Dubai property transactions hit AED 998m led by Palm Jumeirah sales

DUBAI — Daily property registration volume across Dubai reached AED 998m on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, as buyers logged 443 sales transactions across off-plan and secondary markets.

The total trading figure reflected a slight 0.6% dip in transaction value compared to the previous day, even as deal volume rose by 4.0%. Market activity recorded a median transaction price of AED 1.30m, alongside a median rate of AED 1,624 per square foot.

Where the money went Palm Jumeirah led all locations by registered transaction value, generating AED 65.9m across eight transactions at a high median rate of AED 2,632 per square foot. City of Arabia registered the highest transaction count among prime areas, recording 44 sales worth AED 63.2m at a median price of AED 1,535 per square foot.

Damac Island City followed closely with 18 transactions totalling AED 61.7m at AED 1,300 per square foot, while Downtown Dubai generated AED 45.2m across 13 transactions at AED 2,693 per square foot. Dubai Marina registered AED 44.9m across 10 transactions, while Jebel Ali First saw 18 deals worth AED 44.2m. Sobha Sanctuary recorded AED 42.0m across nine sales, and Jumeirah Village Circle generated AED 36.6m from 28 deals.

Off-plan keeps its grip Off-plan registrations continued to dominate market activity, representing 64.6% of total sales. Buyers completed 286 unbuilt property transactions during the registration day, compared to 157 ready market deals. Secondary transfers within the off-plan segment accounted for 39 of those transactions.

Sobha Real Estate L.L.C topped developer activity by sales value, registering 37 transactions worth AED 125m. Damac Properties recorded AED 82.0m from 28 transactions, while Azizi Developments logged the highest transaction count by a single developer, registering 45 sales totalling AED 51.2m. Emaar Properties PJSC generated AED 36.0m across nine transactions, and Select Group logged two sales worth AED 24.3m.

Deals of the day and unit breakdown The highest-value individual transaction registered on the day was a ready seven-bedroom villa at Signature Villas Frond I (Al Merziban) on Palm Jumeirah, which fetched AED 35.0m on the secondary market. In the off-plan primary sector, a four-bedroom unit at Six Senses Residences Dubai Marina traded for AED 18.0m.

Other prominent primary off-plan sales included a five-bedroom home at The Next Chapter Ashwood Estates in Jumeirah Golf Estates for AED 16.3m, a six-bedroom residence at The Greens at Sobha Sanctuary for AED 14.1m, and a five-bedroom unit at South Bay 6 Premium in Dubai South Residential District for AED 13.0m.

Unit size preference leaned towards smaller layouts. One-bedroom apartments recorded 165 sales, followed by two-bedroom units at 101 sales and studios at 95. Larger homes accounted for a smaller proportion of daily activity, with 34 three-bedroom, 26 four-bedroom, and 17 five-bedroom units registered.

Rental market activity Dubai's rental segment recorded 2,691 contract registrations on Wednesday. Existing tenancy renewals outnumbered new lease agreements, with 1,403 renewals logged compared to 1,288 new lease contracts. The overall median annual rent across registered properties stood at AED 65k.

What to watch Market participants will monitor whether off-plan dominance remains around the two-thirds threshold, particularly as developer contract registrations filter through DLD systems. Additionally, lease renewals outstripping new tenancy contracts highlights contract longevity patterns across established residential districts.