Dubai's record August: AED 20.6bn in home sales in a single month
LVIn short
In August, Dubai's residential market recorded roughly AED 20.6bn in sales across 10,978 transactions, according to Dubai Land Department data. Off-plan accounted for 71% of transactions (63% of value), with Dubai South the most active area. Around 87% of deals were priced under AED 3 million, showing a market that remains largely accessible, not just ultra luxury.
Dubai Land Department (DLD) closed August with another month above trend: roughly AED 20.6bn in residential sales across 10,978 transactions. The numbers confirm a market pace that has shown little sign of slowing for months, even as the delivery pipeline keeps expanding.
The month in numbers
- AED 20.6bn in residential sales recorded at Dubai Land Department
- 10,978 transactions closed during the month
- 71% of transactions are off-plan (63% of value), the rest secondary market (ready)
- Dubai South is the area with the highest number of transactions
- Around 87% of deals are priced under AED 3 million
Off-plan at 70%: what it means
An off-plan share above 70% points to a market where developers and buyers keep favouring launch-stage entry: lower entry tickets, payment plans spread across construction, and historically the widest room for appreciation between launch and handover. The secondary market still holds up well, with almost three in ten deals closed on ready homes.
Perhaps the most telling figure for anyone watching Dubai from outside is the price distribution: 87% of analysed deals sit under AED 3 million (about $817,000). Headlines tend to focus on record villas in Palm Jumeirah or Emirates Hills, but the bulk of real volume trades in accessible brackets, in areas like Dubai South, where the price to quality ratio for new entrants is among the most attractive in the city.
Original source
Article based on Dubai property sales hit $6.3bn in August as 87% of analysed home deals fall below $817,000 — Dubai Land Department (dati riportati da Arabian Business) · 4 Sept 2026. Reading, analysis and commentary are original.
Frequently asked
How much did Dubai's property market sell in August?
Roughly AED 20.6bn in residential sales across 10,978 transactions, according to Dubai Land Department data.
Which area led sales in August?
Dubai South recorded the highest number of transactions during the month.
What share of the market is off-plan?
71% of August's volume was off-plan property, with the rest in the secondary market.
Is Dubai's market only luxury villas?
No: around 87% of analysed transactions were priced under AED 3 million, an accessible, high-volume segment.
Luca Vallelonga
Italian real estate consultant in Dubai since 2021 · Senior Real Estate Advisor, Gabetti Middle East · BRN 85642
Who I am and how I work →Found this useful? One a week.
Lettera da Dubai, every Thursday: the DLD registry numbers, the launches worth a look and the ones to skip. One email, nothing else.
Want to know where it makes sense to buy in Dubai right now?
With nearly 11,000 transactions a month, picking the right area and timing is what separates a good purchase from a mediocre one. Let's discuss your specific profile.