Dubai Land Department: The growth of the rental market and the progress of the pace of completed projects confirm the strength of the real estate system in Dubai
Dubai, February 23 / WAM / The real estate sector in Dubai recorded a strong performance during the year 2025 that reflects the depth of the institutional maturity of the market and the sustainability of its momentum, supported by noticeable growth in the rental market, and an acceleration in the pace of project completion, supported by increased demand, the diversity of residential options, and a noticeable expansion in real estate activities, in line with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the “Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033”.
According to data issued by the Dubai Land Department, registered rental contracts achieved a growth of 6% in number and 17% in value compared to 2024, reaching 1.38 million contracts, with a value of 126.4 billion dirhams, in an indicator that reflects the vitality of the market and the continuity of residential and commercial activity.
The number of new lease contracts increased to more than 513 thousand contracts, a growth of 10%, which enhances the attractiveness of Dubai as a destination for living and working, in parallel with the growth of renewal contracts by 3% to reach more than 514 thousand contracts, in a clear indication of the high levels of stability and satisfaction among customers.
This balanced rental performance is clearly consistent with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which focuses on enhancing the quality of life and consolidating Dubai’s position as a global destination for living, working and investing. This growth is also consistent with the objectives of the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033, which aims to achieve a sustainable market based on a balance between ownership and rent, and enhancing the customer experience, based on clear and advanced regulatory frameworks.
The stability of the rental sector consolidates its pivotal role as a natural gateway to ownership, and an essential pillar in supporting social and economic stability, and building a flexible real estate system capable of keeping pace with the long-term growth of the emirate.
On another level, the year 2025 witnessed remarkable progress in the pace of completion of real estate projects, as the number of completed projects increased to 124 projects, a growth of 7%, with a value reaching 27.5 billion dirhams, a growth of 23%, which confirms the efficiency of implementation and the continuity of development activity. The number of projects under construction also increased by 25% to reach 937 projects, an indication of developers’ confidence and the sustainability of future momentum.
Also, the number of units sold grew by 25% to reach 147.5 thousand units, with a value of 280 billion dirhams and an increase in value of 30%, while the value of villas sold increased by 12% despite a decrease in their number, which reflects a shift in purchasing preferences towards higher value real estate products.
At the level of the regulatory environment, the real estate market witnessed an unprecedented expansion in real estate licenses, as 4,122 offices were registered, a growth of 102%, bringing the total number of real estate offices operating in Dubai to 10,182 offices, an indication of the expansion of the business base and the increased demand for brokerage, management, development, and consulting services, within an advanced system and clear standards.
The 14,364 real estate licenses issued in 2025 were distributed across a wide range of activities, topped by brokerage in buying and selling real estate with 6,009 licenses, followed by brokerage in real estate leasing with 3,513 licenses, in addition to 2,126 licenses for transaction follow-up services, 714 licenses for buying and selling land and real estate, and 525 licenses for real estate development.
The rest of the licenses varied to include activities that included: administrative supervision of real estate, mortgage broker, leasing and management of private real estate, real estate consulting, and others. This diversity embodies the role of real estate licenses as an essential regulatory tool to support market efficiency, enhance transparency, and create a flexible business environment capable of keeping pace with the sustainable growth of the real estate sector in Dubai.
The integrated performance in the rental market, the acceleration of project completion, and the expansion of the real estate licensing system reflect an advanced stage of institutional maturity that the real estate sector in Dubai has reached, and its ability to achieve balanced growth within a clear and stable regulatory environment.
These indicators confirm the commitment of the Dubai Land Department to continue developing regulatory frameworks, enhancing the efficiency of services, and supporting all parties of the real estate system, in a way that consolidates the confidence of customers and investors, contributes to achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and strengthening the emirate’s position as a leading global destination for living, working, and investing.
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