Property Finder Reveals Dubai Real Estate Hit $18.2B in May Sales

Dubai’s real estate market continues its upward momentum with sales transactions reaching an impressive $18.2 billion (AED 66.8 billion) across 18,700 deals in May 2025, according to Property Finder. The milestone marks a 44% year-on-year surge in value and a 6% increase in volume, reinforcing Dubai’s status as a global real estate powerhouse.

Primary Market Sees Explosive Growth

Primary ready transactions saw substantial growth, totaling $4.9 billion (AED 17.9 billion) from 2,400 transactions, a 314% increase in value and 145% in volume compared to the same period in 2024.

Overall, primary ready and off-plan sales combined surged by 65% year-on-year, reaching $10.1 billion (AED 37 billion), illustrating sustained investor confidence in Dubai’s off-plan market.

Key data highlights:

Secondary Market Sets New Records

The secondary market also delivered a robust performance, with 6,078 transactions generating $6.5 billion (AED 24 billion) — up 8% in volume and 21% in value year-on-year. When including off-plan resales, secondary market activity reached $7.9 billion (AED 29 billion) through 8,471 transactions, up 23% and 15%, respectively.

Key Investment Hotspots Identified

Property Finder data highlighted Business Bay as a high-value magnet, contributing 5% of total transaction value despite only accounting for 3% of deal volume. Al Barsha showed strong demand across various price points, while a landmark $408 million (AED 1.5 billion) land deal in Palm Deira underscored institutional interest in Dubai’s growth.

Shifting Consumer Trends

Apartments remained the preferred choice for renters and buyers alike. Studios attracted 21% of rental searches but only 15% of buyer interest, while 1-bedroom units led with 35% of purchase and 38% of rental searches. This reflects a growing preference for spacious and long-term livable units among investors.

Market Outlook Remains Bullish

Cherif Sleiman, Chief Revenue Officer at Property Finder, commented: "Just when we thought April was Dubai’s peak at $17 billion (AED 62.1 billion), May surpassed it with $18.2 billion (AED 66.8 billion). The trends driving this growth are sustainable, backed by digital transformation, population growth, and a surge in international investment interest."

He added that Dubai’s position as a real estate innovator has been bolstered by initiatives like the tokenized property investment platform launched by the Dubai Land Department, catering to a growing population of nearly 1,000 new residents per day.