Dubai property survey 2026: 46% of buyers expect prices to rise - and 45% of renters are considering buying

Dubai: A survey conducted by the real estate platforms Bayut and Dubizzle, which included a sample of tenants and buyers, revealed that 46% of buyers participating in the survey expect property prices to rise during the next 12 months. About 45% of tenants reported that they had considered buying a property instead of renting, and 52% of all participants in the survey confirmed that planning to live in the UAE in the long term is the main reason behind their thinking about buying. Matt Gregory, Senior Director of Strategy at Dubizzle Group, said at a press conference reviewing the Dubai and Abu Dhabi real estate market report for the third quarter of 2026 that expectations of rising prices reflect a positive outlook among a segment of buyers, supported by the UAE’s attractiveness for living, working and investing, and the continued influx of residents and investors. Data from the Bayut platform showed relative stability in the average advertised prices per square foot in the most sought-after areas for buying properties in the economy and middle categories in Dubai, while Dubai Silicon Oasis topped the list of the most searched areas for buying apartments in the ‘low-priced apartments category’, while Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Sports City, and Al Nahda in Dubai stood out among the most searched areas for renting apartments in the low-priced apartments category. Real estate survey Specifically, a survey conducted by the real estate platforms Bayut and Dubizzle, with the participation of 2,014 tenants and buyers, revealed that 46% of the buyers surveyed expect property prices to rise over the next 12 months, while 60% expressed strong confidence or cautious optimism about the market's performance over the next five years. About 72% of participants identified ‘personal use’ as their primary purpose for purchasing the property, while 41% cited 'investment,' with the possibility of selecting more than one purpose. Around 45% of the tenants surveyed reported that they had considered buying a property instead of renting, including 18% who said they were currently comparing the two options. 26% indicated that the inability to afford the down payment was a barrier to ownership, while 52% confirmed that planning to live in the UAE for the long term was the main reason behind their consideration of buying. Positive outlook Matt Gregory, Senior Director of Strategy at Dubizzle Group, said that expectations of rising prices reflect a positive outlook among a segment of buyers. Picture credit: Supplied In addition, Matt Gregory, Senior Director of Strategy at Dubizzle Group, said that expectations of rising prices reflect a positive outlook among a segment of buyers, supported by the UAE’s attractiveness for living, working and investing, population growth, and the continued influx of residents and investors, which contributes to supporting demand for residential units of all categories. He said that transaction data indicates a gradual increase in demand for real estate in the country, reflecting the growing interest of buyers in the market. He pointed out that the development of infrastructure, transportation networks, facilities and services, along with the expansion in the development of integrated residential communities, enhances the attractiveness of residential areas and provides diverse options for individuals and families wishing to move to the UAE or settle there in the long term. He pointed out that the survey results reflect the participants' current expectations and do not represent a guarantee of price increases in the coming period, stressing the importance of monitoring actual real estate transaction data, price trends, and the size of new supply to assess market developments. Dubai real estate market Data from the Bayut platform showed relative stability in the average advertised prices per square foot in the most sought-after areas for purchasing properties in the economy and middle categories in Dubai, as changes in most cases remained below 3% during the third quarter of 2026. Changes in luxury and ultra-luxury areas also remained limited, not exceeding 2% in most cases, with the exception of some areas that recorded higher increases. Bayut’s data reflected the continued interest of those looking to buy apartments in Dubai in a variety of areas that meet different needs and budgets, from competitively priced units to luxury and ultra-luxury apartments. Apartment sales market Dubai Silicon Oasis topped the list of most searched areas for buying apartments in the 'low-priced apartments' category, with the average price of a studio apartment reaching approximately AED556,000 compared to AED856,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. The area recorded an estimated rental yield of 7.9%. Dubai Sports City and Dubai South also emerged as preferred options for buyers seeking affordable apartments. As for mid-priced apartments, Jumeirah Village Circle and Business Bay continued to attract the attention of those lo