The United Arab Emirates recorded a remarkable surge in real estate activity during the first quarter of 2025, with transactions totaling over AED239 billion (approximately $65 billion). Spanning the five emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah, the sector logged a combined 94,719 transactions involving sales, purchases, and mortgages.
This upward trend reflects growing investor confidence, regulatory flexibility, and an expanding pipeline of real estate developments, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global hub for property investment.
Dubai Maintains Its Position as the UAE’s Leading Real Estate Market
Dubai continued to dominate the national property landscape, accounting for AED193 billion in transaction value from 58,039 deals, a notable 16.2% increase in value and a 31.5% rise in transaction volume compared to the same period in 2024.
According to figures from the Dubai Land Department, sales alone contributed AED142 billion across 45,077 transactions, reflecting a 30% annual increase. Meanwhile, mortgage activity saw AED41 billion from 10,949 transactions, marking a 27% jump in volume. The remaining value originated from property grants and exchanges.
Abu Dhabi Records Strong Performance with Over 34% Growth
The capital city registered AED25.3 billion in total real estate transactions during Q1 2025, representing a 34.5% growth compared to the previous year.
Out of this, AED15.51 billion came from 3,819 property sales, up 26.7%, while mortgage agreements totaled AED9.8 billion from 3,077 transactions, a 49% year-on-year increase, as reported by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre.
Sharjah and Ajman Register Impressive Gains in Property Activity
Sharjah’s property sector reported robust growth, with total real estate transactions reaching AED13.2 billion from 24,597 deals, a 31.9% increase compared to Q1 2024, according to the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department.
Ajman also demonstrated a solid performance with AED5.55 billion in transaction value, reflecting a 29% rise. This included AED3.69 billion from 3,132 sale and purchase transactions and AED905 million from 498 mortgage agreements. The remaining figures were attributed to grants and property swaps.
Ras Al Khaimah Sees Surge in Off-Plan Housing Sales
In Ras Al Khaimah, residential off-plan transactions exceeded AED2.4 billion across more than 1,300 deals in the first quarter. According to CBRE’s analysis, this uptick indicates strong demand in the northern emirate’s growing real estate market, particularly in the housing segment.
Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/real-estate/uae-real-estate-property-transactions-hit-over-65bn-in-first-quarter-of-2025
