Dubai home sales reach AED15.3bn as off-plan leads October 2026

By Muhammad Atif Hayat, Founder of Crown Key Real Estate · 25 October 2026 · 4 minute read

Dubai Land Department transaction data through 22 October 2026 shows 7,203 residential sales worth AED15.3 billion across the emirate. Off-plan contracts accounted for 4,670 of these deals, representing roughly 65 percent of all transactions. Completed homes reached 2,533 sales with a median price of AED1,430 per sq ft, which is 3 percent higher than in October 2025.

What the October 2026 Dubai residential sales numbers show

We analyze real DLD transaction data rather than portal asking prices to guide owners and buyers. The partial-month figures for October 2026 demonstrate sustained activity in the off-plan sector alongside steady price appreciation for finished properties. Buyers paid a median price of AED1,430 per sq ft for completed units across Dubai, reflecting steady demand for ready housing.

Year to date across all of Dubai, DLD transaction data records 132,260 total sales with a median price of AED1.42M and a median of AED1,720 per sq ft. Over the last 3 months, apartment transactions across the emirate totaled 31,749 sales at a median rate of AED1,690 per sq ft. These figures show that while overall transaction volumes have adjusted, pricing per square foot for ready space remains resilient.

How ready units perform in prime Dubai communities

With off-plan purchases dominating 65 percent of October registrations, ready units with established rental returns offer distinct advantages. Buyers searching for immediate possession look to established areas where physical space is already delivered and operational.

In Downtown Dubai, year to date transaction data reveals 1,772 sales with a median price of AED3.15M and a median of AED2,830 per sq ft. Over the last 3 months, buyers secured 467 apartments in Downtown Dubai at a median rate of AED2,640 per sq ft. In Business Bay, year to date registrations reached 5,261 sales with a median price of AED2.25M, while apartment sales over the last 3 months stood at 922 deals with a median price of AED2,140 per sq ft.

Owners planning to list a completed property can review our sell guide or explore specific community trends on our City Walk section and Business Bay page.

Evaluating building-level resale comparables

Macro statistics provide context, but specific unit pricing relies on building-level data. For instance, in Central Park at City Walk, DLD transaction data for 2026 shows 139 total sales with a median price of AED3.15M and a median rate of AED2,950 per sq ft. Over the last 3 months, buyers registered 31 apartment sales in Central Park at City Walk at a median rate of AED2,850 per sq ft.

Breaking down sales by unit size in Central Park at City Walk shows how pricing shifts across layouts:

• Units between 674 and 1061 sqft recorded 69 sales with a median price of AED2.2M.
• Units between 1053 and 1649 sqft recorded 57 sales with a median price of AED3.68M.
• Units between 1651 and 2385 sqft recorded 11 sales with a median price of AED7.05M.
• Units between 2715 and 2970 sqft recorded 6 sales with a median price of AED9.84M.

We use these exact figures when building our valuations so owners avoid overpricing or underpricing their homes.

Steps for pricing a completed home in October 2026

If you plan to sell a completed home while off-plan demand remains high, we recommend following these specific checks: