Dubai registers 2,046 residential-use rental contracts above Dh1mn in first eight months of 2026
Palm Jumeirah remains among strongest hubs for high-value residential leasing, new analysis shows
DUBAI – Dubai registered 2,046 distinct residential-use rental contracts valued at Dh1 million or more during the first eight months of 2026, with their combined contract value reaching Dh6.79 billion, highlighting the scale of the market’s top tier.
A market analysis from fäm Properties shows that the contracts registered between 1 January and 31 August had a median annualised rent of Dh1.35 million. New leases accounted for the majority of activity, with 1,423 contracts, or 69.6% of the total, compared with 623 renewals, or 30.4 percent.
Data from DXBinteract reveals that the median annualised rent for new leases was Dh1.30 million, while renewals recorded a higher median of Dh1.50 million.
One-year agreements dominated the market, accounting for 1,353 of the 2,046 contracts. Longer contracts naturally recorded lower annualised median rents because the Dh1 million threshold applies to the total contract value, rather than the annual rental amount.
Villas represented the largest property category, with 951 contracts worth Dh2.49 billion, at a median annualised rent of approximately Dh1.12 million. Apartments accounted for another 531 contracts worth Dh2.41 billion, with a median annualised rent of Dh1.40 million.
Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties, commented: “The figures underline the scale of the upper end of Dubai’s rental market, while also showing how high-value contracts extend beyond individual villas and apartments into larger residential-use assets and accommodation categories.”
The Dubai Land Department residential-use classification also includes labour camps, which accounted for 520 contracts worth Dh1.72 billion, at a median annualised rent of approximately Dh1.84 million. Smaller categories included buildings, complex villas, staff accommodation, studios and penthouses.
Palm Jumeirah remained one of the strongest concentrations of high-value conventional residential leasing, recording 191 contracts with a median annualised rent of Dh1.50 million.
NEW LEASES AGAINST RENEWALS
| Lease | Contracts | Share | Median annualised rent |
| New | 1,423 | 69.6% | AED 1.30m |
| Renewal | 623 | 30.4% | AED 1.50m |
ANNUALISED RENT BY CONTRACT TERM
| Term | Contracts | Median annualised |
| 1 year | 1,353 | AED 1.65m |
| 2 years | 299 | AED 800k |
| 3 years | 224 | AED 600k |
| 4+ years | 170 | AED 390k |
LEADING AREAS
| Area | Contracts | Median annualised rent |
| Jabal Ali Industrial First | 204 | AED 2.05m |
| Palm Jumeirah | 191 | AED 1.50m |
| Hadaeq Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid | 117 | AED 1.30m |
| Al Merkadh | 90 | AED 1.25m |
| Muhaisanah Second | 86 | AED 1.53m |
| Me'Aisem First | 66 | AED 1.75m |
LEADING NAMED PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENTS
| Project / Development | Contracts | Median annualised rent |
| Palm Jumeirah | 106 | AED 1.70m |
| Jumeirah Golf Estates | 38 | AED 1.68m |
| Al Barari | 29 | AED 1.30m |
| Dubai Investment Park First | 28 | AED 1.35m |
| Jumeirah Islands | 25 | AED 1.80m |
| The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences | 23 | AED 1.35m |
| IL Primo | 19 | AED 1.95m |