Dubai rental contracts January–October 2026: 339,557 registered and a new record in sight
Dubai registered 339,557 rental contracts from January to October 2026, up 6.8% on a year earlier. October alone brought 44,841, of which 22,854 were renewals. The market needs 38,420 more in two months to beat the 2025 record.
Dubai’s freehold areas registered 339,557 rental contracts in the first ten months of 2026, 6.8% more than a year earlier. October added 44,841 contracts, just over half of them renewals. To beat the 2025 record, the market needs another 38,420 contracts in November and December.
How many rental contracts has Dubai registered in 2026?
From January to October, 339,557, according to analysts’ counts of DLD data. The nine-month total was 298,984, so October contributed 44,841. Growth against last year has held at 6.8% throughout.
What happened in October?
Of the 44,841 contracts, 21,987 were new leases and 22,854 were renewals. That is fewer than September’s 48,639, but September is traditionally the peak month, as families return after summer and sign ahead of the school year.
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We covered the September spike in our report on Dubai rental contracts in September 2026.
Will Dubai set a new rental record?
Dubai registered 377,976 contracts in 2025. The gap is 38,420, roughly 19,000 a month. October delivered more than twice that, so at a normal pace the record should fall in November.
Why are rentals rising while sales fall?
They are two sides of the same trend. Dubai’s population keeps growing, and some people who would have bought a year ago are renting while they wait. Newly completed buildings are also coming to market, and their owners need tenants.
A renewal share above half points to stability: residents are staying put rather than moving in search of cheaper homes. A sharp rise in rents would produce the opposite pattern.
What does this mean for landlords?
- Demand is there: a well-located apartment at a market rent lets without difficulty.
- Sharp rent increases are unlikely to stick, as supply is growing and tenants compare.
- Renewing with a sitting tenant is often more profitable than finding a new one.
Frequently asked questions
How many rental contracts were registered in Dubai in October 2026?
44,841: 21,987 new leases and 22,854 renewals.
Is Dubai’s rental market growing in 2026?
Yes. Contract numbers for the first ten months are up 6.8% on 2025.
What is Dubai’s rental contract record?
377,976 contracts in 2025. On the current pace, 2026 should overtake it in November.
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