Off‑plan office sales in Dubai hit record AED 13.1bn in H1 2026
Off-plan office sales in Dubai reached a record AED 13.1bn in H1 2026, led by Business Bay and five major developments, according to Al‑Masdar Al‑Aqari and the Dubai Land Department.
Record surge in off‑plan office sales
Off‑plan office sales in Dubai jumped to AED 13.1 billion during the first half of 2026, recorded across 1,668 transactions. This figure, reported by the Al‑Masdar Al‑Aqari real estate analytics platform and based on Dubai Land Department data, eclipses the total off‑plan office sales value for the entire 2019–2025 period.
The combined total for 2019–2025 stood at AED 5.48 billion from 1,821 deals, making the H1 2026 performance an unprecedented acceleration in the commercial off‑plan market. The surge reflects rapidly growing demand for high‑quality office space and a notable expansion in supply of premium workspace since 2024.
Annual trend and historic context
Dubai’s off‑plan office sales have displayed a volatile but accelerating trajectory over recent years, starting from AED 65.9 million in 2019 and shrinking to AED 825,000 in 2021. Activity rose modestly in 2022 and 2023 before a strong jump to AED 664.4 million in 2024 and a much larger leap to AED 4.63 billion in 2025.
The H1 2026 total marks a sharp inflection point, underlining both investor confidence and occupier interest in buying forward for long‑term office needs. Analysts say the pattern signals a market reorientation toward larger, institutional‑scale office investments.
Business Bay accounts for more than half the value
Business Bay was the single largest contributor, recording AED 6.8 billion of off‑plan office sales across 476 transactions. That represents roughly 52 percent of the total transaction value and about 28.5 percent of all deals during H1 2026.
Other top districts included the Second Central Business District with AED 1.7 billion from 76 sales, TECOM A with AED 1.4 billion across 498 deals, and Dubai Maritime City which exceeded AED 1 billion from 87 transactions. The geographic concentration highlights how core business districts continue to command premium buyer interest.
Deals concentrated in mid‑to‑large price bands
The market was dominated by mid‑to‑large ticket transactions, with 212 deals each valued above AED 20 million. Transactions in the AED 20–50 million band accounted for the bulk of value at AED 6.11 billion from 201 deals.
Eleven transactions exceeded AED 50 million, together totaling AED 629.9 million. Meanwhile, the AED 10–20 million and AED 5–10 million bands recorded AED 2.39 billion (169 deals) and AED 1.17 billion (162 deals) respectively, reflecting strong appetite across several upper‑mid price tiers.
Volume concentrated in smaller price segments
Despite the high value concentration, the greatest number of transactions came from smaller price tiers. The AED 2–5 million segment registered 765 deals worth AED 2.23 billion, making it the most active by volume. The AED 1–2 million bracket contributed 308 transactions valued at AED 536.5 million.
Transactions below AED 1 million totaled 52 deals with aggregate value of AED 43.2 million. This mix of high‑value and high‑volume bands suggests a broadening buyer base that includes both institutional purchasers and smaller investors.
Five developments drove the majority of activity
Five projects together accounted for roughly 71.7 percent of total value and 51.3 percent of transactions over the six‑month period. The dominant developments were Lumina and Lumina Alta by Omniyat, EHS Tower, Sharoukhan Tower by Danube, and 31 Above by Beyond.
Collectively these schemes generated 856 sales worth more than AED 9.4 billion, underscoring the impact a small number of large, marketed projects can have on aggregate off‑plan office figures. Developers with high‑profile launches captured a disproportionate share of investor demand.
Market drivers and outlook for the second half
Market participants point to several drivers behind the off‑plan surge: growing corporate relocations and expansions in Dubai, increased demand for premium fitted offices, and an expanded pipeline of grade‑A office stock since 2024. The combination of occupier needs and targeted project launches has accelerated forward purchases.
Looking ahead, the pace of completions and leasing demand will be key to sustaining investor confidence and shaping rent trajectories. Stakeholders will watch second‑half supply schedules, leasing uptake in newly delivered towers, and macroeconomic indicators that influence corporate expansion plans.
The remarkable first‑half performance positions Dubai’s off‑plan office market as a leading focal point for regional real estate capital flows, while underscoring the central role of concentrated, high‑quality developments in driving near‑term activity.