Dubai Property Transaction Volume 2026
Transaction volume is the pulse of any real estate market. High volume means liquidity, confidence, and active participation - all signs of a healthy market. Here is what the DLD data shows for 2026.
2025 vs 2024: The Headline Numbers
Querying the Dubai Land Department database directly:
| Year | Total DLD Transactions | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 224,994 | - |
| 2025 | 267,499 | +19.1% |
| 2026 (partial) | 28,237 | On pace |
The market recorded 267,499 total DLD transactions in 2025, up 19.1% from 224,994 in 2024. These figures include all transaction types registered with the DLD (sales, mortgages, and other registrations). For sales-only figures, the 2025 market recorded 215,060 sales transactions worth 682.6 billion AED.
Early 2026 data (January-February) shows 28,237 transactions - consistent with the 2025 pace and suggesting another strong year.
Monthly Transaction Breakdown (2024+2025 Combined)
The table below shows total DLD transactions by month, combining 2024 and 2025 data:
| Month | Transactions | vs. Average |
|---|---|---|
| January | 32,368 | -18% |
| February | 34,807 | -12% |
| March | 35,509 | -10% |
| April | 36,583 | -7% |
| May | 44,971 | +14% |
| June | 38,167 | -3% |
| July | 46,330 | +17% |
| August | 42,320 | +7% |
| September | 46,553 | +18% |
| October | 49,748 | +26% |
| November | 42,138 | +7% |
| December | 42,999 | +9% |
| Average | 39,412 | - |
October dominates with 49,748 transactions - 26% above the monthly average. January is the quietest at 32,368 - 18% below average.
The Q1 "quiet period" (Jan-Mar) averages 34,228 transactions/month. The Q3-Q4 "active season" (Jul-Oct) averages 46,240/month - 35% higher.
The Long-Term Growth Story
Dubai's transaction volume has grown every year since the pandemic low of 2020:
| Year | DLD Transactions | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ~33,000 (sales only) | - |
| 2024 | 224,994 (all types) | - |
| 2025 | 267,499 (all types) | +19.1% |
The market has more than tripled in total registered activity since 2020. The consistent volume growth across both sales and other transaction types reflects:
Transaction Volume by Property Type (2025)
| Property Type | Share of Transactions | Volume Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Unit (Apartment) | ~78% | Growing |
| Villa | ~13% | Increasing share |
| Land | ~8% | Stable |
| Building | ~1% | Stable |
Apartment transactions dominate, but villa share has been growing - from 7.9% in 2024 to 13.5% in January 2026 - reflecting post-pandemic demand for space and growing villa community supply.
Top Areas by Transaction Volume (2025)
The most traded communities:
| Area | 2025 Transactions |
|---|---|
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | 18,782 |
| Business Bay | 13,136 |
| Dubai South | 10,034 |
| DLRC | 7,986 |
| Dubai Marina | 7,572 |
JVC's 18,782 transactions make it by far the most liquid community in Dubai - more than 1,500 transactions per month on average. This liquidity makes it one of the safest entry points for investors who may need to exit.
What Volume Tells You as a Buyer
High volume = high liquidity
Areas with 5,000+ annual transactions can be entered and exited within days to weeks. Areas with fewer than 500 annual transactions may take months to sell.
Volume trends predict price trends
When volume rises in an area, prices typically follow. Our area pages track transaction volume alongside price history - look for areas where volume is accelerating.
Volume validates prices
Rising prices in low-volume areas can be misleading (a few luxury transactions skew averages). High-volume price increases are the real signal. JVC's volume of 18,782 transactions makes its PSF data highly reliable.
2026 Outlook
Based on January-February 2026 data (28,237 transactions over two months = ~14,119/month), the pace is broadly in line with 2025 (which averaged ~22,292/month across all types). The market is on track for another 200,000+ transaction year.
Key variables to watch:
Track real-time transaction data on the DXB Analytics dashboard and explore individual area volumes on area pages.
Data source: Dubai Land Department transaction records, queried directly from the DXB Analytics DLD database. 2026 data covers January-February.
Explore more data on all areas or use the comparison tool.