Dubai secondary property market in Q3 2026: 10,055 ready-home sales, up 16%, now 29% of all deals

Dubai registered 10,055 secondary-market sales of ready homes in Q3 2026, worth AED 27.1bn — 16% more than in Q2. The resale share of all residential transactions rose from 24% to 29% by number and from 30% to 37% by value, according to a quarterly residential market review published on 15 October.

How many resale deals closed in Dubai in Q3 2026?

10,055 deals worth AED 27.1bn. Total residential sales for the quarter were 34,615, roughly flat on Q2. So the resale gain did not come from a broader rebound: with the market the same size, more buyers simply chose finished homes over off-plan.

Apartments drove the shift. Resale apartment deals rose 22% to 7,879 units, while ready villa and townhouse sales were broadly unchanged.

Measure	Q2 2026	Q3 2026
Resale share by number of deals	24%	29%
Resale share by value	30%	37%
Resale transactions	—	10,055
Resale value	—	AED 27.1bn

Why are buyers moving from off-plan to ready homes?

A ready home can be inspected, moved into or let out straight away, with no wait for handover and no risk of a delayed completion. Pricing is also easier to check: recent sales in the same building set a clear benchmark, whereas the developer sets the off-plan price.

The value share grew faster than the volume share. That means larger tickets moved to the resale market too — finished apartments in established districts cost more than the average off-plan deal.

What is happening to ready-home prices?

Prices eased slightly over the quarter. The median apartment price in September was AED 1,404 per sq ft, 2.4% below June. Villas and townhouses stood at AED 1,638 per sq ft, down 2.3%. Against September 2025, prices remain higher: apartments by 2.2%, villas and townhouses by 4.1%.

About three-quarters of the communities covered saw lower prices than the previous quarter, yet two-thirds are still above last year. The market is not falling; it has become more price-sensitive.

How did rents change?

Leasing demand hit a record: enquiries were up 45% on Q2 and 15% year on year. Median rents still softened between June and September, by 3.8% for apartments and 2.3% for villas and townhouses.

Dubai's population reached 4,807,185 on 29 September 2026, up 226,885 since the start of the year, according to the city's statistics centre. New residents support both rentals and end-user purchases of finished homes.

What does this mean for sellers and buyers?

For owners of ready property this is a good window, as demand has swung their way. But an inflated asking price works against them: with medians down 2–3% in a quarter, a listing above market sits for weeks without calls. Price off the latest sales in the building, not last year's expectations.

Buyers gain room to negotiate. Where a community's median dipped over the quarter and a unit has been listed for a while, the seller has less reason to hold the asking price. For the longer view, see our review of the Dubai secondary market in 2025.

Frequently asked questions

How many secondary sales were there in Dubai in Q3 2026?

10,055 transactions worth AED 27.1bn, up 16% on Q2 2026.

What share of Dubai property sales is resale?

In Q3 2026 it was 29% by number and 37% by value, up from 24% and 30% a quarter earlier.

Are ready-home prices in Dubai falling?

The median slipped 2–3% over the quarter, to AED 1,404 per sq ft for apartments, but prices are still 2–4% above a year ago.

Is it a good time to sell a ready apartment in Dubai?

Demand for ready homes has grown, but buyers compare prices closely. Units priced in line with recent sales in the building sell fastest.

To find out what your apartment is worth today and how long it may take to sell, start with our page on selling property in Dubai.