Despite a minor shift in estimates regarding future cost, UAE citizens continue to express a strong desire to own property. According to recent data from Property Finder’s Market Pulse, which covers September and October of 2025, demand for homes is remaining strong across all income and demographic categories.
In both months, 69% of respondents stated that they intend to buy a home in the upcoming six months. Intent was 70% in September and 68% in October. With 3,313 responses, the October sample was significantly larger than September’s 2,987, providing a more comprehensive understanding of opinion across emirates.
There was a slight shift in price estimates. In September, 28% predicted stability, 33% predicted price hikes, and 39% predicted price declines. Expectations changed to 40%, 31%, and 29%, respectively, by October. It appears that residents’ concerns about affordability are real rather than hypothetical because they are not postponing purchases in expectation of a severe correction.
“UAE buyers are approaching the property market with thoughtfulness and confidence,” said Cherif Sleiman, Chief Revenue Officer at Property Finder. “They continue to move ahead with their plans, highlighting trust in the long-term stability of the UAE real estate sector.”
Record-breaking activity
The property market is going through one of its busiest years, which is consistent with the high buying attitude. Dubai is expected to close 2025 at an all-time high for both transaction volume and value, according to a recent market research from fête Properties.
19,019 real estate transactions were recorded in November alone, up 30.9% from the previous year. With one month left, this increased the overall number of transactions in 2025 to 197,263, breaking the previous yearly record of 180,900 established in 2024. The Dh624.1 billion annual sales figure was much higher than the Dh522.1 billion recorded in 2024. A 49.6% YoY increase in November’s contribution of Dh64.7 billion indicated widespread momentum.
“This isn’t momentum — this is market maturity meeting global demand,” said Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties. “When a market grows this aggressively and stays stable, it’s not speculation, it’s migration plus capital allocation. We’ve seen a 20% value growth on what was a record year in 2024 with one month still to go.”
Strong population growth, large capital inflows, and a move toward higher-ticket purchases are deeper foundations that are reflected in Dubai’s performance. Demand strength and asset revaluation were highlighted by the average price per square foot, which increased 16.1% to Dh1,755.
Where buyers are spending
Due to improvements in infrastructure, mid-income demand, and new supply, several towns saw the most activity.
Top-performing areas in November 2025 included:
- Jumeirah Village Circle: 1,426 transactions worth Dh1.9 billion
- Wadi Al Safa 5: 1,133 transactions worth Dh1.8 billion
- Business Bay: 1,055 transactions worth Dh3.6 billion
- Dubai South: 903 transactions worth Dh2.1 billion
- Mina Rashid: 899 transactions worth Dh3.1 billion
Headlines were dominated by high-end deals as well. A Dh203 million apartment at Jumeirah Residences Asora Bay was the most expensive one sold, and a Dh110 million mansion on Palm Jumeirah was the most costly. This demonstrates the breadth of Dubai’s luxury market and its capacity to handle high-end transactions.
First sales still outpace resales
Developers maintained a strong lead in November:
- First-sale transactions: 13,374 deals worth Dh41.4 billion
- Resale transactions: 5,645 deals worth Dh23.3 billion
At 37%, properties valued between Dh1 and Dh2 million made up the largest percentage, followed by residences under Dh1 million at 24.85%. Larger categories, such as units costing more than Dh5 million, accounted for 8.67% of sales, demonstrating steady demand across price points.
Villas registered 2,078 purchases totaling Dh13.2 billion, while apartments drove the majority of activity with 15,905 sales worth Dh32.1 billion. Plots were valued at Dh17.1 billion, while sales of commercial properties increased 79.7% YoY to 647.
Calculated decision-making
The data presents a clear picture for many UAE citizens: buyers are actively contemplating purchases, developers are producing supply that the market continues to absorb at scale, and sentiment is still optimistic. Both domestic and foreign demand are sustaining Dubai’s remarkable growth, despite slight changes in pricing expectations.
The UAE real estate market appears to be concluding 2025 with depth, momentum, and a degree of durability that continues to set it apart in the global real estate cycle, given the combination of consistent buyer confidence and Dubai’s record-breaking year.
