DUBAI – Dubai’s rental sector recorded strong performance throughout 2025, reflecting the stability of the real estate market and the increasing maturity of the business.
This performance was driven by increased demand, diversification of housing options, and clarity in the regulatory framework governing relationships between all stakeholders.
According to data published by Dubai Land Department, registered tenancy contracts increased by 6% in volume and 17% in value compared to 2024, reaching 1.38 million contracts with a total value of AED 126.4 billion, demonstrating the vitality of the market and the continued momentum of residential and commercial activity.
The number of new tenant signings increased by 10% to more than 513,000, reflecting Dubai’s strong appeal as a place to live and work. At the same time, renewed tenancy agreements increased by 3% to over 514,000, clearly demonstrating a higher level of stability and customer satisfaction.
This balanced rental performance is clearly in line with the goals of Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which focuses on improving quality of life and strengthening Dubai’s position as a global live, work and investment destination, and the Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033, which aims to establish a sustainable market based on a balance between ownership and rental, a clear regulatory framework and enhanced customer experience.
The stability of the rental sector reflects its vital role as a natural gateway to homeownership and a fundamental pillar of social and economic stability, while contributing to the development of a resilient real estate ecosystem that can sustain Dubai’s long-term growth.
On another front, 2025 saw significant progress in the pace of completion of real estate projects, with the number of completed projects increasing by 7% to 124 projects and the total value increasing by 23% to AED 27.5 billion. This performance confirms the efficiency of execution and continuity of development activities.
Additionally, the number of projects under construction increased by 25% to 937, a clear indicator of developer confidence and the sustainability of future momentum in the real estate sector.
Unit sales increased by 25% to 147.5 thousand units, totaling AED 280 billion, reflecting a 30% increase in value. Meanwhile, the value of villas sold increased by 12% despite the drop in volume, indicating a shift in purchasing preferences towards higher value real estate products.
At the regulatory level, the real estate market saw an unprecedented expansion of licenses, with 4,122 real estate offices registered, an increase of 102%, bringing the total number of active real estate offices in Dubai to 10,182. This reflects an expanding business base and increasing demand for brokerage, property management, development and consulting services within a well-regulated ecosystem governed by clear standards.
In 2025, a total of 14,364 real estate licenses were issued across a wide range of activities. The largest number was 6,009 cases in the real estate sales and sales agency industry, followed by 3,513 cases in the real estate rental agency industry. This includes 2,126 licenses for transaction follow-up services, 714 licenses for buying and selling land and real estate, and 525 licenses for real estate development.
The remaining licenses covered a variety of activities, including property management supervision, mortgage brokerage, private property rental and management, real estate consulting, and other related services. This diversity highlights the role of real estate licensing as a core regulatory tool that supports market efficiency, increases transparency and fosters a flexible business environment that sustains the long-term growth of Dubai’s real estate sector.
This overall performance in the rental sector, together with the pace of project completion and expansion of the real estate licensing ecosystem, reflects the advanced stage of institutional maturity that Dubai’s real estate market has reached and the market’s ability to sustain growth in an environment characterized by transparency, efficiency and sustainability.
These indicators reaffirm Dubai Land Authority’s commitment to continuously develop the regulatory framework, improve service efficiency and support all stakeholders across the real estate ecosystem, strengthening customer and investor confidence alike and positioning the sector to achieve greater balance and stability in the coming years.
