Property Finder’s Q1 2025 indicators reveal strong momentum in Dubai’s real estate market, which has reached historic highs in terms of the number and value of real estate transactions, achieving its strongest first-quarter performance in over a decade.
45,474 transactions were recorded, valued at AED 142.7 billion, reflecting a 22% increase in the number of transactions and a 30% increase in value compared to the same period in 2024. This increase is primarily attributed to record activity in off-plan property sales and transactions in the ready property market. Off-plan property sales accounted for 56% of the total number of transactions in Dubai, reaching 25,440, representing a 24% year-on-year increase, with a total value of AED 55.2 billion, compared to AED 44.5 billion in the first quarter of 2024. The ready property market also performed remarkably, with 20,034 transactions worth AED 87.5 billion, representing a 21% increase in the number of transactions and a 34% increase in value, the highest quarterly level ever recorded for this sector.
These figures in Dubai reflect sustained demand from both end-users and investors. The gradual shift from renting to owning—supported by rising rental prices—appears to be encouraging more residents to explore property ownership opportunities.
Dubai’s real estate market remains among the strongest performing markets globally, with the first quarter of 2025 witnessing a significant increase in the total number of transactions. A total of 45,474 transactions were recorded, representing a 22% year-on-year increase, while the total value increased by 30% to AED 142.7 billion, the highest volume and value ever recorded in a first quarter.
Off-plan Real Estate Market
During the first quarter of 2025, Dubai’s off-plan real estate market recorded its best first quarter performance in a decade, with off-plan transactions accounting for 56% of the total number of transactions. These transactions reached 25,440, compared to 20,557 during the first quarter of 2024, representing a 24% year-on-year growth, driven by strong confidence from medium- and long-term investors.
In terms of value, the off-plan real estate sector also witnessed significant growth, with a 24% year-on-year increase, with the total value of these sales reaching AED 55.2 billion, compared to AED 44.5 billion during the same period last year. This value represents 39% of the total value of transactions in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting the continued attractiveness of future development projects in Dubai.
Ready Property Market
A new record was set for the quarter, surpassing the average quarterly transaction volume and value for 2024. Transaction volume exceeded the previous year’s average by 12%, while value increased by 19%, confirming the continued strong positive momentum in Dubai’s real estate market as 2025 begins.
Existing property transactions showed a 21% year-on-year growth in the number of transactions, with approximately 20,034 transactions recorded, totaling AED 87.5 billion. The value of these transactions increased by 34% compared to AED 65.3 billion in the first quarter of 2024.
Ready property sales accounted for approximately 44% of the total real estate transaction volume in Dubai during this period.
Rising Investor Confidence
Sherif Soliman, Chief Revenue Officer at Property Finder, said: “This year has been off to a strong start, particularly in Dubai, where investor confidence in long-term growth opportunities continues to rise. From an international perspective, shifts in global policies and the decline in the value of the dollar are contributing to the growing interest in real estate investment opportunities in the UAE.
He added: “Overall, the UAE real estate market continues to assert its position as a unified, reliable, and globally competitive ecosystem, supported by pioneering initiatives by the Dubai Land Department.”
He continued: “In parallel, the partnership between the Dubai Land Department and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), which aims to link the emirate’s real estate registry with real estate tokenization technologies, contributes to enabling fractional ownership of properties, which is a pivotal step towards opening the door to a wider segment of investors to enter the Dubai real estate market. These developments collectively contribute to building a smarter, more inclusive, and more attractive real estate market.”