Price Trends
Quality of Life and the Value of a Home
January 17, 2026
Prices attract the headlines, but transaction volume, the number of properties changing hands, is often a better indicator of a market's health. In Dubai, volumes have been rising from their low point, suggesting that buyers and sellers are finding agreement more easily and that liquidity is returning.
Why volume matters
- Liquidity: owners can sell when they need to.
- Price discovery: more sales give clearer evidence of value.
- Confidence: active markets attract more participants.
What is driving activity
Lower prices compared with the peak, cash buyers from the region and beyond, residents upgrading and a gradual improvement in lending are all contributing.
Where activity is strongest
Completed apartments and villas in established communities account for most transactions. Off-plan activity remains limited compared with the boom.
The role of the Dubai Land Department
Registration of transactions with the Land Department provides transparency and security for buyers. Data from registrations gives the market better information than ever before.
What sellers should know
Sellers who price realistically and present properties well are finding buyers. Those who expect boom-era prices are still waiting.
Ready and off-plan transactions
Transaction figures combine two very different types of sale. Ready transactions involve completed homes changing hands, usually between owners, and reflect demand from people who want to live in or rent a property now. Off-plan transactions involve homes not yet built, sold by developers or resold by early buyers. A recovery led by ready sales indicates real occupier demand, while a surge in off-plan resales can indicate speculation. In Dubai today, most activity is in ready properties, which is a sign of a recovery based on use rather than trading. Watching how this balance changes over the coming months will help investors judge whether the market is maturing or returning to the habits of the boom.
Our view
Rising transaction volumes are a welcome sign of a healthier, more liquid market. We help sellers price correctly and buyers act with confidence based on recent evidence.
