Dubai freehold rental pace continues towards new record
Dubai South the best-performing area in off-plan sales for sixth month in succession
DUBAI – The pace of new and renewed rental contracts recorded in Dubai’s freehold areas continues to increase as the property market moves steadily towards an all-time record in 2026.
A market analysis from fäm Properties today shows that 39,645 rental contracts were registered across Dubai’s freehold areas in August, a 3.79% MoM increase. The volume of new contracts climbed 19.4% YoY to 20,611, while renewals increase by 4.4% YoY to 19,034.
This takes the total number of freehold rental contracts recorded for the first eight months in 2026 to 257,284, a 5.5% increase on the same period in 2025 which ultimately set a full-year record of 377,944 registered contracts.
To date this year, the leading area of Dubai in freehold rentals is Al Warsan First, with a total of 23,894 registered tenancy contracts. Underlining a consistent apartments preference in the market, 105,880 (41%) tenancy contracts registered were for one-bedroom units.
Meanwhile, Data from DXBinteract shows that the market delivered 12,018 sales transactions valued at Dh28.6 billion last month. Once again off plan sales dominated with 8,359 transactions worth Dh16.3 billion compared with 3,659 valued at Dh12.4 billion in the resale market.
For a sixth consecutive month, Dubai South was the emirate’s best-performing area in primary market sales volume, recording 1,908 off-plan transactions worth Dh2.3 billion.
“The rental market is an important indicator of how committed people are to living and working in Dubai, regardless of regional uncertainties over the last months,” said Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties. “The volume of new contracts in part reflects the fact that tenants are moving to take advantage of lower rents in some areas, which is natural in the circumstances.”
August recorded 9,974 apartment sales worth Dh15.7 billion, alongside 1,354 villa sales worth Dh7.9 billion, 183 plot sales valued at Dh2.6 billion, and 420 commercial transactions, including offices and shops, worth Dh AED1.5 billion.
The most expensive apartment sold in August went for Dh86 million at The Address, Jumeirah Gate Tower 2 at Jumeirah Beach, while the most expensive villa fetched Dh110 million at Signature Villas.
With properties worth more than Dh5 million accounting for 5.7% of sales, 7.25% were between Dh3-5 million, 10.9% between Dh2-3 million, 33.2% between Dh1-2 million and 42.8% were below Dh1 million.
TOP FIVE PERFORMING AREAS IN OFF-PLAN SALES AUGUST 2026
| Area | Volume | Sales value |
| Dubai South | 1908 | AED2.3B |
| Wadi Al Safa 4 | 863 | AED839M |
| Jebel Ali | 644 | AED674.1M |
| Al Barsha South Fourth | 419 | AED531.5M |
| Wadi Al Safa 3 | 335 | AED417.1M |
BEST-SELLING PROJECTS DURING AUGUST
Primary market apartments
| Project | Volume | Value | Median price |
| Azizi Venice 15 Building B | 344 | AED283.3M | AED283.3M |
Primary market villas
| Project | Volume | Value | Median price |
| Al Yufrah 1 | 156 | AED283.3M | AED5.6M |
Primary market villas
| Project | Volume | Value | Median price |
| Qasr Sabah 1 | 27 | AED12.8M | AED432.7K |
Resale villas
| Project | Volume | Value | Median price |
| Damac Lagoons - Portofino | 14 | AED2.8M | AED2.8M |
BREAKDOWN OF RENTAL AGREEMENTS BY BEDROOMS TO DATE IN 2026
| 1 bed | 105,880 | 41% |
| 2 beds | 59,420 | 23% |
| Studio | 55,336 | 22% |
| 3 beds | 25,507 | 10% |
| 4 beds | 8,625 | 3% |
TOP 10 AREAS BY RENTAL CONTRACTS REGISTERED TO DATE IN 2026
| Al Warsan First | 21,687 |
| Jebel Ali First | 21,687 |
| Al Barsha South Fourth | 20,607 |
| Business Bay | 16,637 |
| Nadd Hessa | 13,871 |
| Marsa Dubai | 13,692 |
| Al Thanyah Fifth | 10,758 |
| Al Thanyah Fifth | 8,862 |
| Dubai Investment Park First | 8,737 |
| Wadi Al Safa 5 | 8,737 |