Dubai’s rental market is heading towards another all-time record after almost 299,000 tenancy contracts were registered across the emirate’s freehold areas in the first nine months of 2026.
A new market analysis from fäm Properties said 298,984 rental contracts were registered between January and September, up 6.8 per cent compared with the same period last year.
The increase puts Dubai on course to surpass the full-year record of 377,926 contracts registered in 2025. September saw 48,639 rental contracts registered across Dubai’s freehold areas, representing a 22.6 per cent month-on-month increase.
New contracts increased 25.6 per cent year-on-year to 25,345, while renewals rose 7.6 per cent to 23,294.
Al Warsan First was Dubai’s leading freehold rental area during the first nine months, recording 28,825 tenancy contracts. One-bedroom homes were the most common property type, accounting for 124,113 contracts, or 42 per cent of the total.
Dubai’s top 10 areas for rental contracts
According to the analysis, the 10 areas recording the most freehold rental contracts between January and September 2026 were:
- Al Warsan First: 28,825
- Jebel Ali First: 24,710
- Al Barsha South Fourth: 24,564
- Business Bay: 19,781
- Marsa Dubai: 16,453
- Nadd Hessa: 15,722
- Al Thanyah Fifth: 12,459
- Al Barsha South Third: 10,655
- Wadi Al Safa 5: 10,009
- Dubai Investment Park First: 9,898
The figures come as Dubai’s property sales market also continues to record significant transaction volumes.
DXBinteract data cited by fäm Properties showed 37,429 property sales worth AED92.9bn ($25.3bn) during the third quarter of 2026.
Dubai off-plan property sales dominate Q3
Developer sales continued to outpace the secondary market during the quarter. The primary market recorded 25,441 sales worth AED52.6bn ($14.3bn), compared with 11,988 resale transactions valued at AED40.3bn ($11bn).
More than 67 per cent of secondary-market transactions were cash purchases during Q3.
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.”
September recorded increases across several parts of the sales market. Plot transactions increased 28.8 per cent month-on-month to 237, with a combined value of AED3.8bn ($1.03bn). Commercial transactions, including offices and shops, increased 27.7 per cent to 539 deals worth AED2.2bn ($599m).
Villa sales increased 3.9 per cent to 1,428 transactions worth AED8.6bn ($2.34bn), while 9,055 apartments were sold for a combined AED14.8bn ($4.03bn).
Dubai South leads off-plan property sales
Dubai South was the emirate’s leading area for primary-market sales volumes for the seventh consecutive month, recording 737 off-plan transactions worth AED980.5m ($267m) in September.
The five leading off-plan areas by transaction volume were:
| Area | Sales | Value |
| Dubai South | 737 | AED980.5m |
| Wadi Al Safa 3 | 560 | AED574.5m |
| Al Barsha South Fourth | 442 | AED491.4m |
| Jebel Ali First | 394 | AED860.5m |
| Al Hebiah First | 361 | AED720.4m |
Properties priced below AED1m accounted for 34.1 per cent of sales, while 32.4 per cent were priced between AED1m and AED2m.
A further 14.6 per cent were between AED2m and AED3m, 10.3 per cent between AED3m and AED5m and 8.3 per cent were valued above AED5m.
The most expensive villa sold during September was an AED260m ($70.8m) property at Eome. The month’s most expensive apartment was an AED71m ($19.3m) property at Como Residences on Palm Jumeirah.
Valia – Tower was the best-selling primary-market apartment project, recording 263 transactions worth AED725.4m ($197.5m) at a median price of AED2.3m. Greenz By Danube led primary-market villa projects with 62 sales worth AED305m ($83m) and a median price of AED4.5m.
Dune Residency Dubai led resale apartments with 32 transactions worth AED24m ($6.5m), while Damac Lagoons – Portofino led resale villas with 16 sales worth AED49.6m ($13.5m).
