Dubai’s investors are showing despite the uncertainty, apartment sales in the emirate achieving nearly $5bn in the weeks since the US-Israeli war on Iran commenced.
Reported in an analysis of Dubai Land Department (DLD) data by Al Masdar Al Aqaari which specialises in UAE insights for property, noted that off-plan residential apartment sales in Dubai reached AED 17.5bn ($4.8bn) in March 2026, noting a 12.9% increase in contrast to a year ago.
The number of transactions occurring in the off-plan segment increased 2.3% to 7,983 deals which occurred during the same period, indicating that a strong buyer interest in Dubai real estate remains.
Iran has commenced drone attacks and strikes in the UAE since the conflict started on 28 February, which has led to market analysts to question the emirate’s safety status for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). The conflict has also ensued chaos across financial markets outside the area.
DLD sales data illustrates property buyers in Dubai indicated a strong interest in apartments in areas such as the Madinat Al Mataar and Dubai Islands. The number of sales has been determined to the ‘ultra-luxury’ segment and strategic development close to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
A development in particular, Aman Residences, witnessed record-breaking deals, with one buyer purchasing an apartment for AED 422m.
Form the analysis conducted it did not consider sales transactions in the villa segment or secondary and completed properties.
S&P has commented that Dubai is unlikely to lose its safe-haven image soon nor will it undergo a property market decline like that of 2008 despite the regional conflict, illustrating that recent government reforms have changed the buyer profile long-term.
Despite a ‘flight to liquidity’ during the initial phase of the conflict, there are some investors who are doubling down on tangible assets in Dubai to utilise this as a hedge against currency instability in remainder of the Middle East.
“We believe that the UAE government’s visa reforms will create a degree of stability and stickiness for residents and home/property owners … initiatives such as the Golden Visa grant long-term residency to investors.”
S&P
S&P also mentioned that the damage to real estate assets in Dubai that were hit by drones, missiles, shrapnel or debris has ‘not been to a degree beyond repair’.
