Dubai Real Estate Weekly Market Analysis 09-Mar-2026
The Opening Week of March 2026 Reflected a Clear Slowdown in Market Activity The first week of March (Week 10) witnessed the start of the US-led military operations against Iran, which had a visible effect on Dubai’s real estate market. Category Off-Plan (AED millions) Ready (AED millions) Flats 3,740.6 1,516.0 Villas 772.6 415.4 Hotel Apt. & Rooms 1.8 76.6 Commercial 308.2 291.4 Total 4,823.1 2,459.3 The market recorded AED7.28 billion (Sales 6B, Mortgage 962M, Gifts 266M) in total transactions across 2,770 deals (2184 Sales, 459 Mortgage, 127 Gifts), transactions value dropped 31.6% and the number of transactions dropped 42.8%. Overall, Off-Plan transactions reached AED4.82 billion, representing 66.2% of the weekly market, while Ready property sales totalled AED2.46 billion, accounting for 33.8% of total trading. Off-Plan Market Performance Total Value: AED4.82 billion Share of Weekly Total: 66.2% The off-plan segment continued to dominate the market, driven primarily by apartment launches and strong investor demand for new developments. Sub-Category Value (AED millions) % of Off-Plan Flats 3,740.6 77.6% Villas 772.6 16.0% Hotel Apts & Rooms 1.8 0.04% Commercial 308.2 6.4% Apartments were the clear driver of off-plan activity, contributing over three-quarters of the segment’s value, reflecting continued appetite for investor-friendly apartment projects and payment plans. Top Performing Off-Plan Areas Area Value (AED millions) Al Yelayiss 1 546.7 Jumeirah Second 461.2 Palm Jumeirah 322.9 Palm Deira 292.2 Zaabeel Second 256.4 The top 10 off-plan areas generated AED2.70 billion, representing 56% of the entire off-plan market. Several high-value master-planned districts dominated the list. Al Yelayiss 1 (Damac Islands) led the market due to ongoing activity in large-scale development zones, while Jumeirah Second and Palm Jumeirah continued to attract high-end investment interest. Meanwhile, Palm Deira (Dubai Islands) and Zaabeel Second highlight the growing importance of major waterfront and redevelopment zones. Ready Market Performance Total Value: AED2.46 billion Share of Weekly Total: 33.8% The ready property market remained active, though it represented a smaller share of overall transactions compared with off-plan developments. Sub-Category Value (AED millions) % of Ready Flats 1,516.0 61.6% Villas 415.4 16.9% Hotel Apts & Rooms 76.6 3.1% Commercial 291.4 11.8% Apartments again led the segment, accounting for over 60% of ready property transactions, while villas maintained a stable secondary share. Top Performing Ready Areas Area Value (AED millions) The Greens 343.0 Dubai Marina 246.3 Burj Khalifa 160.3 Palm Jumeirah 156.2 Jumeirah Village Circle 141.2 The top 10 ready areas generated AED1.44 billion, representing 58% of the ready market. Established residential districts dominated the ready segment. The Greens led weekly trading; it was mainly portfolio mortgage of Onyx Tower shops and the Hotel. Dubai Marina, Burj Khalifa, and Palm Jumeirah continued to attract premium buyers and investors seeking trophy assets and short-term rental potential. On the Micro Level Weekly Comparison Metric Last Week This Week Change Total Volume AED10.65B AED7.28B -31.6% Transactions 4,841 2,770 -42.8% Market Insights & Outlook Despite the week-on-week decline, Dubai’s real estate market remains structurally unchanged. Off-plan developments continue to dominate the market, supported by new project launches and investor-friendly payment structures, while the ready market maintains stable liquidity in established residential communities. The continued concentration of activity in areas such as Palm Jumeirah, Business Bay, and Dubai Marina, alongside the emergence of large development corridors like Al Yelayiss and Palm Deira (Dubai Islands), highlights the dual nature of Dubai’s property cycle, balancing mature investment districts with the next generation of mega developments. The market is expected to remain active. The coming few weeks will play a pivotal role in shaping the market in 2026. Data Source: Dubai Land Department Only freehold transactions are included