Land sales in Dubai rose 103% to 72.2 billion dirhams in the first quarter

Land sales in Dubai during the first quarter of 2026 jumped by 103% on an annual basis, to record 72.2 billion dirhams, compared to 35.5 billion dirhams during the same period of the previous year 2025, driven by increasing investment momentum and strong confidence from investors in the strength of the real estate market in the emirate, in addition to the trend of real estate developers to strengthen their land portfolios in light of the limited supply.

Real estate developers confirmed that what the market is currently witnessing goes beyond the concept of “high demand” to “long-term strategic demand,” as investors from institutions or individuals with high financial solvency no longer view land as a static store of value, but rather a dynamic tool to reshape their investment portfolios.

They explained to “Emirates Today” that this comes in parallel with the acceleration of the launch of major projects and mixed-use plans, stressing that the option of rapid resale of lands has become less present among developers, compared to the trend towards development in light of their awareness of the size of the opportunities provided by the market.

They stressed that the Dubai real estate market will enter a new phase of the real estate cycle, characterized by a higher level of maturity and diversity, supported by accelerated population growth, international capital flows, and a clear government strategy to enhance the emirate’s attractiveness as a global destination for living and investment.

Deep transformations

In detail, Dr. Muhannad Al-Wadiya, CEO of Harbor Real Estate Company, said: “The numbers issued by the Dubai real estate market are no longer just periodic indicators of activity, but rather have become strategic signals that reflect profound shifts in the market’s structure and future trends.”

He added to Emirates Today: “When comparing land sales during the first quarter of 2025, which amounted to about 35.5 billion dirhams through 2,926 transactions, with their counterpart in the first quarter of 2026, which reached 72.2 billion dirhams through 4,558 transactions, with a growth of 103% in value and 56% in the number of transactions, it becomes clear that the market is not witnessing traditional growth, but rather an actual doubling in value and trading volume within one year. “Only.”

He continued: “What the market is currently witnessing goes beyond the concept of (high demand) to (long-term strategic demand), as investors from institutions or individuals with high financial solvency no longer look at land as a static store of value, but rather as a dynamic tool to reshape their investment portfolios, especially with the acceleration of the launch of major projects and mixed-use plans.”

He added that this dynamic contributed to the market moving from the stage of “selectivity” to “proactivity,” as the investor now makes his decisions based on the future development potential of the lands, and not only on their current reality.

He stated that the increase in the number of deals from 2,926 deals to 4,558 deals during the first quarter of 2026 reflects the expansion of the investor base in the market, which is an important indicator that enhances the depth of the market, pointing out at the same time that this expansion imposes challenges related to maintaining the balance of supply and demand, and preventing the formation of price gaps that are not supported by economic fundamentals.

He stressed that land has begun to lead the rest of the components of the real estate market, but this role depends on several factors, the most prominent of which are the continuation of development momentum, the alignment of plans with real demand, especially in the medium-sized residential sector, in addition to controlling the credit and financing rhythm to avoid excessive use of financial leverage.

Al-Wadiya pointed out that current indicators suggest that the Dubai real estate market is entering a new phase of the real estate cycle, characterized by a higher level of maturity and diversification, supported by accelerated population growth, international capital flows, and a clear government strategy to enhance the emirate’s attractiveness as a global destination for living and investment.

He said: “The doubling of land sales between the first quarter of 2025 and 2026 does not just represent a record number, but rather reflects a profound restructuring of the structure of the real estate market in Dubai.”

Development plans

For his part, Chairman of the Board of Directors of On Plan Real Estate Company, Ahmed Al-Dawla, said: “The noticeable expansion in land purchases in Dubai currently is behind major factors, the most prominent of which is the scarcity of land available for sale, especially in freehold areas, in exchange for the high demand for it, which prompted a wide segment of investors and traders to turn towards this type of assets.”

Al-Dawla pointed out that this trend is mostly driven by actual development plans, and not for the purpose of speculation or resale, explaining that “the majority of investors view lands as strategic opportunities for development in the medium and long term, and not to achieve quick profits.”

He continued: “What happened during the period of the Corona pandemic reflects this trend, as many investors took advantage of the low prices at that time and purchased lands for the purpose of development, before their value later increased by large percentages, reaching about 100% in some cases.”

The state stressed that the current demand also reflects a firm belief among investors that the real estate market in Dubai provides returns that are difficult to achieve in other markets, whether through development and sale, or through rental returns after the completion of projects.

He stated that the number of developers in the market has increased significantly, and each of them is seeking to obtain a share of this growth, pointing out that the option of quick resale of lands has become less present among developers, compared to the trend towards development in light of their awareness of the size of the opportunities provided by the real estate market in the emirate.

Demand for land

The state said that Dubai has proven its ability to deal with crises and turn them into opportunities, based on integrated infrastructure, an attractive investment environment, and incentive packages such as golden residency, which enhances investor confidence and supports continued demand during the coming period, pointing out that the current momentum in demand for land is likely to continue in the long term, and not just the medium, in light of the continuous growth that the emirate has witnessed for years, expecting prices to continue their gradual upward trend.

He explained that some areas, such as Warsan, International City, Dubailand, and Academic City, are witnessing increasing interest from investors, driven by the availability of land and infrastructure plans, including transportation projects such as the Dubai Metro expansions.

He continued: “Land sales reached about 72.2 billion dirhams during the first quarter, reflecting the high confidence of investors in the Dubai real estate market, despite the regional and international challenges,” stressing that the market is based on strong regulatory foundations and not on short-term speculation.

Al-Dawla pointed out that the market may witness limited price corrections by some developers who exaggerate their pricing, considering that these corrections are “healthy” and occur periodically every several years, and open the way for new investment opportunities.

Al-Dawla stressed that the real estate market usually needs a period ranging between three and six months to absorb the changes, expecting continued growth, but at a measured pace, pointing out that the current stage represents one of the best investment opportunities available in the real estate sector in Dubai.

Strategic choice

In the same context, real estate expert and CEO of Real Al Qubaisi Real Estate Company, Maryam Al Qubaisi, confirmed that the real estate market in Dubai continued to record strong performance during the first quarter of 2026, especially in terms of land sales, which witnessed remarkable growth that reflects the continued attractiveness of the market.

Al Qubaisi added: “We followed the remarkable increase in land sales in Dubai during the first three months of the year, which amounted to about 72.2 billion dirhams, which confirms the continued confidence of investors in the real estate market, especially in the land sector, which has become a strategic option for developers and investors in the next stage.”

She confirmed that this growth comes within a total of real estate transactions that reached about 252 billion dirhams during the first quarter, which reflects strong investment momentum and the continued flow of capital into the market.

She pointed out that the increase in demand for land is linked to several main factors, saying: “We note that the increasing demand for land purchases is driven by a package of incentives, most notably the expansion of infrastructure projects, most notably the development of Al Maktoum International Airport, and the expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Center in (Expo City), with investments amounting to 10 billion dirhams, in addition to the continued implementation of the expansion of the Dubai Metro.”

She stressed that these projects, in addition to tourism and population growth, and the increase in the number of investors and residents, enhance the trend of investors, especially large ones, towards seizing opportunities in new areas that are expected to witness significant urban expansion in the coming years.

She added: “Market data clearly reflects this trend, as areas such as Dubai Production City and its surrounding areas topped the list of land sales during the first quarter of 2026, followed by the Dubailand extension areas on the Dubai-Al Ain Road, which are characterized by the integration of residential and commercial projects with future infrastructure plans.”

The Executive Director of Real Al Qubaisi Real Estate confirmed that the land market in Dubai is likely to continue growing during the coming period, supported by strong economic foundations and a long-term development vision.

. The increasing demand for land purchases is driven by a package of incentives, most notably the development of Al Maktoum International Airport, the expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Center and the expansions of the Dubai Metro.