Dubai and Gulf Property: Off-Plan and Golden Visas — 2026-09-26
Dubai's market kept defying geopolitical tension this week: ultra-luxury sales hit record territory with 335 deals above $10 million, while a new AED 1 billion Meraas villa master plan and UBS's "no bubble yet" verdict headlined developer news. In Saudi Arabia, Roshn confirmed the kingdom's revamped foreign-ownership rules are actively opening doors for international buyers.
Dubai and Gulf Property: Off-Plan and Golden Visas — 2026-09-26
Top developments
Meraas launches AED 1 billion luxury villa plan in Nad Al Sheba
Meraas will build seven-bedroom villas in Nad Al Sheba under a AED 1 billion "luxury living" master plan, scheduled for completion within two years. It's a fresh ultra-prime off-plan bet that keeps Dubai's top segment, the strongest-performing part of the market, moving despite regional tensions. Watch for DLD registration activity tied to initial sales.
335 ultra-luxury deals above $10 million in eight months
Emarat Al Youm reported on 22 September that Dubai logged 335 transactions of homes each worth over AED 36.7 million ($10m) between January and August 2026, totalling $5.56 billion — a sign foreign appetite for trophy assets remains intact. Luxury dealmaking is explicitly "ignoring regional tensions," per Al Khaleej.
UBS: Dubai offers strong value even as bubble risks are monitored
A UBS report covered 24 September by The National finds Dubai still among the more affordable global markets despite years of rapid price growth, endorsing continued buy-side value even as bubble-risk monitoring continues. This matters for visa-linked buyers weighing entry at the AED 2 million golden-visa threshold.
Roshn: Saudi foreign-ownership rules are working
PIF-owned Roshn Group said the kingdom's new non-Saudi ownership regulations have opened real opportunities for international buyers and investors, per coverage on 22 September. This confirms momentum behind Saudi Arabia's opening — which began receiving ownership applications mid-2026 — as a competitive alternative to UAE residency-linked buying.
Supply wave scrutiny: 27,300 homes delivered in a quarter
Dubai delivered roughly 27,300 homes in a single quarter, and analysts are asking not just about construction pace but who will manage the stock — a fresh angle on the oversupply debate as the 2026-27 handover wave lands. Pipeline figures, analysts caution, often overstate what actually completes.
Local view
Al Khaleej is tracking DLD day counts closely: Wednesday 23 September transactions reached AED 2.6 billion across 685 deals per the Dubai Rest app, and on 25 September it mapped where the UAE's most expensive assets sold across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. Voice of Emirates, citing Al Khaleej, reported Dubai's commercial (office and retail) sales exceeding AED 24 billion year-to-date, led by Business Bay.
Context & numbers
- Daily DLD transactions, Wednesday 23 September 2026: AED 2.6 billion / 685 deals
- Ultra-luxury: 335 deals above $10m (Jan–Aug 2026), $5.56bn total
- Commercial YTD: over AED 24 billion, Business Bay top
- Q2 2026 residential price index: 220 points (ValuStrat), down ~10% cumulative since late February — background context, no fresher index published this week
On the radar
- Meraas Nad Al Sheba villa plan: monitor first DLD registrations and launch pricing of the seven-bedroom stock.
- The 2026-27 handover wave: watch actual completions versus the ~27,300-unit quarterly pace now being scrutinised.
- Saudi Arabia: further developer statements on foreign-buyer uptake under the new ownership zones (Riyadh's eight approved zones) as Roshn and peers report demand.
- DAMAC's targeted 8,800-plus handovers in 2026 remain a rumor-flagged benchmark to track against actual title registrations.
Note: Q3 golden-visa and Emaar/Damac off-plan launch figures published this week were sparse; thresholds (AED 2m golden visa) remain as previously reported.
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.
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