October delivered a paradox – fewer deals, but more money. According to the Dubai Land Department, 18,339 transactions were recorded worth 46.47 billion dirhams. The number of deals fell by 1.7 percent compared to September, while the total value jumped by 4.2 percent. Buyers shifted toward high-end properties, indicating a change in priorities – instead of mass studio purchases, investors are choosing premium villas and penthouses.
Off-plan sales accounted for 69 percent of the market, while ready properties held the remaining 31 percent. Binghatti topped the list of developers by off-plan sales value with 3 billion dirhams, followed by Meeras, Damac Properties andEmaar. In the ready-home segment, Emaar led by a wide margin with 4.99 billion dirhams, reaffirming its position as the key player shaping the city’s landscape. This trend has already been widely highlighted in Dubai real estate sales news today and yesterday.
Investors represent 58 percent of buyers versus 42 percent end-users
Transaction value increased by more than 4 percent, showing strong buyer confidence. Buyers are targeting projects with solid long-term returns in communities like Dubai Hills Estate, JVC and Business Bay. The 58 percent investor-to-42 percent end-user ratio maintains a healthy balance between speculative activity and genuine demand.
This proportion is crucial. Too many speculators and the market overheats, risking a correction at the first signs of instability. Too many end-users and the market becomes stable but slow and less liquid. The current balance allows growth without a bubble while preserving the option of quick resale for those who need it.
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The rental segment saw a minimal 1 percent increase in enquiries. Apartments gained 5 percent interest, townhouses dropped 7 percent and villas fell 11 percent. The number of rental contracts reached 48,656, with new contracts rising to 43 percent compared to 40 percent in September. This shift shows greater mobility – more people moving, changing districts or arriving in the city for the first time. Average DLD rental values reached 76,500 dirhams for apartments, 173,000 for townhouses and 272,500 for villas.
Four cheques remain the most popular rental payment model
Jumeirah Village Triangle led apartment rental growth with a 3.7 percent month-to-month increase. Nad Al Sheba topped the villa segment with 5.3 percent growth. This geographic shift shows where demand is moving – JVT attracts young families with affordability and solid infrastructure, while Nad Al Sheba appeals to those needing larger plots and nearby stables.
Payment structures distributed as follows:
- Four cheques captured 34 percent of the market as the optimal balance
- One cheque accounted for 27 percent due to discounts for annual upfront payment
- Two cheques suit those who want simpler accounting and fewer payment operations
- Six cheques remain a niche option
- Monthly payments are nearly absent due to regulatory limitations
A strong momentum is observed in the apartment segment. Demand for flexible payment schemes and well-located units remains high. More than half of tenants renewed their contracts, indicating satisfaction with current terms and reluctance to spend time searching for alternatives.
Property owners should keep in mind that the electricity tariff Dubai residential cost per kwh significantly affects how attractive a unit is for potential tenants. Large villas with heavy summer air-conditioning use can add several thousand dirhams to monthly expenses, which renters consider when setting their housing budgets.
Market outlook
Experts expect the momentum to continue into the fourth quarter thanks to stable economic conditions, sustained investor interest and growing global attention to the city’s property market. The balance between off-plan and ready sales, between investors and end-users, between renting and buying is shaping a resilient ecosystem capable of absorbing external shocks without severe price drops.
The market is maturing. Early speculative spikes are fading, giving way to more deliberate decision-making. Buyers analyse returns, tenants take months to study communities before moving, developers launch projects based on real demand rather than hype-driven quick wins. October’s figures confirm this – fewer transactions, but each one larger and more deliberate than before.
