Dubai Property Prices in 2026: Complete Analysis of 1.27 Million Transactions
This guide covers every question buyers, investors, and researchers ask about Dubai property prices in 2026. Every number is sourced from Dubai Land Department (DLD) transaction records: 1.27 million sales and 4.1 million rental contracts processed through DXB Analytics.
Last updated: February 26, 2026.
---
TL;DR: Key Numbers for 2026
---
How Much Does Property Cost in Dubai in 2026?
According to DLD transaction data from January 2025 onward (covering full-year 2025 plus early 2026), the median property price per square foot in Dubai is 1,692 AED for residential properties (apartments and villas combined). That is based on 192,808 residential transactions with recorded price-per-sqm data.
Broken down by property type:
| Property Type | Median PSF (AED) | Median Total Price (AED) | Transactions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment (Unit) | 1,729 | 1,300,000 | ~134,564 off-plan + 80,378 ready |
| Villa | 1,468 | 3,614,888 | included above |
| Land | 1,503 | 3,995,000 | land plots |
The typical apartment in Dubai sells for around 1.30 million AED (approximately $354,000 USD), while the typical villa transacts at 3.61 million AED ($984,000 USD).
For detailed price tracking in any specific community, visit the interactive map or browse all areas.
---
Average Property Prices by Area (2026)
The table below shows the 20 most active communities by transaction volume, with their median price per square foot. These communities account for the majority of Dubai's residential market activity.
| Rank | Community | Transactions | Median PSF (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JVC | 18,782 | 1,475 |
| 2 | Dubai South | 10,034 | 1,563 |
| 3 | DLRC | 7,986 | 1,337 |
| 4 | Motor City | 6,195 | 1,910 |
| 5 | Dubai Science Park | 5,499 | 1,663 |
| 6 | IMPZ | 5,393 | 1,330 |
| 7 | JVT | 5,304 | 1,550 |
| 8 | Majan | 4,731 | 1,491 |
| 9 | Dubai Maritime City | 4,575 | 3,021 |
| 10 | Dubai Hills Estate | 4,275 | 2,413 |
| 11 | Dubai Silicon Oasis | 3,969 | 1,517 |
| 12 | Dubai Creek Harbour | 3,931 | 2,446 |
| 13 | Arjan | 3,929 | 1,420 |
| 14 | Al Furjan | 3,891 | 1,346 |
| 15 | Dubai Sports City | 3,740 | 1,290 |
| 16 | DAMAC Hills 2 | 3,239 | 1,195 |
| 17 | The Valley | 2,794 | 1,356 |
| 18 | Town Square | 2,746 | 1,420 |
| 19 | International City | 2,220 | 655 |
| 20 | DAMAC Hills | 1,971 | 1,489 |
Use the area comparison tool to stack any two communities side by side.
---
Most Expensive Areas in Dubai
The 10 priciest communities by median price per square foot (minimum 200 transactions for statistical reliability):
| Rank | Community | Median PSF (AED) | Transactions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Walk | 3,092 | 1,034 |
| 2 | Dubai Maritime City | 3,021 | 4,575 |
| 3 | Mina Rashid | 2,873 | 957 |
| 4 | Dubai Creek Harbour | 2,446 | 3,931 |
| 5 | Dubai Hills Estate | 2,413 | 4,275 |
| 6 | Jumeirah Islands | 2,296 | 1,465 |
| 7 | MBR City District 1 | 2,273 | 279 |
| 8 | Tilal Al Ghaf | 2,160 | 497 |
| 9 | Sobha Hartland | 2,056 | 1,400 |
| 10 | Meydan | 2,031 | 1,657 |
City Walk leads at 3,092 AED/sqft, driven by its ultra-premium positioning in the heart of Jumeirah. Dubai Maritime City's 3,021 AED/sqft is notable given its high volume of 4,575 transactions, reflecting strong demand for waterfront living.
---
Most Affordable Areas to Buy in Dubai
The 10 most affordable communities with at least 100 transactions:
| Rank | Community | Median PSF (AED) | Transactions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | International City | 654 | 2,200 |
| 2 | Remraam | 893 | 478 |
| 3 | The Villa | 929 | 139 |
| 4 | Living Legends | 949 | 321 |
| 5 | Discovery Gardens | 988 | 1,291 |
| 6 | Liwan | 1,109 | 1,333 |
| 7 | Rukan | 1,146 | 645 |
| 8 | DAMAC Hills 2 | 1,168 | 363 |
| 9 | Jumeirah Park | 1,225 | 181 |
| 10 | Dubai Sports City | 1,287 | 3,703 |
International City remains Dubai's most accessible entry point at 654 AED/sqft, where a typical apartment costs around 413,000 AED ($112,000 USD). Discovery Gardens at 988 AED/sqft and Liwan at 1,109 AED/sqft also offer sub-million-dirham apartments with established community infrastructure.
---
Price Trends: How Have Dubai Property Prices Changed?
Dubai residential property prices (apartments and villas) have risen steadily since the pandemic low of 2020. Here is the median price per square foot by year:
| Year | Median PSF (AED) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 935 | - |
| 2021 | 1,024 | +9.5% |
| 2022 | 1,299 | +26.9% |
| 2023 | 1,412 | +8.7% |
| 2024 | 1,555 | +10.1% |
| 2025 | 1,692 | +8.8% |
| 2026 (YTD) | 1,818 | +7.4%* |
*2026 figure based on Jan-Feb data only.
The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2020 to 2026 is 11.7%. Prices have nearly doubled from the 2020 trough. The year-over-year growth rate has moderated from the 2022 peak of +26.9% to a more sustainable +8.8% in 2025, suggesting the market is maturing rather than overheating.
For area-specific price trajectories, check any community page on DXB Analytics or use the comparison tool.
---
Dubai Property Prices by Type: Apartments vs Villas vs Land
Median prices for 2025 onward:
| Type | Median PSF (AED) | Median Total Price (AED) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment (Unit) | 1,729 | 1,300,000 | $354,000 |
| Villa | 1,468 | 3,614,888 | $984,000 |
| Land | 1,503 | 3,995,000 | $1,088,000 |
Apartments command a higher price per square foot than villas (1,729 vs 1,468 AED). This is because apartments are concentrated in premium locations (Downtown, Marina, Business Bay) while villas are often in suburban communities with lower per-sqft costs but larger total footprints. A typical villa costs roughly 2.8x an apartment in total price.
---
Off-Plan vs Ready Property Prices
Dubai's off-plan market has become the dominant segment. In 2025, off-plan transactions outnumbered ready sales by roughly 1.7:1.
| Segment | Transactions | Median PSF (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Off-Plan | 134,630 | 1,820 |
| Ready (Existing) | 80,430 | 1,430 |
Off-plan properties carry a 27% premium over ready properties on a per-sqft basis. This reflects:
Buyers should note that ready-property PSF includes older stock in established communities, which pulls the median down. When comparing like-for-like in the same area, the gap narrows. Explore specific off-plan vs ready comparisons on individual area pages.
---
Rental Prices in Dubai by Area (2026)
Based on 145,934 residential Ejari rental contracts registered in 2025 (out of 176,607 total contracts — the remaining 30,673 are commercial, industrial, and other non-residential leases), with an overall median annual rent of 94,000 AED:
| Rank | Community | Contracts | Median Annual Rent (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JVC | 11,867 | 72,000 |
| 2 | Dubai Marina | 11,094 | 130,000 |
| 3 | Business Bay | 7,301 | 99,723 |
| 4 | Downtown Dubai | 6,660 | 150,000 |
| 5 | International City | 4,680 | 36,000 |
| 6 | Dubai Sports City | 4,182 | 50,000 |
| 7 | Meydan | 3,877 | 55,000 |
| 8 | Town Square | 3,798 | 90,000 |
| 9 | Dubai Hills Estate | 3,761 | 150,000 |
| 10 | Dubai South | 3,741 | 85,000 |
| 11 | Dubai Creek Harbour | 3,576 | 137,500 |
| 12 | DAMAC Hills 2 | 3,065 | 90,000 |
| 13 | Al Furjan | 2,831 | 88,000 |
| 14 | Sobha Hartland | 2,699 | 100,000 |
| 15 | The Greens | 2,636 | 118,000 |
| 16 | Arjan | 2,593 | 57,000 |
| 17 | Palm Jumeirah | 2,465 | 207,900 |
| 18 | DAMAC Hills | 2,458 | 74,000 |
| 19 | DSO | 2,378 | 50,000 |
| 20 | IMPZ | 2,240 | 45,000 |
Note: These are median rents across all unit sizes within each community. JVC leads by volume with 11,867 contracts at a median of 72,000 AED, making it one of the most active and affordable rental markets. For more detailed rental breakdowns, visit the rentals page.
---
Best Rental Yields in Dubai (2026)
We calculate gross rental yields using a type-matched median methodology: median annual rent for apartments divided by median sale price for apartments in the same community. This avoids the distortion of comparing villa rents to apartment prices.
| Community | Median Rent (AED) | Median Sale Price (AED) | Gross Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| International City | 35,000 | 413,453 | 8.5% |
| Majan | 65,000 | 901,950 | 7.2% |
| Discovery Gardens | 52,000 | 725,000 | 7.2% |
| Motor City | 84,000 | 1,189,348 | 7.1% |
| JVC | 70,000 | 1,001,538 | 7.0% |
| DLRC | 50,000 | 760,480 | 6.6% |
| Arjan | 57,000 | 909,000 | 6.3% |
| JVT | 65,000 | 1,038,038 | 6.3% |
| DAMAC Hills 2 | 40,096 | 647,000 | 6.2% |
| DSO | 50,000 | 890,000 | 5.6% |
International City delivers the highest apartment yield at 8.5%, consistent with its position as the most affordable community. Majan, Discovery Gardens, and Motor City all exceed 7%, offering a strong rent-to-price ratio with established infrastructure.
Premium communities like Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai Creek Harbour, and Sobha Hartland offer lower yields but stronger capital appreciation potential.
These are gross yields. After service charges, maintenance, and vacancy, net yields are typically 1.5 to 2.5 percentage points lower. See our methodology page for the full calculation approach.
---
Transaction Volume: How Active is the Market?
Dubai's property market has grown dramatically in transaction volume:
| Year | Total Sales | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 33,279 | Pandemic low |
| 2021 | 59,507 | +79% recovery |
| 2022 | 95,732 | +61% surge |
| 2023 | 132,260 | +38% continued growth |
| 2024 | 179,756 | +36% new record |
| 2025 | 215,060 | +20% all-time high |
| 2026 (Jan-Feb) | 22,586 | On pace for 135K+ annualized |
Monthly breakdown for recent periods:
The market has seen six consecutive years of volume growth. The 2025 total of 215,060 transactions is 6.5x the 2020 pandemic-year figure. Even adjusting for off-plan registrations, the depth of market liquidity is historically unprecedented.
Explore transaction trends on the interactive dashboard.
---
Is Dubai Property Overvalued in 2026?
To assess valuation, consider the price trajectory in context:
Price growth is decelerating. Year-over-year growth slowed from 26.9% (2022) to 8.8% (2025). This suggests the market is transitioning from a recovery/boom phase to a more normalized growth environment.
Prices are 94% above 2020 levels. The median PSF moved from 935 AED in 2020 to 1,818 AED in early 2026. For context, 2020 represented the deepest trough after years of correction from the 2014 peak.
Volume continues to rise. Rising prices alongside rising volumes indicate genuine demand rather than speculative froth. Speculative markets typically show rising prices with thinning volume.
Population growth supports demand. Dubai's population has expanded significantly, with visa reforms and economic diversification drawing new residents who need housing.
Rental yields remain positive. Yields of 6 to 8.5% in major communities suggest that prices are not disconnected from rental fundamentals, unlike classic bubble scenarios where yields compress below 3%.
The data does not suggest a bubble. However, some sub-markets (particularly off-plan in emerging areas with limited infrastructure) may be pricing in future value that takes years to materialize. Buyers should evaluate each community individually using the area analytics rather than relying on market-wide averages.
---
Dubai Property Market Forecast
Rather than speculate, here is what the data trajectory suggests:
Growth is moderating. The YoY growth trend: +26.9% (2022), +8.7% (2023), +10.1% (2024), +8.8% (2025). If this moderation continues, 2026 full-year growth of 5 to 8% would be consistent with the trend.
Off-plan will remain dominant. With 63% market share and continued new project launches, off-plan will keep driving volume. This means headline PSF numbers will be increasingly influenced by developer pricing.
Affordability pressure is real. As median prices approach 1,800 AED/sqft, entry-level buyers are pushed toward communities like International City, DAMAC Hills 2, and Liwan. Watch for growing volume in sub-1,200 AED/sqft areas.
Supply pipeline matters. Thousands of off-plan units sold in 2022 to 2024 are approaching handover in 2026 and 2027. The impact of this supply on ready-market prices will be the key variable to monitor.
Monitor real-time transaction data on the DXB Analytics dashboard to track whether these patterns hold.
---
Common Mistakes When Buying Property in Dubai
Data reveals several patterns that trip up buyers:
1. Ignoring composition shifts
When an area's "average price" jumps 30%, it might be because a new luxury tower launched, not because existing units appreciated. Always check median PSF alongside transaction counts. DXB Analytics uses medians for this reason. See our methodology.
2. Comparing off-plan PSF to ready PSF
Off-plan trades at a 27% premium (1,820 vs 1,430 AED/sqft). Comparing an off-plan purchase to a "ready equivalent" without adjusting for this gap leads to overpaying. Check both segments in the area comparison tool.
3. Overweighting gross yield
An 8.5% gross yield sounds great, but service charges in some buildings run 20 to 30 AED/sqft annually. In a 500-sqft studio, that is 10,000 to 15,000 AED per year off your return. Net yield is what matters.
4. Buying on area averages alone
Within JVC's 18,782 transactions (2025), prices range from under 1,000 to over 2,500 AED/sqft depending on the building and unit configuration. Building-level analysis matters more than community-level averages.
5. Ignoring liquidity
Areas with fewer than 500 annual transactions can be harder to exit. The most liquid communities (JVC, Dubai South, DLRC, Motor City) offer the easiest resale path.
---
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the average property price per square foot in Dubai in 2026?
The median price per square foot for residential properties (apartments and villas) is 1,692 AED as of early 2026, based on 192,808 transactions recorded from January 2025 onward. Apartments average 1,729 AED/sqft and villas 1,468 AED/sqft.
Q: Is it a good time to buy property in Dubai in 2026?
Prices have risen 94% since 2020 but growth is decelerating (8.8% in 2025 vs 26.9% in 2022). Transaction volumes remain at all-time highs (215,060 in 2025) and rental yields of 6 to 8.5% in key areas support fundamentals. The market is no longer "cheap" but is not showing classic bubble indicators.
Q: What are the cheapest areas to buy in Dubai?
International City (654 AED/sqft, median price 413,000 AED), Remraam (893 AED/sqft), Discovery Gardens (988 AED/sqft), and Liwan (1,109 AED/sqft) are the most affordable communities with meaningful transaction volume.
Q: How much rent can I get for an apartment in Dubai?
Median annual rents range from 36,000 AED in International City to 150,000 AED in Downtown Dubai, depending on the community. The overall median across 145,934 residential rental contracts (2025) is 94,000 AED per year. Note: the total Ejari dataset for 2025 contains 176,607 contracts, but 30,673 commercial, industrial, educational, and health-facility leases are excluded from all residential rental analysis.
Q: What is the rental yield in Dubai?
Gross rental yields range from 5.6% to 8.5% depending on the community. International City leads at 8.5%, followed by Majan and Discovery Gardens (7.2%) and Motor City (7.1%). Premium areas yield 5 to 6%.
Q: Are off-plan properties more expensive than ready?
Yes. Off-plan properties have a median price of 1,820 AED/sqft versus 1,430 AED/sqft for ready properties, a 27% premium. Off-plan accounted for 63% of transactions in 2025.
Q: How many property transactions happen in Dubai per year?
Dubai recorded 215,060 sales transactions in 2025, an all-time high. This is up from 179,756 in 2024 and 33,279 in 2020. Monthly averages in 2025 were approximately 17,922 transactions.
Q: What is the most popular area to buy in Dubai?
Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) leads by transaction volume with 18,782 sales in 2025, followed by Dubai South (10,034) and DLRC (7,986). JVC has consistently been the highest-volume community.
Q: Will Dubai property prices drop in 2026?
Based on the data trajectory, a broad price drop is unlikely in 2026. Year-over-year growth has moderated but remains positive. Volume is at record highs. However, specific sub-markets with oversupply could see price corrections. Monitor area-level data on DXB Analytics.
Q: How do Dubai property prices compare to 2020?
The median PSF has risen from 935 AED in 2020 to 1,818 AED in early 2026, a 94% increase or 11.7% compound annual growth rate over six years.
---
Sources and Methodology
All data in this article comes from Dubai Land Department (DLD) transaction records accessed via Dubai Pulse Open Data, processed and analyzed by DXB Analytics.
Dataset: 1.27 million sales transactions and 4.1 million rental contracts.
Price metric: We use median price per square foot rather than mean to avoid distortion from ultra-luxury outliers. Meter sale price from DLD is per square meter; we convert to per square foot by dividing by 10.764.
Filters applied:
Rental data: Based on 4.1 million Ejari rental contracts from Dubai Land Department. For 2025 analysis: 176,607 total contracts were registered, of which 145,934 are residential (property_usage = 'Residential'). The remaining 30,673 are commercial (30,556), industrial (38), educational (57), health facility (14), and uncategorized (7) — all excluded from residential rental analysis. We use median annual rents rather than averages to avoid distortion from outlier entries. Yields are calculated using type-matched medians (apartment rent / apartment sale price) within the same community to avoid comparing unlike properties.
Limitations: DLD data includes all registered transactions but may lag actual market activity by days to weeks. Off-plan registrations reflect contract registration, not necessarily final handover pricing.
For the full methodology, visit /methodology. To explore the raw data yourself, use the interactive dashboard or area comparison tool.
Explore more data on all areas or use the comparison tool.