REEF Developments to eliminate down payment for salaried UAE residents. Can a landlord increase the rent in a building without a star rating?

UAE real estate market maintains robust growth in Q2

Colliers’ Q2 2025 report shows broad UAE real-estate strength: Abu Dhabi posts its strongest since 2009 with sharp rent/price gains and majority ready-sales. Dubai adds 12.5k units, rising prices, moderating rents, and a new first-time buyer program. Northern Emirates accelerate; Al Ain stays stable. 

Read the full article on Zawya

Permira and Blackstone bet on Dubai real estate with Property Finder deal

Permira and Blackstone buy a $525m stake in Property Finder from General Atlantic, valuing it at $2bn. They’re betting on Dubai’s boom (prices +68% in six years; population >4m). CEO forecasts 20%+ growth; Fitch warns of a supply-led downturn. GA keeps a large stake; platform spans the GCC. 

Read the full article on Financial Times

Azizi launches premium commercial tower in Dubai

Azizi Developments will unveil Azizi Tower 1, a commercial hub in Al Jaddaf, on Sept 10. The 15-storey project offers customizable 500–2,000 sq m offices with modern, sustainable features and transport links near Creek Metro. Azizi will also debut Milan Heights residences within its Azizi Milan community. 

Read the full article on Zawya

Dubai office market hits new highs—rising rents, soaring prices, and premium deals with AX Premium Properties

Dubai’s office market is breaking records: 2024 sales AED 6.8bn (+36%), prices +24%, rents +23.6%. Q1-2025 sales AED 2.8bn (+83% YoY); off-plan +741% to AED 800m. Mid-2025 sales AED 5.4bn; prime prices top AED 5,000 psf Downtown. 

Read the full article on Gulf Today

Svarn Development announces sellout of Sereno Residences; Breaks ground at JVC

Svarn Development’s Sereno Residences in JVC sold out at launch, underscoring Dubai’s demand. The 91-unit G+5 project completes Q4 2026, priced from AED 624,900 to AED 1.499m. Developer plans an AED 300m pipeline; H1-2025 transactions reached 99,057 worth AED 328.8bn (+40%). 

Read the full article on Zawya

Abu Dhabi real estate deals hit $16.65bn in 2025

Abu Dhabi’s property market has recorded strong momentum in 2025, with real estate transactions reaching AED61.15bn ($16.65bn) across 16,873 deals since the start of the year, according to the latest official data. 

Read the full article on Arabian Business

OCTA Development unveils first residential project, featuring branded interiors by Missoni in Dubai Islands

OCTA Development launched OCTA Isle Interiors by Missoni on Dubai Islands (Island A): luxury 2–5BR apartments with resort amenities, wrap-around lazy river, urban beach pool, sports courts, and Wellness Bay. Interiors by Missoni. Leaders hail the partnership; it targets refined waterfront living and expands OCTA’s branded-residence portfolio. 

Read the full article on Zawya

UAE proptech startup PRYPCO secures major funding from General Catalyst for real estate innovation

PRYPCO, the UAE-based property technology platform, has secured funding from General Catalyst in a Pre-Series A round led by the venture capital firm. 

Read the full article on Arabain Business

Dubai real estate: Healthy secondary activity, off-plan surge drives 15 percent rise in transactions

Dubai’s August real estate hit 18,564 deals worth AED 50.7bn (+15% volume, +7% value YoY), driven by off-plan (+25% volume). Business Bay led (11% volume, 12% value). Secondary AED 22.6bn; Wadi Al Safa 4 surged. Apartments dominate; studios/1BR demand rising as renters shift to ownership. 

Read the full article on Economy Middle East

Rove Hotels and IRTH Group introduce HQ by Rove: The future of office spaces

Rove Hotels and IRTH Group unveiled HQ by Rove at Marasi Bay Marina, Business Bay. A hospitality-led, fully furnished Grade-A office complex featuring modular and loft suites with private courtyards, smart tech, vast coworking/wellness/sports/dining amenities, an exclusive access road, and perks across Rove’s hotel network. 

Read the full article on Zawya

REEF Developments to eliminate down payment for salaried UAE residents

UAE developer REEF Luxury Developments has launched a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, titled ‘The -20 By REEF’, whereby it aims to make home ownership more accessible, without the 20 per cent down payment required by developers. 

Read the full article on Arabian Business

Dubai South launches digital-first free zone platform to boost entrepreneurship

Dubai South launched the Dubai South Business Hub, a next-gen free zone offering 100% digital setup and same-day licences. A founder-friendly ecosystem beyond licensing, it provides tools, regulatory clarity, and infrastructure to accelerate growth, for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and global enterprises, advancing Dubai’s innovation and diversification goals. 

Read the full article on Gulf News

Dubai hotel occupancy climbs above 81% as international visitors reach 10mn

Dubai‘s hotel occupancy levels reached 81 per cent in the first half of 2025, marking a 4.5 per cent increase year-on-year, whilst international visitor numbers climbed 6.1 per cent to almost 10 million between January and June, according to research from real estate advisory group Cavendish Maxwell. 

Read the full article on Arabian Business

Dubai looks to capitalise on weak dirham to lure British home buyers

UAE developers are courting British buyers as the dirham (pegged to a weaker dollar) is 8% cheaper vs GBP, making Dubai property more affordable. London sales offices and incentives helped lift UK purchases +62% YoY in Q2-2025. Oversupply concerns persist; Fitch sees up to a 15% price drop by 2026. 

Read the full article on Reuters

Uptown Dubai: Built to meet demand, not speculation

DMCC outlines demand-led growth from JLT to Uptown Dubai, prioritising mixed-use, sustainable development and strong office demand. Uptown, anchored by Uptown Tower and planned Burj 2020, adds Mercer House and a 17-storey Crypto Tower for Web3. Strategically near Al Maktoum airport, it aims to integrate business, tech, and community. 

Read the full article on Khaleej Times

UAE Property: ‘Can a landlord increase the rent in a building without a star rating?’

Dubai’s rental star ratings are rolling out, owners-only for now; unrated buildings follow the fallback RERA rent cap. Landlords can’t raise rent unless the index allows, and tenants can challenge at the RDSC. Evictions for “sale” followed by gifting/reletting may be bad faith; tenants can seek compensation. 

Read the full article on The National

Dubai Real Estate Transactions as Reported on the 8th of September 2025

On the 8th of September, the total transacted value reached AED 1.3 billion. Off-plan dominated with AED 866.1 million (68.3%), while Ready accounted for AED 401.1 million (31.7%). 

Category	Off-Plan (AED million)	Ready (AED million)
Flats	813.6	280.8
Villas	28.9	107.0
Hotel Apt. & Rooms	2.8	8.7
Commercial	20.7	4.5
Total	866.0	401.1

Off-Plan Market Performance

Total Value: AED 866,029,753

• Flats: AED 813,585,936 (93.9% of Off-Plan) 
• Villas: AED 28,904,089 (3.3%) 
• Hotel Apts & Rooms: AED 2,794,000 (0.3%) 
• Commercial: AED 20,745,728 (2.4%) 

Apartments continue to lead the off-plan transactions, contributing nearly the entire segment, villas and commercial were marginal. 

Ready Market Performance

Total Value: AED 401,067,702

• Flats: AED 280,832,362 (70.0%  of Ready) 
• Villas: AED 106,996,059 (26.7%) 
• Hotel Apts & Rooms: AED 8,705,280 (2.2%) 
• Commercial: AED 4,534,001 (1.1%) 

Ready transactions were also flat-centric, while villas provided a solid secondary share; hospitality and commercial remained small. 

On The Micro Level

Market Insights & Outlook

Off-plan’s near-two-thirds share underscores forward demand and confidence in new supply, led by apartments. Ready sales remain resilient, anchored by flats and supported by villas. With both segments skewed to smaller units, momentum should stay firm barring sudden shifts in financing or delivery timelines. 

Data Source:  Dubai Land Department