Downtown Dubai Market Report: Q3 2026

Residential sales transactions in Downtown Dubai totalled 524 in Q3 2026, worth AED 2.22 billion. Sales rose 24.2% quarter-on-quarter. Off-plan sales accounted for 19% of the total and owner resales 76%.

The median apartment price in Downtown Dubai was AED 2,712 per sq ft in Q3 2026, across 495 sales; it declined 4.0% quarter-on-quarter, and was 60% above the Dubai median.

The median apartment price in Downtown Dubai declined 9.4% between Q1 2026 and Q3 2026, from AED 2,991 to AED 2,712 per sq ft.

In Downtown Dubai in Q3 2026, median prices were AED 3.6 million for a 2-bedroom apartment (205 sales); AED 2.1 million for a 1-bedroom apartment (189 sales).

The median rental rate on new apartment lease registrations (Ejari) in Downtown Dubai was AED 148 per sq ft a year in Q3 2026, across 5,832 registrations. New villa and townhouse lease registrations had a median rental rate of AED 780,000 a year, across 5 registrations. 5,877 new leases and 2,275 renewals were registered with Ejari.

The gross rental yield on ready apartments in Downtown Dubai was 5.9% in Q3 2026, comparing median new rents with median ready sale prices per sq ft.

The UAE dirham is pegged to the US dollar at AED 3.6725. At that rate, in Downtown Dubai in Q3 2026, the median apartment price of AED 2,712 per sq ft is approximately $738 per sq ft; the median new apartment rental rate of AED 148 per sq ft a year is approximately $40.

40 prime sales (AED 10 million and above) were recorded in Downtown Dubai in Q3 2026, worth AED 723 million and accounting for 7.6% of sales. Villas and townhouses accounted for 0 of them and off-plan sales for 23.

The median apartment price in Downtown Dubai was 60% above the Dubai median in Q3 2026, at AED 2,712 per sq ft compared with AED 1,692.

Burj Khalifa Towers by Emaar recorded the most sales of any building in Downtown Dubai in Q3 2026, with 29 sales worth AED 137 million.

Emaar recorded the most off-plan sales in Downtown Dubai in Q3 2026, with 23 sales worth AED 133 million, accounting for 23% of off-plan sales. It was followed by Binghatti (18), Arada (18).

Median price

The middle sale price once all sales are ranked: half of sales were above it and half below. Used instead of the average so a few very large sales don't distort the figure.

Price per sq ft

Sale price divided by the registered area in square feet, then the median across sales. Reported for apartments; villa records often carry the plot size, so villas are reported per home.

Off-plan and ready

Off-plan sales are homes sold before completion; ready sales are completed homes, including owner resales and developers' completed stock.

Sub-community and building

Where DLD records a home: a sub-community for villas and townhouses (for example Raya in Arabian Ranches 3), a building for apartments, or the project name for off-plan homes.

Ejari

Dubai's official lease registration system. Rents here are new Ejari leases registered in the period; renewals are counted separately.

Gross rental yield

Median new annual rent divided by the median ready sale price, before costs. Shown only between 3% and 12%; outside that range the pairing reflects data errors rather than a yield.

DLD area and community

The Dubai Land Department records sales and leases by official area, which can differ from the name people use. Each report names the DLD areas it covers.

⚠ Small sample

A figure based on fewer than 30 sales or leases. It is shown, but can move a lot from period to period.