- May 13, 2026
- 2
- News&Media
Dubai tests digital property auctions as City Walk home sells in seven days
Digital property auctions are gaining traction in Dubai as investors seek faster, more transparent deals. Boli.ae completed its first fully online UAE sale, closing a City Walk apartment within seven days, highlighting growing demand for live bidding, clearer price discovery, verified buyers and shorter sales cycles.
Read the full article on Khaleej Times
Newbury Developments launches “Chapter” residential series in Dubai
Newbury Developments launched its “Chapter” residential series in Al Warsan 4, International City Phase 2, offering studios from AED 532,000 and one-bedrooms from AED 835,000. The project targets affordable luxury, supported by strong Dubai demand, strategic connectivity, sustainability standards and smart living features.
Read the full article on Construction Week
DLD launches second phase of Emirati Real Estate Business Incubator Program to attract 25 new participants
DLD launched phase two of the Emirati Real Estate Business Incubator Program, targeting 25 more Emirati participants. The six-month program supports UAE nationals in establishing brokerage firms through training, mentorship, legal and operational guidance, technology adoption, networking and market access. Registration closes May 25, 2026.
Read the full article on Economy Middle East
Sharjah real estate transactions hit Dh3.5 billion in April
Sharjah recorded AED 3.5 billion in real estate transactions in April 2026 across 15,669 deals. Activity was led by title deeds and sales across 115 areas, with Muwaileh Commercial topping both volume and value, while demand remained spread across Sharjah City, Central and Eastern regions.
Read the full article on Travels Dubai
Should You Buy Property in Dubai Now or Wait? A Valuer’s Perspective
Dubai’s residential market is stabilising after post-pandemic growth, reducing short-term flipping opportunities but supporting long-term buyers. Strong fundamentals, population growth, high rental yields, tax advantages and resident “stickiness” continue to support demand, while distressed opportunities may emerge during uncertainty.
Read the full article on CBRE
Dubai’s villa communities grow as residents choose bigger homes, privacy
Dubai villa communities are seeing stronger demand as residents prioritise space, privacy and family living. Limited villa supply, lifestyle shifts and rising rents are supporting interest, while buyers also favour lower-ticket apartments and townhouses with manageable prices, flexible payment plans and strong rental-yield economics.
Read the full article on Khaleej Times
UAE property market cools, but developers are stronger than last cycle: Moody’s
Moody’s expects UAE real estate to soften as population growth normalises, off-plan supply rises and geopolitical risks weigh on demand. However, rated developers including Emaar, Damac, Binghatti and Arada are better positioned than past cycles, supported by strong backlogs, liquidity, conservative balance sheets and upfront buyer payments.
Read the full article on Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi to develop new island community as Aldar launches 20m sq m housing partnership
Abu Dhabi will develop a new waterfront island community as part of a landmark public-private partnership between Aldar and the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) spanning more than 20 million square metres across five strategic locations.
Read the full article on Arabian Business
Byit expands into the UAE, launches AI powered solutions to drive cross border real estate transactions
Egyptian proptech Byit has expanded into the UAE, launching AI tools to help brokers manage cross-border transactions, client matching and market analysis. Backed by A15, Beltone and angel investors, Byit aims to connect Egyptian supply with GCC demand and scale next into Saudi Arabia.
Read the full article on Zawya
UAE workforce grows 2.5% in first quarter of 2026
The UAE labour market grew 2.5% in Q1 2026, following 12.4% workforce growth in 2025. Wholesale and retail led registered establishments, followed by construction and support services, reflecting continued economic diversification, business expansion and demand from infrastructure, services and technology sectors.
Read the full article on Gulf News
Arada lines up new UAE projects despite Iran war uncertainty
Arada plans around six UAE launches this year across Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah despite market uncertainty. CEO Ahmed Alkhoshaibi expects prices to plateau but demand to continue, targeting AED 7 billion in sales and AED 9 billion in revenue for 2026.
Read the full article on The National
Dubai Real Estate Transactions as Reported on the 12th of May 2026
On the 12-May-2026, the total transacted value reached AED 1.25 billion. Off-plan dominated with AED 879.2 million (70.1%), while Ready accounted for AED 374.9 million (29.9%).
| Category | Off-Plan (AED millions) | Ready (AED millions) |
| Flats | 605.4 | 227.1 |
| Villas | 84.3 | 75.8 |
| Hotel Apt. & Rooms | 29.1 | 22.2 |
| Commercial | 160.4 | 49.8 |
| Total | 879.2 | 374.9 |
Off-Plan Market Performance
Total Value: AED 879.2 million
• Flats: AED 605.4 million (68.9%)
• Villas: AED 84.3 million (9.6%)
• Hotel Apts & Rooms: AED 29.1 million (3.3%)
• Commercial: AED 160.4 million (18.2%)
Off-plan activity remained the clear driver of the day, supported primarily by apartment transactions, while commercial deals also made a meaningful contribution to the segment’s overall value.
Ready Market Performance
Total Value: AED 374.9 million
• Flats: AED 227.1 million (60.6%)
• Villas: AED 75.8 million (20.2%)
• Hotel Apts & Rooms: AED 22.2 million (5.9%)
• Commercial: AED 49.8 million (13.3%)
Ready transactions were also led by flats, but villas formed a relatively stronger share compared with the off-plan segment, showing continued demand for completed family-oriented properties.
On The Micro Level
Market Insights & Outlook
Dubai’s market remained heavily weighted toward off-plan activity on 12 May, with the segment contributing more than 70% of total transaction value. This reinforces the continued strength of developer-led sales and investor appetite for future supply.
At the same time, the ready market maintained a healthy presence, supported by demand for completed flats and villas. The balance suggests a market where investors remain active in off-plan opportunities, while end-users and yield-focused buyers continue to support ready properties.
Data Source: Dubai Land Department
Only freehold transactions are included
