.
According to Property Finder’s analysis, the number of mortgages registered with the Dubai Land Department rose 5.2% to 3,811, marking the third consecutive monthly increase.
However, the total value of registered mortgages declined 24.7% to AED 7.32 billion. The average apartment mortgage fell to AED 1.77 million from AED 2.67 million in September.
The proportion of apartment purchases involving mortgages increased to 34.7%, compared with 31% in September and 26.7% in August.
This combination suggests that more buyers were using mortgage financing, even as the average loan size declined.
Property Finder also reported that applicants earning between AED 20,000 and AED 59,999 per month accounted for 68.5% of mortgage applications in October, up from 55.7% in September.
The trend points to growing participation from middle-income buyers seeking properties within their financial capacity.
Apartments and Villas Record Different Market Trends
Dubai’s residential market includes several property categories, each attracting buyers with different budgets and investment objectives.
Apartments account for a large share of transactions, supported by demand from residents, expatriates and investors. Villas and townhouses attract buyers looking for larger homes and different residential communities.
Property Finder’s October figures showed that villa transactions reached 1,037, the highest level in four months.
Meanwhile, mortgage activity was particularly concentrated in apartments, which accounted for 85.8% of registered mortgages.
The difference highlights the importance of analysing individual property segments rather than treating Dubai’s real estate market as a single category.
Why October’s Growth Figures Differ Across Data Providers
October’s reported growth figures vary slightly across real estate data providers because their analyses do not necessarily use identical transaction populations or adjustments.
Masdar Real Estate excluded an apartment sale in Dubai Marina from its October analysis because of concerns about the recorded value and transaction data. Its adjusted figures showed an 18.1% monthly increase in sales value to approximately AED 34 billion.
DXBinteract, using its analysis of DLD records, reported AED 34.75 billion in October sales value, up 16.9% from September’s AED 29.73 billion. It recorded 11,898 transactions, compared with 11,340 in September.
Gulf News, citing Property Finder’s analysis of DLD figures, reported sales value of AED 34.8 billion and 11,883 transactions, representing an 18% increase in value.
The differences underline why the source and methodology matter when comparing property-market statistics. The overall direction is consistent: October sales value increased from September. The precise percentage varies according to the dataset and adjustments applied.
The Bigger Picture
Dubai’s October property-market performance demonstrates that the emirate continues to attract substantial investment across residential, commercial and land segments. The rise in sales value, higher transaction volumes and increased mortgage registrations point to improving monthly activity after two months of declining transaction numbers in the data reported by Property Finder.
However, a stronger month does not automatically establish a sustained property-market recovery. Sales values can fluctuate significantly because of large land deals, high-value transactions and changes in the mix of properties sold. Investors and buyers should therefore examine transaction volumes, prices per square foot, mortgage activity and supply trends alongside headline sales figures.
Looking Ahead
The coming months will help determine whether October’s improvement marks the beginning of a more sustained recovery in Dubai’s property market. Continued activity in land acquisitions, residential resales and mortgage registrations could support further growth, while changes in new property supply and buyer affordability will remain important factors to watch.
For developers and investors, Dubai remains a market with opportunities across different property categories, but individual project fundamentals will matter more than headline transaction growth. Location, purchase price, rental demand, financing costs and future supply should all be considered before making investment decisions.
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