Dubai expects approximately 180,000 new homes to be delivered across the 2026 to 2028 period. This pipeline follows a strong first half of 2026 where developers completed 24,537 new units across 104 real estate projects. Buyers and sellers must now focus on building-specific quality and real transaction data rather than assuming all property prices across the emirate will rise equally.
How many new homes are coming to Dubai by 2028?
The Dubai Land Department reports that 104 real estate projects worth more than AED 111 billion were completed in the first half of 2026. This represents a 38.7 percent increase in the project count compared to the same period in the previous year. The number of completed units rose by 36 percent to reach 24,537 homes. Looking ahead, independent credit rating agency Moody's expects roughly 180,000 homes to be delivered across Dubai between 2026 and 2028.
This volume of new supply means that blanket pricing assumptions are no longer reliable. While the overall market remains active, performance varies significantly by community and building. For example, Dubai Land Department transaction data shows that the median price in Downtown Dubai rose by 3 percent year to date in 2026 to AED 3.15 million, while the median price in Dubai Marina fell by 10 percent to AED 1.85 million over the same period.
How does the supply pipeline affect property values?
As new projects hand over, older properties face direct competition from newer builds. Buyers now have more choices, which puts pressure on secondary market prices and rental yields. In the last 3 months, apartment transaction prices in Business Bay fell by 15 percent to AED 2,140 per square foot compared to the previous 3 months. In Jumeirah Village Circle, apartment prices fell by 6 percent to AED 1,410 per square foot over the same period.
To protect your capital, you must analyze the specific supply pipeline of your building and its immediate neighborhood. Properties with scarce views, superior layouts, and high construction quality will retain their value better than generic units in high-density areas. For instance, in Central Park at City Walk, where we track transactions closely, 10 sales occurred in the 1,651 to 2,385 square foot range with a median price of AED 7.13 million, showing that larger, premium layouts continue to command specific buyer interest.
What should property owners check before selling?
If you own a property in Dubai, you should not rely on asking prices from online portals to value your home. Asking prices often reflect seller expectations rather than market reality. Instead, you must look at actual registered transactions and compare your unit to the incoming supply in your immediate vicinity.
- Check the exact number of projects scheduled for handover in your community before 2028.
- Compare your unit size and layout against the incoming supply to identify unique selling points.
- Analyze real Dubai Land Department transaction data for your specific building over the last 3 months.
- Assess the realistic rental yield of your property, keeping in mind the current Dubai-wide gross yield average of 7.0 percent.
- Review the days on market for similar properties in your neighborhood to set a realistic transaction timeline.
What we would do
We recommend that you base your property decisions on verified transaction data rather than market sentiment. If you want to know the true value of your property in this changing market, we will prepare a Crown Key DLD Valuation for you. This is a one-page valuation built from real Dubai Land Department transactions for your exact building and unit type, sent the same day with no obligation. Contact Muhammad Atif Hayat on WhatsApp or visit our office at Bay Square in Business Bay to discuss your property strategy.
Questions people ask
How many new homes will be delivered in Dubai between 2026 and 2028?
Approximately 180,000 new homes are expected to be delivered across Dubai between 2026 and 2028, according to projections by Moody's.
How many properties were completed in Dubai in the first half of 2026?
Developers completed 24,537 new units across 104 real estate projects in the first half of 2026, which is a 36 percent increase in units compared to the previous year.
What is the total value of the projects completed in H1 2026?
The Dubai Land Department reports that the 104 real estate projects completed in the first half of 2026 are worth more than AED 111 billion.
Sources: WAM · The National · Reuters · marketscreener.com
General information from registered data and public reports, not a forecast or advice on a specific transaction.