Property Finder, the real estate technology portal operating in the Middle East and North Africa, has revealed the latest real estate market performance indicators for January 2025, highlighting the most prominent trends and investment opportunities in the sector.
Data showed that 14,238 real estate sales were recorded during January, representing a growth of 20% compared to the same period in 2024, while the total value of sales increased by 28% to reach AED 44.4 billion. The data also revealed that 31% of those wishing to own or invest in real estate prefer one-bedroom apartments, while 37% are moving towards two-bedroom apartments, while 15% prefer studio units. 37% of searchers were interested in standalone villas and townhouses with three bedrooms, while 50% were looking for units with four bedrooms or more, with Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Village Circle, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, and Palm Jumeirah being the most popular destinations for buyers looking to own residential apartments. Dubai Hills Estate, Palm Jumeirah, Dubailand, Al Furjan, and Damac Hills 2 received increasing interest from those looking for villas and townhouses.
Ready and off-plan
In January 2025, the real estate market recorded 6,918 sales of ready properties, compared to 5,185 sales during the same period in January 2024, representing a 32% increase in the volume of transactions, while the total value of sales increased by 41%.
Palm Jebel Ali recorded transactions worth AED 2.1 billion, across 95 sales, while Al Yalayis 1 witnessed exceptional growth, with transactions jumping to AED 1.7 billion, compared to AED 102 million previously.
Off-plan property sales reached AED 15.1 billion in January 2025, down 1.3% from AED 15.3 billion in January 2024. This slight decline represents the first decline in off-plan sales in three years. Despite this slight decline in value, the number of off-plan property sales continued to grow, rising by 15%, with off-plan sales accounting for 52% of total property sales in January 2025.
Rental Market Trends
Around 59% of apartment-seeking tenants preferred furnished units, while 39% opted for unfurnished options. Those looking for independent villas or townhouses for rent showed different preferences, with around 48% looking for unfurnished units and 52% looking for furnished properties.