Dubai achieved historic highs in both the number and value of transactions, recording its strongest first quarter performance in more than a decade, the Q1 Insights from Property Finder reported.
The emirate recorded 45,474 transactions worth AED 142.7 billion, reflecting a 22 percent rise in volume and a 30 percent increase in value compared to the same period last year. These figures were mainly driven by record activity in off-plan sales and existing property transactions, the report added.
Off-plan sales in Dubai represent 56 percent of all transactions in the emirate, rising to 25,440 transactions, representing a 24 percent year-over-year (YoY) increase, with a value of AED 55.2 billion, up from AED 44.5 billion in Q1 2024.
Read: Dubai real estate: Strong return on investment hotspots emerge as prices continue rising
The ready market also recorded a remarkable performance, with 20,034 transactions worth AED 87.5 billion, marking a 21 percent rise in volume and a 34 percent increase in value. This is the highest-ever quarterly results for this segment, according to the report.
Dubai’s real estate performance reflects the robust demand from both end-users and investors, likely supported by a growing shift from renting to owning, as rising rental prices increasingly push residents to explore homeownership options.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi saw an increase in the ready property segment, posting a 9 percent increase in volume and a 75 percent rise in value, driven by large commercial deals and rising demand for completed homes. Residential ready transactions were up 5 percent in volume and 33 percent in value, signalling buyer preference for move-in-ready options.
Highlights of the off-plan market
Dubai
- Dubai’s real estate market continues to rank among the top-performing markets internationally, with the first quarter of this year witnessing an outstanding increase in total sales transactions. With 45,474 transactions achieved reflecting a 22 percent YoY increase, the total value rose by 30 percent, with value reaching AED 142.7 billion; the highest volume of transactions for a first quarter ever recorded.
- In Q1 2025, Dubai’s off-plan market recorded its highest first quarter performance in ten years, with off-plan sales representing 56 percent of total transaction volume. The number of off-plan transactions reached 25,440, up from 20,557 in Q1 2024, reflecting a 24 percent YoY increase, driven by strong long-term confidence among medium- and long-term investors.
- In terms of value, the off-plan segment also witnessed a significant record, with a 24 percent increase YoY, reaching AED 55.2 billion compared to AED 44.5 billion in Q1 2024. This represented 39 percent of the total transaction value in the first quarter of the year, highlighting the continued attractiveness of Dubai’s future development pipeline.
Abu Dhabi
- The Abu Dhabi real estate market registered approximately 2,496 transactions, with a total transaction value amounting to AED 9.6 billion.
- The UAE capital’s off-plan market in Q1 2025 recorded approximately 1,332 off-plan sales transactions, with a total value of AED 4.9 billion.
Existing/ready property market
Dubai
- A new quarterly record was set, surpassing the average quarterly volume and value of 2024, with volume exceeding the 2024 average by 12 percent and value by 19 percent, proving that the emirate’s real estate market continues its strong momentum this year.
- Existing property-related transactions recorded a YoY increase of 21 percent in volume, with approximately 20,034 transactions with a total value of AED 87.5 billion. Transaction value rose by 34 percent, compared to AED 65.3 billion in the same period last year.
- Ready property transactions made up nearly half (44 percent) of the total sales transaction volume.
Abu Dhabi
- The UAE capital’s existing/ready market in Q1 2025 recorded 1,164 transactions, accounting for around 47 percent of total transactions, compared to 1,066 transactions in Q1 2024.
- Existing property transactions represent 49 percent of the total transaction value, a notable growth of 9 percent in volume and a massive 75 percent rise in value compared to the same period last year. By volume, this represent 47 percent of total transactions.
- Residential transactions made up 88 percent of the total existing market volume and 60 percent of total value in Q1 2025, with the remainder attributed to commercial and other uses. Compared to Q1 2024, residential-ready transactions saw a 5 percent rise in volume and a 33 percent jump in value, indicating sustained demand for completed properties.
Cherif Sleiman, Chief Revenue Officer, Property Finder commented: “This year remains strong, particularly in Dubai where investor confidence in long-term capital appreciation remains high. Abu Dhabi’s evolving buyer behaviour shows growing interest in quality, ready-to-move-in homes. From an international perspective, global policy shifts and the depreciation of the dollar are creating heightened interest in UAE real estate investment opportunities.”
“Overall, the UAE continues to be a reliable, and globally competitive real estate ecosystem, supported by initiatives such as the Dubai Real Estate Alliance by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) that brings together public and private sector partners. In parallel, DLD’s partnership with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to link the Emirate’s real estate registry with property tokenisation, enables fractional ownership of assets and is a major step towards allowing a broader base of investors to enter Dubai’s market,” he added.
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