Major new launches and high investor returns are set to drive off-plan transaction share and volume to new heights, experts forecast.
DUBAI — Dubai’s off-plan property market is expected to extend its dominance in 2026, with industry reports and executives predicting a significant rise in both its market share and transaction volume, propelled by a wave of new project launches and sustained investor demand.
Off-plan sales accounted for more than 70% of all residential transactions in Dubai in 2025, according to market analysis. Industry leaders now forecast this share will grow by an additional 10–15% in the coming year, as developers unveil large-scale projects in high-growth areas like Dubai South, Dubai Islands, and new master-planned communities.
“Off-plan remains the driving force of Dubai’s residential real estate market, and this momentum is set to accelerate further,” said Himanshi Trivedi, Deputy Director for Off-Plan Sales at Metropolitan Premium Properties. “As major developers roll out large-scale projects in 2026, we anticipate a substantial rise in off-plan unit sales.”
Data from Betterhomes shows that off-plan activity represented 65% of total transaction volume and 53% of total value in 2025, with apartment sales climbing 29% to Dh325 billion. Louis Harding, CEO of Betterhomes, observed, “Demand is clearly tilting toward new supply, especially in the apartment segment.”
The sector’s expansion continues a post-pandemic surge, with 2024 seeing nearly 145,000 new off-plan units launched—an average of 400 per day. Sales volumes last year were reported to be four times higher than pre-Covid levels.
John Lyons, Managing Director at Espace Real Estate, noted the market’s broad strength: “Dubai’s real estate market continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience and growth in the second half of 2025, buoyed by sustained demand across off-plan, ready, and commercial assets.”
Leading the charge in new launches during the latter half of 2025 was Binghatti, with over 13,000 units, followed by Damac Properties and Emaar.
For investors, off-plan purchases continue to offer the prospect of higher returns compared to ready properties, while end-users looking near project completion can benefit from potential savings versus the rental market.
With robust developer activity and strong investor appetite, 2026 is positioned to reinforce off-plan properties as the cornerstone of Dubai’s dynamic real estate landscape.
