The August figures also reveal where buyers were most active and the types of properties attracting the most transactions.
Dubai property market: Which projects sold the most?
In the primary apartment market, Azizi Venice 15 Building B recorded the highest transaction volume among the projects listed, with 344 sales worth Dhs 283.3 million.
The project’s median transaction price was Dhs 703,600, putting it firmly within the lower-priced segment of Dubai’s property market compared with the emirate’s most expensive transactions.
For primary-market villas, Al Yufrah 1 recorded 156 transactions worth Dhs 884.7 million, with a median price of Dhs 5.6 million.
In the resale apartment market, Qasr Sabah 1 recorded 27 transactions worth Dhs 12.8 million, with a median price of Dhs 432,700.
Meanwhile, Damac Lagoons – Portofino led the listed resale villa projects, recording 14 transactions worth Dhs 59.4 million and a median price of Dhs 2.8 million.
August’s best-selling property projects at a glance
| Market | Project | Transactions | Sales value | Median price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary apartments | Azizi Venice 15 Building B | 344 | Dhs 283.3m | Dhs 703,600 |
| Primary villas | Al Yufrah 1 | 156 | Dhs 884.7m | Dhs 5.6m |
| Resale apartments | Qasr Sabah 1 | 27 | Dhs 12.8m | Dhs 432,700 |
| Resale villas | Damac Lagoons – Portofino | 14 | Dhs 59.4m | Dhs 2.8m |
Dubai South remains the top area for off-plan sales
Dubai South continued to dominate Dubai’s primary property market in August, recording 1,908 off-plan transactions worth Dhs 2.3 billion.
It was the emirate’s top-performing area by off-plan transaction volume for the sixth consecutive month.
Other leading areas included Wadi Al Safa 4, with 863 transactions worth Dhs 839 million, followed by Jebel Ali with 644 transactions worth Dhs 674.1 million.
Al Barsha South Fourth recorded 419 transactions worth Dhs 531.5 million, while Wadi Al Safa 3 recorded 335 transactions worth Dhs 417.1 million.
This provides a snapshot of where off-plan buying activity was concentrated during August, rather than simply looking at Dubai’s overall sales total.
What were the most expensive Dubai property sales?
While the highest transaction volumes were concentrated in a range of projects, August also saw several high-value individual sales.
The most expensive apartment sold for Dhs 86 million at The Address, Jumeirah Gate Tower 2 in Jumeirah Beach.
The month’s highest-priced villa sale reached Dhs 110 million at Signature Villas.
Looking across all transactions, 42.8% of sales were for properties priced below Dhs 1 million, making this the largest price segment.
A further 33.2% of transactions fell between Dhs 1 million and Dhs 2 million, while 10.9% were between Dhs 2 million and Dhs 3 million.
Properties priced between Dhs 3 million and Dhs 5 million accounted for 7.25% of sales, while those above Dhs 5 million represented 5.7%.
Dubai rental market also records strong activity
The sales figures came as Dubai’s freehold rental market continued to see significant activity.
A total of 39,645 rental contracts were registered across freehold areas in August, a 3.79% month-on-month increase.
New rental contracts rose 19.4% year on year to 20,611, while renewals increased 4.4% to 19,034.
That brought the total number of freehold rental contracts registered during the first eight months of 2026 to 257,284, up 5.5% compared with the same period last year.
The full-year total for 2025 was 377,944 contracts.
Which areas have the most rental contracts?
Al Warsan First recorded the highest number of freehold rental contracts so far this year, with 23,894 agreements.
Jebel Ali First followed with 21,687, while Al Barsha South Fourth recorded 20,607.
Business Bay registered 16,637 contracts, followed by Nadd Hessa with 13,871 and Marsa Dubai with 13,692.
One-bedroom apartments remained the largest rental category, accounting for 105,880 contracts, or 41% of the total through August.
Two-bedroom homes represented 23%, studios 22%, three-bedroom properties 10% and four-bedroom properties 3%.
The combination of strong sales and rental activity points to continued movement across Dubai’s residential property market, with off-plan purchases accounting for the majority of August sales and one-bedroom apartments remaining the most common rental category.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com