Dubai’s real estate sector has shown its strength again with an outstanding performance in February 2025. This demonstrates the city’s economic resilience and growth. Property Finder’s latest data shows a rise in both transaction volume and value. This indicates a booming market that still draws investors and homebuyers.
Transaction Boom
In February 2025, Dubai saw 16,099 real estate deals, a 35% rise from last year. The value of these transactions jumped even higher, by 55% hitting AED51.1 billion ($13.9 billion). These numbers prove Dubai’s property market is strong and highlight its role as a key player in global real estate.
Buyer Preferences
The data influences our understanding of buyers’ preferences, showing how Dubai’s property scene appeals to investors. Regarding apartments, one-bedroom apartments were the top choice, with 34% of people interested in them. Two-bedroom apartments were close behind at 37%, while studios got 13% of the attention.
People looking for villas and townhouses wanted bigger spaces. A big chunk, 47% of searchers, were trying to find places with four bedrooms or more, while 39% liked the idea of three-bedroom homes.
Most Popular Areas for Apartment Ownership:
1. Dubai Marina
2. Jumeirah Village Circle
3. Downtown Dubai
4. Business Bay
5. Palm Jumeirah
Most Desired Areas for Villa/Townhouse Ownership:
1. Dubai Hills Estate
2. Dubai Land
3. Al Furjan
4. Palm Jumeirah
5. Damac Hills 2
Ready vs. Off-Plan Market
Both the ready and off-plan parts of the market grew a lot. The ready market had a 27% jump in deal numbers and a 53% boost in value compared to February 2024. Burj Khalifa led with AED3.1 billion ($844.2 million) in deals across 334 sales.
The off-plan market did well too, with a big 57% rise in deal value reaching AED20.5 billion ($5.6 billion). Wadi Al Safa 5 stood out here, with 1,073 deals adding up to AED2.2 billion ($600 million).
Rental Market Trends
The Dubai rental market showed some noteworthy patterns. In the apartment sector, 64% of renters preferred furnished units, while 34% chose unfurnished ones. The villa and townhouse market had a different breakdown, with 58% of tenants looking for unfurnished properties and 42% wanting furnished ones.
One-bedroom apartments topped the list for renters, with 36% of tenants searching for this type. For villas and townhouses, three-bedroom units were the most popular, attracting 41% of tenants.
Top Areas Searched to Rent Apartments
- Jumeirah Village Circle
- Dubai Marina
- Downtown Dubai
- Business Bay
- Deira
Top Area to Rent Villas or Townhouses
- Jumeirah
- Dubai Hills Estate
- Damac Hills 2
- Dubai Land
- Al Furjan
Expert Insights
Cherif Sleiman, Chief Revenue Officer at Property Finder, credits this growth to Dubai’s standing as a thriving investment center. He points out the link between real estate growth and Dubai’s success in drawing global talent and entrepreneurs, showcasing the emirate’s dedication to new ideas and future expansion.
Looking Ahead
As Dubai keeps making it easier to set up businesses and grab worldwide attention, the real estate market looks set to grow even more. The February 2025 numbers show Dubai’s real estate market as lively, varied, and expanding. As the emirate keeps changing and adjusting to worldwide shifts, its property sector will stay a major force behind economic growth and a magnet for global investment.
