Dubai home sales reach AED 72.6 billion in third quarter as buyers turn more cautious

More than AED 72.6 billion of homes were sold in Dubai in the third quarter of 2026, across about 34,000 transactions, according to an analysis by property consultancy Cavendish Maxwell released on 6 October.

Sales values were 47% lower than in the third quarter of 2025 and the number of transactions fell 38%. Off-plan property accounted for 65% of sales values and 72% of purchases. In September alone, residential sales reached nearly AED 23.2 billion across about 10,300 deals. For the year to date, home sales totalled AED 292 billion across 112,580 purchases, 27% lower by value and 23% lower by volume than in the first nine months of 2025.

Ronan Arthur, Head of Residential Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell, said the quarter captured a mix of recent and earlier buying because of the time between agreeing a purchase and registering it. "Purchasing activity became more measured, with buyers being more cautious in the weeks and months following the start of the conflict," he said, adding that the fundamentals behind demand remained.

Broader Dubai Land Department figures, which include mortgages and gifts as well as sales, showed 165,018 real estate transactions worth AED 574.12 billion from January to September, Emirates 24|7 reported on 1 October. Ready property sales were AED 196.08 billion, Business Bay led sales by area, and September recorded 16,490 deals worth AED 50.78 billion.

For buyers and investors, the figures point to a market that is still large but slower than in 2025, with launches, regional uncertainty and the pace of registrations shaping the next few months. Prices and payment plans on new launches are worth comparing closely while activity is lower.