The UAE property sector is on track for its strongest year on record after Dubai and Abu Dhabi posted historic Q3 2025 results, according to new data from Property Finder, the MENA region’s leading real estate platform.
In total, the two cities recorded AED194.3bn ($52.8bn) in combined transaction value during the third quarter, underlining sustained investor confidence, strong population growth, and a deepening preference for off-plan projects.
Abu Dhabi sets new benchmark
Abu Dhabi’s real estate market reached a historic peak, with total sales transactions soaring 76 per cent year-on-year to 7,154, while total value surged 110 per cent to AED25.3bn ($6.9bn).
The emirate’s structural upturn in demand, supported by improved liquidity, has been reinforced by sustainable, master-planned communities aligned with the Abu Dhabi 2030 urban diversification agenda.
The residential sector accounted for 96 per cent of all transactions, with 6,883 sales worth AED23.3bn ($6.3bn) — a 107 per cent year-on-year increase.
Off-plan dominance
Off-plan transactions drove Abu Dhabi’s Q3 performance, accounting for 73 per cent of total sales volume and 68 per cent of value.
Value spiked 136 per cent year-on-year to AED 17.3bn ($4.7bn), with residential sales comprising 99 per cent.
High-value deals in new developments such as Fahid Island (Aldar) and Al Hidayriyyat Island (Modon) accounted for 30 per cent of all off-plan residential value.
- Off-plan apartments led the market with transaction values up 276 per cent and volumes up 198 per cent, reflecting early-stage investor appetite for vertical communities
- Off-plan villas rose 68 per cent in value and 42 per cent in volume
- Off-plan duplexes surged 424 per cent in value and 255 per cent in transactions, signalling strong traction for mid-luxury hybrid layouts
Ready market recovery
Abu Dhabi’s ready property market also gained momentum, with AED8bn ($2.2bn) in total sales value — a 71 per cent year-on-year increase across 1,940 transactions.
Residential ready sales rose 15 per cent in volume and 56 per cent in value to AED 6.1bn ($1.7bn), driven by:
- Al Reem Island and Al Raha Beach, where dense apartment stock boosted move-in activity
- Al Reef, attracting family buyers at mid-ticket prices
- Saadiyat Island, which delivered high-ticket villa sales lifting the overall average
Dubai maintains global lead
Dubai’s property market also hit an all-time high in Q3 2025, with 59,044 transactions — up 17 per cent year-on-year — and total value climbing 19 per cent to AED 169bn ($46bn).
The results mark Dubai’s strongest quarter ever, reinforcing its reputation as a safe haven for global investors, supported by consistent foreign inflows and population growth.
Off-plan drives momentum
Like Abu Dhabi, off-plan sales powered Dubai’s record quarter, accounting for 40,108 transactions, a 26 per cent year-on-year rise, representing 68 per cent of total market volume.
The total off-plan value reached AED 82.9bn ($22.6bn) — its highest on record, up 23 per cent year-on-year.
Key districts continued to anchor investor confidence:
- Business Bay generated around AED 7.4bn ($2bn) in sales amid new project launches
- Al Barsha and Dubai Islands saw rising demand for master-planned community investments
Value-driven demand shapes ready market
Dubai’s ready sales segment contributed 32 per cent of total transactions, with 18,936 deals, up 2 per cent year-on-year.
The total value jumped 16 per cent to AED 86.1bn ($23.5bn), showing a shift towards value-driven, premium assets.
Value-driven strength was concentrated in established districts such as:
- Wadi Al Safa 3, which recorded over AED 7bn ($1.9bn) in land transactions
- Business Bay, supported by ultra-luxury resales appealing to high-net-worth buyers
- Palm Jumeirah and Marsa Dubai (Dubai Marina), together exceeding AED 6bn ($1.6bn), underscoring sustained global investor interest in waterfront living
UAE real estate seen as global safe haven
Cherif Sleiman, Chief Revenue Officer at Property Finder, said: “The record-breaking performance we’re seeing in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi underlines the UAE’s position as one of the world’s most resilient and attractive property markets.
“Abu Dhabi is setting new benchmarks with sustainable, master-planned communities that are clearly resonating with buyers, while Dubai’s shift towards value-driven demand shows a maturing market where investors are focused on long-term stability and wealth preservation,” he added.
“Together, these trends highlight the UAE’s strength as a global safe haven for real estate investment.”
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