According to property consultancy Savills' Q3 2026 report, covered by Khaleej Times on 13 October, apartment rents in Dubai Marina were 12.8% lower than a year earlier. Business Bay recorded a 12.2% decline and Jumeirah Village Circle 10.4%.
Villa and townhouse communities also saw lower rents, notably Arabian Ranches 3 (-15%) and Damac Lagoons (-13.4%). Declines were smaller in areas such as Al Furjan, DIFC and Majan, while International City remained almost flat.
Rental transactions rose to 181,900 in the third quarter, up from 156,200 in the second quarter and close to the 180,600 recorded a year earlier. The share of new leases increased from 36% to 44%.
Savills also reports that about 26,500 homes were handed over in the first half of 2026, around 85% of them apartments. It expects 75,000 to 85,000 handovers for the full year, with more than 525,000 units scheduled for 2027-2030. New launches in the first nine months totalled about 50,000 units, roughly 64% fewer than a year earlier.
Rental demand remains strong in the meantime: more leases were signed than a year earlier, and the share of new tenants grew. Because far fewer new projects were launched this year, less new supply will also come to market over time than expected earlier. For buyers with a long horizon, a period of lower rents and more choice can therefore be a calm moment to explore the market.
