THE NEWS DESK

Mid-Sept Surge: AED 13.3 Bn in One Week as Luxury Tops AED 45 M

Dubai closed the seven days to 21 September with 4,760 transactions worth AED 13.3 billion—the strongest non-launch week of 2025, according to Dubai Land Department data compiled by N7 Real Estate.


Off-plan captured 58 % of volume, but the standout stories were ready luxury resales: a Dorchester Collection penthouse in Business Bay changed hands for AED 45 million, while two Emirates-Tower Residences units traded at AED 36-37 M each.
Mortgage books stayed open, with AED 2.38 Bn of new loans recorded, the highest weekly tally since April.


Analysts say the spike was driven by end-of-quarter corporate relocations and Indian HNWI profit-repatriation before the RBI’s new remittance cap kicks in.


Bottom line: With only 9,000 high-end ready units left in the Downtown-Business Bay-Jumeirah triangle, agents expect more AED 40 M-plus prints before Cityscape starts on 7 Oct

Fitch Defends “10-15 % Correction” Call as 9-Month Sales Hit AED 670 Bn

Harbor Real Estate released consolidated January-September numbers on 27 Sep showing Dubai sales reached AED 670 billion across 200,000 deals—up 23 % y/y in value and 20 % in volume.
Hours later Fitch Ratings reiterated its warning that prices could still fall 10-15 % in 2026 once the 165,000-unit construction pipeline (2025-26) is delivered.


Harbor’s CEO Dr. Muhannad Al Wadiya pushed back, arguing population growth past 4 million and diversified foreign demand (India, China, EU, MENA each >15 % share) create “a broader foundation than 2008”. Villa prices rose 8-10 % y/y to end-Sep, while apartments added 6 %.


Takeaway: Whether Fitch’s surplus scenario plays out hinges on Q4-25 launch absorption; if sell-through rates stay >80 %, down-side risk drops to <5 %

Q2 Transaction Volume Jumps 44.5 % y/y as Off-Plan Share Tops 60 %

Dubai recorded 53,252 sales transactions in Q2-2025, a 44.5 % y/y increase and the highest second-quarter figure ever, according to Dubai Land Department data analysed by Arab News on 24 Sep.
Off-plan units accounted for 60.4 % of deals, up from 52 % in Q1, underlining continued investor appetite for payment-plan arbitrage.


Ready-villa median prices rose 12 % y/y, outpacing apartments (+7 %), while bulk purchases (≥5 units) hit 18 % of volume—the largest slice since 2014.


Analysts credit the surge to:

  1. A post-summer rush of Golden-Visa applicants before the minimum investment corridor potentially rises,

  2. New launches priced 10-12 % below comparable ready stock.
    Outlook: Unless developers accelerate Q4 releases, demand may spill into the secondary market and compress yields to 5 % in popular villa communities.

Commercial Leasing Outpaces Renewals for First Time Since 2022

Dubai’s weekly property bulletin (20 Sep) shows commercial new leases outstripped renewals by 2,800 to 2,438—the first time additions have beaten extensions since December 2022.
Total commercial rental value hit AED 524 million, led by fitted offices in Business Bay (AED 160/ft²) and Al Quoz warehouses (AED 65/ft²).


Reliant Surveyors notes fintech, AI and regional-tourism headquarters driving 65 % of new demand, while retail F&B accounted for another 20 %.


Developers are responding: 1.3 million ft² of Grade-A stock is slated for hand-over in Dubai Internet City and Dubai South before year-end, double the 2024 supply.


Rental trajectory: Expect a 6-8 % uplift in prime office rents by Q1-26; secondary stock may stay flat given ample warehouse and showroom inventory.