Dubai’s residential property market improved on a monthly basis in July, with overall sales transactions up 2% and total transaction value up 3% from June, according to Dubai Land Department (DLD) data cited by property broker betterhomes. Apartment sales drove the gain, rising 5% month-on-month, while villa and townhouse transactions fell 12% over the same period. Transactions above AED15 million rose 22% month-on-month, led by the secondary market (+31%) and outpacing off-plan activity (+17%); Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Hills Estate led transferred luxury deals.
The monthly gain follows a softer start to the year, when regional uncertainty weighed on activity — and the annual comparison is still weak. Overall transaction volumes were 32% lower than July 2025, total transaction value was down 49% year-on-year, and average transaction value was 26% below a year earlier. The luxury segment overall was down 46% year-on-year even as off-plan luxury transactions alone were still up 13% over the same period.
Rental demand held up better: betterhomes’ own enquiry data showed rental enquiries up 21% year-on-year (down 4% month-on-month), strongest for apartments (+25% year-on-year), while villa and townhouse enquiries fell 20% year-on-year. Richard Waind, CEO of betterhomes, said July’s figures show “a market finding its footing,” with transactions, values and luxury deals all picking up pace from June even though the year-on-year comparison “hasn’t caught up yet.”
References
Zawya – Dubai residential sales rise 2% in July, luxury transactions climb 22%
