Dubai real estate sets new record: April sales transactions surge 94 percent to $16.91 billion
Dubai Land Department
(DLD) data.
This record-breaking performance underscores the city's thriving real estate sector, with growth witnessed across both primary and secondary markets.
'Dubai's real estate market continues to scale new heights, propelled by bold city planning, regulatory innovation, and investor trust. The sustained growth across both primary and secondary segments is resounding proof of its resilience and long-term appeal,' stated Cherif Sleiman, chief revenue officer at Property Finder.
Primary segment drives surge
According to the latest report by Property Finder, the primary property segment led the charge on Dubai real estate, with sales touching AED34.2 billion in value, a 124 percent increase from April 2024. This was fuelled by marquee transactions in destinations like Palm Jebel Ali and The Oasis by Emaar.
Palm Jebel Ali and The Oasis by Emaar accounted for 19 percent and 13 percent of the total value, respectively, despite representing less than 2 percent and 4 percent of the total transaction volume of primary transactions, highlighting investor appetite for future-forward, branded communities.
Secondary segment posts record AED28 billion
Meanwhile, the secondary segment performed equally as well, with a record AED28 billion in sales value across more than 7,700 transactions, up 67 percent in value and 66 percent in volume from April 2024.
While a landmark AED1.45 billion land transaction in DMCC-EZ2 for the upcoming Sobha Central development in Jebel Ali stood out, strong resale activity in key communities such as Palm Jumeirah, JVC and Dubai Marina also contributed significantly to overall real estate transaction value.
'The Dubai Land Department's recent initiative of introducing AI-enabled governance of real estate advertising will enhance transparency and credibility in real estate advertisements across key marketing platforms, a focus that we have always aligned with. Further supported by the strategic partnerships signed by DLD at the International Property Show, we are witnessing greater transparency, smarter regulation, and higher service standards across the board. These far-sighted initiatives will contribute to Dubai's growing status as one of the world's most investor-friendly real estate markets,' added Sleiman.
Apartments dominate home searches
Property Finder also revealed that apartment living continued to be the preferred choice across both the buyer and renter categories, with apartments accounting for nearly 78 percent of rental searches and 59 percent of purchase interest in April 2025.
Studio apartments comprised 21 percent of all rental searches on Property Finder, but just 14 percent of buyer interest. This gap signals strong yield opportunities for investors in smaller units, where rental demand appears stronger than buyer interest.
Meanwhile, two-bedroom apartments attracted 35 percent of buyer searches and 31 percent of rental demand.
Read: Sharjah real estate market hits $234.6 million in Q1 2025, up 159.2 percent year-over-year
Dubai real estate transactions hit AED142.7 billion in Q1
In its quarterly report, Property Finder revealed that Dubai's real estate market continued to rank among the top-performing markets globally, with Q1 2025 witnessing a significant surge in total sales transactions. The transaction volume reached 45,474, marking a 22 percent year-on-year increase, while the total value rose by 30 percent, hitting AED142.7 billion.
The market maintained its positive momentum, with Q1 performance exceeding the quarterly average transactions for both volume and value in 2024. Notably, the transaction value in Q1 2025 was 9 percent higher than the average quarterly value recorded in 2024, underscoring the market's ongoing strength and investor confidence.
Notably, Dubai's off-plan market continued to deliver outstanding performance, recording its highest first-quarter performance in a decade, with off-plan sales accounting for 56 percent of total transaction volume. The number of off-plan transactions reached 25,440, up from 20,557 in Q1 2024, reflecting a 24 percent year-on-year increase, driven by strong long-term confidence among medium – and long-term investors.
In terms of value, the off-plan segment also witnessed remarkable growth, with a 24 percent increase year-on-year, reaching AED55.2 billion compared to AED44.5 billion in Q1 2024. This represented 39 percent of the total transaction value in Q1 2025, highlighting the continued attractiveness of Dubai's future development pipeline.
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