Dubai rental contracts in September 2026: 48,639 registered, up 22.6% in a month while sales fell 44%

Dubai's freehold areas registered 48,639 rental contracts in September 2026, up 22.6% on August. New leases reached 25,345, a 25.6% rise year on year, while renewals grew 7.6% to 23,294. Property sales in the same month were roughly 44% below September 2025.

How many rental contracts were signed in Dubai in September 2026?

DXBinteract data shows 48,639 registrations across freehold areas, against 39,645 in August. That is almost 9,000 more contracts in a single month.

Part of that jump is seasonal. September opens the business year in Dubai: families return, schools start and employers bring in new staff. The year-on-year comparison is the cleaner signal, and it is positive too.

• Total contracts: 48,639, up 22.6% on August.
• New leases: 25,345, up 25.6% on September 2025.
• Renewals: 23,294, up 7.6% on September 2025.

Why are new leases growing faster than renewals?

New leases made up 52% of September registrations and grew more than three times as fast as renewals. Tenants are moving more often instead of staying put on existing terms.

Two forces are at work. Newly handed-over buildings are being let for the first time. And in districts where rents have stopped rising, a tenant can do better by switching address than by renewing.

We covered the rent side in our review of the CBRE figures for the second quarter, which showed a 6.2% quarterly decline. Contract counts are rising all the same: more people, and more negotiation.

What is happening to sales at the same time?

Sales are moving the other way. The Dubai Land Department recorded 11,430 sales in September, about 44% fewer than a year before. The detail is in our September DLD review.

Across the third quarter, the same industry reports count 37,429 sales worth AED 92.9bn. Developer sales took 25,441 deals and AED 52.6bn; resales took 11,988 deals and AED 40.3bn.

Buyers have become more cautious, but people still need somewhere to live. Some of those who would have bought a year ago are renting and waiting. For the rental market that is a direct source of demand.

Where do people rent most in Dubai?

Al Warsan First led the first nine months with 28,825 contracts. It is mass-market housing in the east of the city, not a waterfront address. One-bedroom apartments accounted for 42% of all freehold contracts.

The lesson for an investor is plain: the depth of tenant demand sits in affordable one-bedroom units. A beachfront home rents for more, but far fewer tenants can take it, and each void costs more.

What it means for landlords and buyers

The rental market is active, but it leans further towards the tenant than a year ago. Volumes are up, and terms are more often set by the occupier, especially where many new buildings are being let.

• Landlords: underwrite income at today's new-lease rate, not last year's.
• Buy-to-let buyers: check contract counts in the building, not the district average.
• Anyone choosing between buying and renting: there is room to negotiate on both.

The full-year record stands at 377,926 freehold rental contracts in 2025. The nine-month pace in 2026 is ahead of last year, so a new annual high is possible.

Frequently asked questions

How many rental contracts did Dubai register in September 2026?

48,639 in freehold areas, according to DXBinteract data. That is 22.6% more than in August, split into 25,345 new leases and 23,294 renewals.

Is the Dubai rental market growing while sales fall?

Contract volumes are: new leases rose 25.6% year on year. Rents are a different story and have softened in districts with heavy new supply.

Which homes are rented most often in Dubai?

One-bedroom apartments, with 42% of contracts in the first nine months of 2026. The busiest district was Al Warsan First with 28,825 contracts.

What does a rising share of new leases tell an investor?

That tenants are mobile. Some are moving into newly completed buildings; others are changing home for a better rate instead of renewing.

For how a lease works from the owner's side and what is left after costs, read our guide to letting a Dubai apartment long term.