Real estate transactions across five emirates in the UAE surged to over AED239 billion ($65 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, driven by strong investor confidence, flexible regulations, and an expanding pipeline of projects, according to official data.
From January to March, more than 94,719 sales, purchase, and mortgage deals were recorded in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah, marking a robust start for the UAE’s property sector.
Talal Al Dhiyebi, group chief executive officer at Aldar Properties, noted that the UAE’s real estate boom is fueled by the country’s broader economic and cultural advancements, positioning it as one of the world’s most attractive destinations for living, working, and investing.
Dubai dominates the market
In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Dhiyebi mentioned that Aldar reported AED8.9 billion in Q1 sales, a remarkable 42 percent year-on-year increase, with portfolio occupancy rates exceeding 95 percent by the end of the quarter.
Abu Dhabi recorded AED25.3 billion in total real estate transactions, a 34.5 percent increase from Q1 2024. This included 3,819 sale deals worth AED15.51 billion—up 26.7 percent—and 3,077 mortgage transactions totaling AED9.8 billion, marking a 49 percent increase, according to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre.
Dubai accounted for the largest share, with AED193 billion in real estate transactions resulting from 58,039 deals, reflecting a growth of 16.2 percent in value and 31.5 percent compared to 2024.
The Dubai Land Department reported AED142 billion in sales from 45,077 transactions, a 30 percent increase in value compared to the same period last year. Mortgages reached AED41 billion from 10,949 transactions, up 27 percent in volume, with the remainder from grants and exchanges.
Sharjah recorded AED13.2 billion in property transactions from 24,597 deals, reflecting a 31.9 percent year-on-year increase, according to data from the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department.
Ajman registered AED5.55 billion in total transactions, showing a 29 percent increase. This included AED3.69 billion from 3,132 sales and purchase transactions, and AED905 million from 498 mortgage transactions, with the rest comprising grants and property exchanges.
In Ras Al Khaimah, residential off-plan sales exceeded AED2.4 billion from over 1,300 transactions, according to a report by CBRE, underscoring continued demand in the northern emirate’s housing market.
