Dubai's property sector logged another record half-year, with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) reporting Dh100 billion worth of new real estate projects launched in the first half of 2026 — a 52 per cent jump on the same period last year. The figures, unveiled at the Rise Summit 2026 this month, showed 104 new projects breaking ground and more than 24,000 fresh residential units entering the pipeline, a 36 per cent increase year-on-year.
Omar Bu Shehab, Director General of the Dubai Land Department, told delegates the surge reflects the emirate's push to widen homeownership and keep attracting global investors. Majid Sager Al Marri, CEO of Corporate Support and Real Estate Promotion at DLD, pointed to a newly automated, AI-driven system for issuing initial sale contracts, which he said now takes minutes rather than days.
The department also released a wider snapshot of last year's market: 2025 closed with more than 270,000 transactions worth Dh917 billion, alongside over a million rental deals. A dedicated first-time buyer scheme, meanwhile, has supported more than 3,200 buyers since launch, channelling roughly Dh5 billion into the market.
Officials framed the numbers as proof that Dubai's long-term planning documents — the D33 economic agenda, the Real Estate Strategy 2033 and the Urban Master Plan 2040 — are translating into results on the ground. With unit supply and ownership incentives both climbing together, the emirate's property market looks set to keep drawing overseas buyers and new residents through the rest of 2026.