Dubai's registered residential sales fell in the first half of 2026, while the land department reported more completed projects and delivered units, highlighting a split between property transactions and construction output.
Projectory Research's July analysis of Dubai Land Department (DLD) transaction records counted 79,698 residential-market sales worth AED227.1 billion from Jan. 1 through June 30. That tally was down 14.3% by count and 16% by value compared with the same period in 2025.
The broader tally includes residential land and whole-building registrations as well as home sales. For apartments, villas, townhouses and hotel apartments, Projectory counted 75,746 sales worth AED167.2 billion. That homes-only measure declined 6.3% by count and 7.1% by value year over year.
Results also differed by sale status. Projectory counted 56,565 off-plan transactions, up 3.9% year over year, and 23,133 ready-property sales, down 40%; off-plan deals made up 71% of its broader residential-market tally. The report linked off-plan growth to new launches and payment schedules that spread buyer costs over time. It described ready-home buyers as more selective and pointed to higher immediate cash requirements. Projectory also listed regional conflict, Ramadan, Eid, travel disruption, launch timing and the time between reservations and registrations as possible influences on monthly registration patterns, without assigning a separate effect to each.
Separately, DLD said 104 real estate projects were completed in the first half, a 38.7% year-over-year increase. The department put their total value at more than AED111 billion, up 52%, and reported that 24,537 units were delivered, an increase of 36%.
A separate Projectory snapshot identified 94 projects with an H1 completion date marked “Finished” and 100% complete in DLD data. That count differs from DLD's 104-project figure; the sources do not explain the discrepancy.
The AED227.1 billion figure measures registered transactions in Projectory's analysis. DLD's more than AED111 billion figure covers the total value of completed projects, so the two figures track different activity.
