Dubai Real Estate Sales Hit $14.8bn in September 2025, Here’s What Investors Need to Know

Acksa Qasim
Oct 2
3 min read

A Market That Refuses to Slow Down

Dubai’s property market showed once again in September 2025 that demand here is driven by fundamentals, not hype. According to data from Kelt & Co Realty, sales transactions surged to 20,127 deals, up 11.3% year-on-year.

The total value of sales climbed to AED54.3bn ($14.8bn), marking a 21.2% increase compared with September 2024. Even more telling for investors, the average price per square foot rose to AED1,689 ($460), showing that capital values continue to strengthen across the city.

Where the Action Was: Apartments, Plots, and Business Bay

Apartments led activity with 17,112 sales worth AED31.8bn ($8.7bn), a sharp rise from 14,167 sales worth AED24.5bn ($6.7bn) a year earlier. Apartments remain Dubai’s most liquid asset class, attracting yield-focused investors.
Plots saw a breakout month, with 1,545 transactions worth AED15.7bn ($4.3bn), compared with just 282 deals worth AED4.8bn ($1.3bn) in September 2024. This underlines developer appetite and the land banking strategy that supports long-term capital growth.
Commercial property also gained ground, with 514 transactions worth AED1.5bn ($408m), almost double last year’s activity.

By contrast, villa sales slowed to 955 deals worth AED5.2bn ($1.4bn), down from 3,244 transactions worth AED14.6bn ($4bn). This suggests villas remain scarce and more selective, while apartments and plots capture the majority of investor momentum.

The Hot Spots: JVC, Dubai Hills, and Business Bay

Investor interest is clustering around areas with strong rental demand and lifestyle appeal:

Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) topped the list with yields of 7.39% and average prices of AED1,238 per sq ft. Affordable entry points make JVC a consistent cash-flow favorite.
Dubai Hills Estate continues to attract high-net-worth families, combining luxury villas with golf course views and strong rental absorption.
Business Bay remains a dual-purpose hub, with both lifestyle and commercial demand driving capital appreciation.

These areas show where investors can still capture growth while balancing yield and long-term appreciation.

Mortgage Market: A Breather for Buyers

One interesting shift in September was the slowdown in mortgages. Registrations fell 9.2% year-on-year to 3,787 deals, while lending volumes dropped 24.2% to AED12.1bn ($3.3bn).

This suggests more cash buyers and high-net-worth individuals are driving transactions, a trend that cushions Dubai against global interest rate shocks and reflects strong wealth inflows.

Record-Breaking Sales Highlight Investor Appetite

Dubai continues to draw ultra-high-net-worth buyers:

Most expensive apartment: Aman Residences Dubai – Tower 1 (Jumeirah Second), sold for AED83m ($22.6m).
Most expensive villa: on The World Islands, closed at AED200m ($54.5m).

Top-performing projects included:

Binghatti Skyrise: 318 apartment sales worth AED577.8m ($157.3m).
Binghatti Aquarise: 305 apartment sales worth AED512.6m ($139.5m).
Damac Islands – Seychelles 2: 176 villa sales worth AED531.6m ($144.7m).
Dubai World Central Villas: 167 sales worth AED748.4m ($203.8m).

These figures demonstrate how both luxury and mid-market projects are attracting capital at scale.

Rental Market Keeps Strengthening

Yields remain highly attractive compared to global benchmarks:

Apartments: Average annual rent at AED88,000 ($23,950).
Villas: Average annual rent at AED190,000 ($51,780).
Commercial properties: Average rent at AED75,000 ($20,450), up 10.3% YoY.

For investors, this means that Dubai still offers one of the strongest rental arbitrage opportunities globally, especially with Golden Visa opportunities for properties priced at AED 2M or more.

Outlook: Why September Is Just the Start

Tara Khan, Sales Director at Kelt & Co Realty, summed it up: “Dubai’s real estate market marks unprecedented growth in September. With cutting-edge infrastructure, the surge in high-net-worth individuals, and investor-friendly policies, Dubai continues to reinforce its position as a global real estate hub.”

The momentum is expected to carry into Q4 2025 and 2026, supported by mega-projects, ongoing inflows of wealthy buyers, and tax advantages. For investors, Dubai continues to prove it’s not only a safe haven, but also one of the world’s fastest-growing hubs for real estate returns.

Investor Takeaway

Dubai’s September 2025 sales prove the market is broad, resilient, and yield-rich. Apartments and plots dominate for liquidity and growth, while luxury villas and branded assets continue to set records.

For investors from Pakistan, India, the UK, Germany, and the US, the message is clear: Dubai is still the global property story worth betting on, and the window to capture value is open right now.