Dubai’s real estate market recorded another strong month of rental activity in October to stay on course for a new annual record. In a market analysis from fäm Properties, Dubai’s freehold areas recorded 44,841 rental contracts in October. New tenancy agreements increased by 3.8% year-on-year to 21,987, while renewals edged up 0.5% to 22,854.
The October figures bring freehold rental registrations for the first ten months of 2026 to 339,557, 6.8% ahead of the corresponding period last year. With two months remaining, Dubai is firmly positioned to surpass the annual record of 377,976 contracts set in 2025. Data from DXBinteract shows that the market delivered 11,974 sales transactions valued at AED 35.01bn last month, an 18% month-on-month increase in value and up 5.4% month-on-month in volume.
Off-plan purchases continued to account for the larger share of activity, with 7,609 transactions worth AED 19.2bn, against 4,289 resale transactions valued at AED 15.6bn. Dubai South maintained its position as the leading location for off-plan sales for an eighth consecutive month, with 720 transactions valued at AED 894.6m.
“The rental figures show that demand for homes in Dubai continues to hold up well, with new contracts and renewals both increasing year-on-year. At the same time, the continued preference for off-plan purchases reflects buyers’ confidence in the market’s longer-term prospects.”
Firas Al Msaddi, CEO, fäm Properties
October recorded 8,888 apartment sales worth AED 15.5bn, alongside 1,356 villa sales worth AED 9.1bn, a 62% month-on-month increase in volume. Plot sales were up 92.7% month-on-month to 449 valued at AED 5.9bn, and townhouse sales also rose month-on-month by 8% to 649 at AED 2bn.There were 540 commercial transactions, including offices and shops, worth AED 2.3bn.
The most expensive apartment sold in October went for AED 58m at Silena Building B, Dubai Islands, while the most expensive villa fetched AED 97m at Eden Hills. Properties priced below AED 2m accounted for almost two-thirds of October sales, with 30.6% below AED 1m and 33.1% between AED 1m and AED 2m. A further 14.7% were priced between AED 2m and AED 3m, 11% between AED 3m and AED 5m, and 10.4% above AED 5m.
Al Warsan First was Dubai’s most active freehold rental location during the first ten months of 2026, recording 29,701 tenancy contracts. One-bedroom apartments continued to represent the largest share of rental activity, accounting for 138,836 contracts, 41% of the total.
