Dubai’s freehold rental market is on track for a record year, with nearly 299,000 tenancy contracts registered in the first nine months of 2026.
Dubai rental contracts jump in September
A total of 48,639 rental contracts were registered across Dubai’s freehold areas in September, up 22.6% month on month, according to data from DXBinteract cited in a market analysis by fäm Properties.
New contracts rose 25.6% year on year to 25,345, while renewals increased 7.6% to 23,294.
The first nine months of 2026 have now produced 298,984 freehold rental contracts, 6.8% more than the same period in 2025.
That puts Dubai’s rental market on course to surpass the 377,926 contracts recorded across the full year of 2025, which was itself a record.
One-bedroom apartments remain popular
Apartments continued to account for a large share of rental activity.
Of the tenancy contracts registered during the first nine months of 2026, 124,113, or 42%, were for one-bedroom units.
Al Warsan First recorded the highest number of freehold rental contracts during the period, with 28,825.
It was followed by Jebel Ali First with 24,710 contracts, Al Barsha South Fourth with 24,564, Business Bay with 19,781 and Marsa Dubai with 16,453.
Other areas among the top 10 were Nadd Hessa, Al Thanyah Fifth, Al Barsha South Third, Wadi Al Safa 5 and Dubai Investment Park First.
Dubai property sales reach Dhs92.9 billion
Dubai’s wider property market also remained active in the third quarter, recording 37,429 sales transactions worth Dhs92.9 billion.
Developers accounted for the majority of transactions. Primary sales totalled 25,441 transactions worth Dhs52.6 billion, compared with 11,988 resale transactions valued at Dhs40.3 billion.
Cash continued to play a significant role in the resale market, with just over 67% of secondary-market transactions completed in cash during the quarter.
Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties, said: “The figures show that Dubai’s primary sector remains the main driver of sales activity, while the resale market continues to attract significant cash investment.
“At the same time, the rental figures point to sustained demand across the established freehold sector. Taken together, the data shows a market that remains active, but with different segments moving at different rates.”
Dubai South leads off-plan sales
Dubai South was the top-performing area for primary-market sales by volume for the seventh consecutive month in September.
The area recorded 737 off-plan transactions worth Dhs980.5 million.
Wadi Al Safa 3 followed with 560 transactions worth Dhs574.5 million, while Al Barsha South Fourth recorded 442 transactions worth Dhs491.4 million.
Jebel Ali First recorded 394 transactions valued at Dhs860.5 million, followed by Al Hebiah First with 361 transactions worth Dhs720.4 million.
Most Dubai sales were below Dhs2 million
Properties priced below Dhs2 million accounted for the largest share of sales in the period.
According to the market analysis, 34.1% of transactions were below Dhs1 million, while 32.4% were between Dhs1 million and Dhs2 million.
A further 14.6% were between Dhs2 million and Dhs3 million, 10.3% between Dhs3 million and Dhs5 million, and 8.3% were above Dhs5 million.
September’s highest-value villa sale was recorded at Eome for Dhs260 million, while the most expensive apartment sale was at Como Residences at Palm Jumeirah for Dhs71 million.
