Dubai real estate market March: AED15.39bn resale report

Dubai real estate market recorded 3,308 resale transactions worth AED15.39 billion in March, showing a net gain of AED4.6 billion for investors.

The March figures published by fäm Properties show resale activity generated AED15.39bn in value and produced an estimated AED4.6bn net gain for long-term investors. Registrations of residential tenancy contracts reached 36,658 and together were worth AED3.16bn, with around two-thirds recorded as renewals. These combined sales and rental data points give a clearer picture of liquidity and income flows across the market.

DXBinteract reported that average rents for new residential contracts rose 7% year-on-year in March, a helpful signal that upward pressure on asking rents is concentrated in fresh leases. Together these data sets suggest sales-driven capital gains and improving rental momentum, but also indicate areas where investors and landlords should watch affordability and supply dynamics.

Dubai's March numbers show a market driven by strong resale activity and steady tenancy registrations, delivering AED15.39bn in resale value and a net investor gain of AED4.6bn.

The data from fäm Properties records 3,308 resale transactions with total resale value of AED15.39 billion and attributes a net gain of AED4.6 billion to long-term investors. In the same month, 36,658 residential tenancy contracts were registered worth AED3.16 billion, and DXBinteract notes average rents on new contracts rose 7% year-on-year. Together these figures demonstrate both capital liquidity from sales and growing rental rates in new leases.

Strategically, the figures imply two income channels: transactional profit from resales and recurring income via tenancy contracts. The resale value outstrips tenancy registration value at AED15.39bn versus AED3.16bn, meaning March’s immediate investor returns were concentrated in sales. Risk factors include potential volatility in transaction volumes and the sustainability of rent growth if supply increases or affordability pressures rise.

Average rents on new residential contracts rose 7% year-on-year in March while tenancy registrations reached 36,658, two-thirds of which were renewals.

fäm Properties reports 36,658 residential tenancy contracts registered in March collectively worth AED3.16 billion, with approximately two-thirds recorded as renewals. That renewal share implies about 24,439 renewals and roughly 12,219 new contracts, showing stable tenant retention alongside fresh leasing activity. DXBinteract’s 7% rise in average rents for new contracts indicates landlords are achieving higher deals on incoming tenants rather than across the whole rental stock.

The practical effect for owners and investors is a divergence between stock-wide rental pressure and new-contract pricing power. High renewal rates support occupancy and predictable income, while the 7% uplift on new leases signals where upward rent adjustments are occurring. Watch for whether new-lease growth becomes broad-based or remains concentrated in select communities, which will determine longer-term yield trends.

Investors found most profit in resales in March, with the market reporting a net investor gain of AED4.6 billion from resale activity.

According to fäm Properties, March resale transactions 3,308 deals totalling AED15.39bn delivered an estimated AED4.6bn net gain for long-term investors, a clear indicator that capital gains from selling outperformed immediate rental-registration value. By comparison, tenancy registrations amounted to AED3.16bn in recorded contract value, which reflects rental market scale but not the same level of realised capital profit seen in resales.

This split suggests investors aiming for near-term profit should prioritise resale-ready opportunities or assets with clear appreciation paths, while buy-and-hold strategies still benefit from rental income via 36,658 registered contracts. Key risks include price sensitivity if transaction volumes slow and the potential for rent growth to moderate; monitoring monthly resale volumes and new-contract rent trends will be critical for timing exits and acquisitions.

March’s numbers paint a market where sales produced the largest immediate returns: 3,308 resale transactions totalled AED15.39bn and generated an estimated AED4.6bn net gain for investors. At the same time 36,658 tenancy contracts worth AED3.16bn and a 7% rise in new-contract rents show rental momentum that complements sales-led profit.