Dubai Real Estate Market Sees 15% Rise as Off-plan Sales and Secondary Activity Thrive

  • Sep 12,2025

Dubai’s property market continued its upward trajectory in August, recording 18,564 transactions worth AED 50.7 billion. This marked a 15 percent increase in transaction volume and a 7 percent rise in value compared to August 2024.

Off-Plan Surge Powers Market Growth

The latest boost was largely fueled by off-plan sales, which saw transaction volumes climb 25 percent year-on-year and values jump 11 percent. Secondary off-plan deals showed particularly sharp momentum, with AED 4.1 billion recorded across 1,978 transactions, reflecting a 59 percent surge in volume and a 69 percent increase in value compared to the same period last year.

“August’s performance highlights the resilience of Dubai’s property sector, driven by surging off-plan activity and steady growth in the secondary market,” said Cherif Sleiman, Chief Revenue Officer at Property Finder.

Business Bay Leads Primary Market Activity

The primary real estate market dominated August’s performance, with 12,106 transactions – up 20 percent year-on-year. Off-plan properties accounted for 91 percent of this activity, cementing their role as the main growth engine.

Business Bay stood out as a high-growth hub, contributing 11 percent of total volume and 12 percent of total value, with gains of 377 percent in volume and 290 percent in value compared to last year. Dubai Investment Park also ranked among the top contributors, accounting for 9 percent of overall deals.

“What’s especially notable is how communities like Business Bay and Wadi Al Safa 4 are outperforming broader market trends, reflecting strong investor confidence in both established and emerging areas,” Sleiman added.

Secondary Market Strengthens with Emerging Communities

Dubai’s secondary market delivered AED 22.6 billion in transactions across 6,458 deals, representing a 15 percent increase in value and a 7 percent increase in volume from August 2024.

Wadi Al Safa 4 emerged as the star performer, registering AED 786 million in sales – a dramatic leap from just AED 26 million a year earlier. Al Barsha South Fourth also delivered impressive growth, with transaction values rising 154 percent and volumes climbing 142 percent.

Smaller Units Gain Popularity

Apartments continue to dominate buyer and renter preferences, making up 59 percent of buyer demand and nearly 80 percent of rental searches. Smaller units are driving much of this activity:

Studios account for 22 percent of rental searches but only 16 percent of buyer demand.

One-bedroom apartments lead demand, representing 40 percent of rental searches and 36 percent of buyer interest.

The rising popularity of smaller homes highlights a shift toward affordability and long-term value as tenants increasingly transition to ownership in response to higher rents.

Source: Economy Middle East

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