DUBAI’S RENTAL MARKET SOARS TO SET A RECORD YEAR

Dubai’s property market has constantly experienced record-sale years back to back over the past few years. This was due to the rapid boom of the real estate industry, and still it keeps delivering records to prove that the market remains hot and very attractive to investors, end users, as well as tenants. But how do you measure rental success this year?

214,445 rental contracts were signed from January of this year up until July. This number is 1.9% higher for the same period Year-On-Year, while the entirety of 2025 recorded only 377,660 rental contracts. July alone brought in 38,197 contracts, with 18,431 being new contracts and 19,766 as renewal contracts. The stats in the rental market shows that the leasing volume continues to grow, while more existing tenants decide to renew their contracts. It highlights the facts that more and more people are choosing to work and live in Dubai.

When observing the communities where the contracts were done or renewed, it is clear that residents prefer both residential and mixed-used developments to reside in. So, it is safe to declare that Dubai attracts all types of residents who prefer different locations to fit their work, lifestyle and other preferences. The top 5 areas where rental contracts were made and renewed are Al Warsan First, Jebel Ali First, Al Barsha South Fourth, Business Bay and Nadd Al Hessa.

Looking beyond the rental market into the wider real estate market of Dubai, it still continues to overtake the previous year, with property transactions up by 6% Year-On-Year. With more international investors pouring into the market and pushing property investment numbers higher, the market is only going to be more attractive to tenants, investors as well as end-users.

Looking back at the stats and the last few months of 2026 more residents are encouraged to rent property in Dubai as much as they buy real estate. With rental volumes growing higher with every month, 2026 is set to surpass 2025 in rental volume records. This is ultimately a testament to the fact that Dubai continues to be the choice of a huge number of investors, home buyers as well as skilled workers and residents who choose to work and live in the UAE. To know what rental contract works for you the best depends on your unique requirements, so seek professional assistance from experienced experts who understand how the market operates to successfully predict how a property will behave in the current as well as the future market.