Dubai and Gulf Property: Off-Plan and Golden Visas — 2026-10-30
Dubai’s property market recorded a significant divergence in Q3 2026, with residential resales surging 18.5% while off-plan sales contracted, signaling a shift in investor sentiment. Meanwhile, developers accelerated delivery, completing 40,500 units in the first nine months of the year, and Saudi Arabia’s foreign ownership regime continues to attract major regional developers like Arada.
Dubai and Gulf Property: Off-Plan and Golden Visas — 2026-10-30
Top developments
Resales surge as off-plan demand slows
Dubai’s residential resale market recorded an 18.5% increase in transactions in the third quarter of 2026 compared to the previous three months, while off-plan property sales continued to decline, according to property consultancy ValuStrat. This trend suggests a market recalibration where buyers are prioritizing completed assets or secondary market opportunities over new off-plan launches.
Developers deliver 40,500 units in nine months
Dubai-based real estate developers completed 40,500 residential units during the first nine months of 2026. In the third quarter alone, 47 new projects comprising 10,821 units were launched. This robust supply pipeline continues to meet strong demand, with 83% of homes set for 2026 handover already sold across villas and apartments.
Arada targets foreign buyers in Saudi expansion
UAE-based developer Arada is expanding its footprint in Saudi Arabia, targeting foreign buyers under the Kingdom’s new real estate ownership laws. The company plans to develop 100,000 homes in Saudi Arabia over the next three to five years, starting with a Dh14 billion project in Riyadh. This move capitalizes on the Saudi real estate market's opening to international investors.
Local view
Al Khaleej reports that Dubai’s property transactions hit Dh3 billion on Thursday, driven by a major sale of a residential plot. Earlier in the week, daily transactions reached Dh2 billion from 680 deals. The outlet also highlighted that land sales in Dubai reached Dh146 billion since the start of 2026, involving 10,770 parcels.
Masdarak revealed the most expensive property sales in Dubai for Q3 2026, led by a villa in Palm Jumeirah sold for $70.8 million and an apartment in Jumeirah Second sold for $45.2 million.
Context & numbers
- Q3 2026 Resale Prices: The average resale price in Dubai declined 4.4% quarter-on-quarter to Dh1,627 per square foot, despite the rise in transaction volume.
- Buyer Sentiment: A Bayut and Dubizzle survey of 2,014 participants found that 46% of buyers expect prices to rise, while 45% of renters are considering buying. 52% of buyers cited long-term UAE residency as their main reason for purchasing.
- Stable Asking Prices: Bayut data shows Dubai’s property market recorded broadly stable asking prices across many popular areas in Q3 2026.
- Land Sales: Dubai land sales have reached Dh146 billion in 2026, facilitated by 10,770 transactions.
On the radar
- JVC Rentals Drop: Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) continues to lead sales of ready apartments in Dubai, but rents in the area have fallen 10%.
- New Sales Partnerships: Refine has been appointed as the exclusive sales partner for "Eden House The Park" in Dubai, a project owned by Global Partners and developed by H&H.
- Saudi Price Trends: Saudi real estate prices rose 1.2% annually in Q3 2026, marking the second consecutive quarterly increase, though gains were concentrated in limited regions.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
