Study: Dubai homeownership matches tenure patterns in London and New York
FAM Properties analysis of 1.1M Dubai transactions finds Dubai homeownership is lengthening, with 69.9% of primary purchases still held by original buyers as of April 2026.
Dubai’s residential market is showing a clear shift toward long-term ownership, according to a comprehensive study by FAM Properties that reviewed more than 1.1 million transactions recorded with the Dubai Land Department. The analysis indicates that many buyers who purchased homes in the last decade continue to hold them, a pattern that the firm says aligns Dubai homeownership with tenure in major global cities. The findings reflect data held on DXBinteract and are reported through the end of April 2026.
Study Scope and Key Findings
FAM’s study examined 687,406 primary-market transactions from 2012 to 2025 and 425,083 resale transactions from 2009 to 2025. Of those, 480,604 primary-market properties and 259,615 resale properties remain owned by their original buyers, totaling 740,219 homes. Those figures represent 69.9% of primary purchases and 61.1% of resale transactions in the analysed periods, underscoring a strong tendency toward retention.
Owners Retain Homes at Comparable Durations to London and New York
FAM CEO Firas Al‑Masadi said the prevalence of long-term owners has replaced the short‑term speculator as the dominant buyer type, a hallmark of a maturing market. The company notes that the pattern of Dubai homeownership now looks similar to tenure lengths in New York and London. FAM cites external market data showing U.S. homeowners typically live in a property for about 11 to 12 years, while U.K. turnover averages roughly 4% annually, supporting its comparison.
Cohort Analysis of Primary and Resale Markets
Cohort tracking in the study reveals rising retention across buyer vintages. In the primary market, 42% of buyers who purchased in 2014 still own their properties after 11 years, rising to 53% of 2017 buyers after eight years and 61% of 2022 buyers after three years. The resale market shows a similar trajectory: 38% retention for 2014 buyers after 11 years, 53% for 2017 buyers after eight years, and 65% for 2022 buyers after three years.
Policy and Infrastructure as Drivers of Longer Tenure
FAM links the change in Dubai homeownership patterns to structural reforms introduced over the past decade, including the Golden Visa scheme launched in 2019 and expanded in 2022, which ties property ownership to long‑term residency. Regulatory reforms have also strengthened protections for off‑plan buyers, boosting confidence in holding assets long term. Large infrastructure investments, new metro lines and master‑planned districts such as Dubai South, Dubai Creek and Dubai Islands have widened the range of attractive long‑term locations.
Market Impact on Investors, Developers and Renters
The shift from short‑term speculation toward sustained ownership is altering market incentives for developers and investors. Developers may increasingly prioritise community amenities, long‑term service agreements and build quality that appeal to owners rather than flippers. For the rental market, a higher proportion of owner‑occupied stock could reduce volatility in supply and support steadier rental dynamics over time.
Data Platform and Implications for Policy Makers
FAM’s conclusions draw on DXBinteract, a market information platform developed with Dubai’s land records, and reflect ownership status through April 2026. Policymakers and planners can use these granular holding‑period insights to calibrate housing supply, infrastructure delivery and residency policy to match a longer‑term owner base. Continued transparency in transaction reporting will help sustain investor confidence and aid measured market planning.
The study signals a notable maturation of Dubai homeownership that carries implications for market stability, investment strategy and urban planning. As more buyers treat properties as long‑term homes rather than short‑term trades, the market may become less prone to sharp speculative swings and better aligned with the needs of permanent residents and long‑term investors.