Dubai’s commercial real estate market witnessed a remarkable 31% year-on-year surge in total sales during the third quarter of 2025, led primarily by strong performance in Business Bay and Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT).
According to the latest Real Estate Report, total commercial property sales reached AED 30.38 billion (US$8.27 billion), reflecting robust investor confidence and sustained momentum across the sector. Business Bay topped the list with 328 office transactions, while JLT followed closely with 277 deals.
Other notable contributors included Majan with 112 transactions, Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) with 110, and Barsha Heights (Tecom) completing the top five with 71 transactions.
Strong Market Fundamentals and Investor Confidence
A leading real estate expert commented that Dubai’s commercial market continued to perform exceptionally in Q3 2025, recording a 19% quarter-on-quarter and 22% year-on-year increase in transaction volumes, despite a minor 2% dip in total value from the previous quarter.
The expert highlighted that both Business Bay and JLT maintained their position as dominant hubs, while newly launched developments such as Lumena Alta and HQ by Rove are redefining the standards for premium office environments in Dubai.
“Investor demand is widening, with both end-users and institutional buyers focusing on high-quality assets in strategic locations that promise strong rental yields and long-term capital appreciation,” the expert added.
Office Sector Emerges as Key Growth Engine
The office property segment played a central role in the city’s commercial real estate boom. During Q3, total office sales reached AED 3.1 billion across 1,153 units, representing an 18% rise quarter-on-quarter and an impressive 93% increase year-on-year.
Transaction volumes echoed this strength, climbing 19% QoQ and 45% YoY, underscoring sustained demand from businesses seeking prime office spaces and reaffirming investor confidence in Dubai’s economic fundamentals.
Another real estate expert specializing in the JLT area noted that demand for Grade A and ESG-compliant office towers remains exceptionally strong. “With vacancy rates near historic lows, fitted and vacant office spaces are attracting record investor attention. The combination of limited high-end supply and continued corporate expansion is driving rental and capital values upward across major free zones,” the expert explained.
Off-Plan Commercial Developments Gain Momentum
The off-plan commercial property market also displayed robust performance, with total transactions amounting to AED 2.4 billion (US$650 million) across 1,101 deals in Q3. Office and retail developments contributed AED 1.86 billion (US$510 million) from 640 transactions, indicating steady developer activity and sustained investor appetite for under-construction assets.
Market projections suggest that Dubai’s office sector will continue to expand, with approximately 680,000 square meters of new office space expected to be delivered by 2027. Emerging business hubs such as Business Bay and Motor City are expected to be among the main beneficiaries of this new pipeline.
Retail Real Estate Rebounds Strongly
Dubai’s retail property segment experienced a notable comeback in Q3 2025, with the total value of retail transactions reaching AED 1.15 billion (US$310 million) across 437 deals. This marks a 95% quarter-on-quarter and 55% year-on-year increase the sector’s strongest quarterly performance since 2022.
Transaction volumes mirrored this momentum, rising 88% QoQ and 37% YoY, signaling renewed market confidence after a quieter second quarter. The resurgence reflects growing interest from both investors and end-users, driven by strong consumer activity and the city’s expanding retail footprint.
Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/real-estate/business-bay-jlt-lead-31-increase-in-dubai-commercial-property-sales
