- Dubai’s real estate market showed robust growth in Q1 2025, with 45,474 transactions worth AED 142.7 billion, reflecting a 22% increase in volume and a 30% increase in value.
- The ready property segment in Dubai achieved record-breaking volumes and values in Q1 2025, with 20,034 transactions totalling AED 87.5 billion—a 21% increase in volume and a 34% rise in value compared to Q1 2024.
- Total sales transactions for existing properties in Abu Dhabi continued to surge in Q1 2025, with value increasing by 75% year-on-year and a 9% rise in volume; possibly brought on by large commercial deals.
Q1 Insights from Property Finder, the MENA region’s leading property portal, reveal a bullish UAE real estate market. Dubai and Abu Dhabi experienced a robust start to the year for different reasons.
Dubai achieved historic highs in the number and value of transactions, recording its strongest first-quarter performance in over a decade. The city recorded 45,474 transactions worth AED 142.7 billion, reflecting a 22% increase in volume and a 30% increase in value compared to the same period in 2024. This surge was driven primarily by record activity in off-plan sales and existing property transactions.
Indeed, off-plan sales accounted for 56% of all transactions in Dubai, climbing to 25,440, representing a 24% YoY increase. The value of the transactions was AED 55.2 billion, up from AED 44.5 billion in Q1 2024. The ready market also delivered a breakout performance, with 20,034 transactions worth AED 87.5 billion, marking a 21% increase in volume and a 34% surge in value. These are the highest-ever quarterly results for this segment.
Dubai’s numbers reflect sustained demand from both end-users and investors, likely supported by a growing shift from renting to owning. Rising rental prices increasingly push residents to explore homeownership opportunities.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi saw a surge in the ready property market, posting a 9% increase in volume and a 75% rise in value, led by large commercial deals and rising demand for completed homes. Residential ready transactions were up 5% in volume and 33% in value, signalling buyer preference for move-in-ready options.
Key insights included:
- Dubai:
- Dubai’s real estate market continues to rank among the top-performing markets globally, with Q1 2025 witnessing a significant surge in total sales transactions. With 45,474 transactions achieving a 22% YoY increase, the total value rose by 30%, hitting AED 142.7 bn; the highest volume of transactions for a first quarter ever recorded.In Q1 2025, Dubai’s off-plan market recorded its highest first quarter performance in a decade, with off-plan sales accounting for 56% of total transaction volume. The number of off-plan transactions reached 25,440, up from 20,557 in Q1 2024, reflecting a 24% 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% increase year-on-year, reaching AED 55.2 bn compared to AED 44.5 bn in Q1 2024. This represented 39% of the total transaction value in Q1 2025, highlighting the continued attractiveness of Dubai’s future development pipeline
- Abu Dhabi:
- The Abu Dhabi real estate market registered approximately 2,496 transactions, totalling AED 9.6 bn.
- Abu Dhabi’s off-plan market recorded approximately 1,332 off-plan sales transactions in Q1 2025, with a value reaching AED 4.9 bn.
Existing/Ready Property Market:
- Dubai:
- A new quarterly record was set, surpassing the average quarterly volume and value of 2024. Volume exceeded the 2024 average by 12% and value by 19%, reaffirming that Dubai’s real estate market continues its strong positive momentum into 2025. Existing property-related transactions showed a YoY increase of 21% in volume, with approximately 20,034 transactions with a total value of AED 87.5 bn. Transaction value surged by 34%, compared to AED 65.3 bn in Q1 2024
- Ready property transactions comprised nearly half (44%) of the total sales transaction volume.
- Abu Dhabi:
- Abu Dhabi’s existing/ready market recorded 1,164 transactions in Q1 2025, accounting for approximately 47% of total transactions, compared to 1,066 transactions in Q1 2024.Existing property transactions contributed to 49% of the total transaction value, reflecting a notable growth of 9% in volume and a significant 75% increase in value compared to the same period last year. By volume, they represented 47% of total transactions.
- Residential transactions comprised 88% of the total existing market volume and 60% of total value in Q1 2025, with the remainder attributed to commercial and other uses. Compared to Q1 2024, residential-ready transactions saw a 5% increase in volume and a 33% rise in value, indicating sustained demand for completed properties.
Cherif Sleiman, Chief Revenue Officer, Property Finder, commented, “This year remains strong, particularly in Dubai, where investor confidence in long-term capital appreciation remains high. Abu Dhabi’s evolving buyer behaviour shows growing interest in quality, ready-to-move-in homes. From an international perspective, global policy shifts and the dollar depreciation are creating heightened interest in UAE real estate investment opportunities.
Overall, the UAE remains a reliable and globally competitive real estate ecosystem, supported by initiatives such as the Dubai Real Estate Alliance by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) that brings together public and private sector partners. In parallel, DLD’s partnership with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to link the Emirate’s real estate registry with property tokenisation enables fractional ownership of assets. It is a significant step towards allowing a broader base of investors to enter Dubai’s market.
Together, these developments are helping build a smarter, more inclusive, investment-friendly property market.”
“As a lighthouse tech company in the region, Property Finder remains committed to empowering home seekers with accurate, real-time data and supporting our partners in navigating these evolving trends.”
About Property Finder
A pioneering property portal in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Property Finder is on a mission to motivate and inspire consumers to live the life they deserve. Connecting millions of property seekers with thousands of real estate professionals daily, Property Finder is a go-to place for a seamless and enriching house-hunting and finance-finding journey for buyers and renters.
Since its inception in 2007, Property Finder has evolved into a trusted platform for developers, real estate brokers, and property seekers to make informed decisions about real estate.
