Sales of completed homes on Dubai's secondary market rose 16% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the second quarter, according to a market report by agency Betterhomes covered by Khaleej Times on 15 October. The quarter saw 10,055 secondary transactions worth AED 27.1 billion in total.
This lifted the share of ready homes in total sales from 24% to 29% by volume and from 30% to 37% by value. Total residential sales were broadly unchanged at 34,615. Apartments led the shift, with secondary apartment sales up 22% to 7,879 units.
Median prices per square foot in September were slightly below June levels: AED 1,404 for apartments (down 2.4%) and AED 1,638 for villas and townhouses (down 2.3%). Year on year, both remain higher, by 2.2% and 4.1% respectively. Median rents also eased slightly between June and September.
At the same time, rental enquiries reached the highest quarterly level Betterhomes has recorded, up 45% on the second quarter. Sales enquiries in September rose 27% compared with August. Dubai's population stood at just over 4.8 million at the end of September, almost 227,000 more than at the start of the year.
The slight price easing therefore comes alongside growing demand for homes people can move into and a rising population. For buyers with a long horizon, a calmer market usually means more choice, more room to negotiate and a lower entry level than at the peak.
