Dubai’s population reached 4,807,185 on 29 September, up 226,885 since the start of the year, with 39,670 new homes completed over the same period. The figures, cited in analysis by betterhomes, suggest housing demand has tracked population growth rather than economic headlines.
The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre attributed a softer UAE second quarter to regional developments and disruption affecting tourism, transport and trade.
The broader picture is more stable: the UAE economy grew 0.4 per cent across the first half of 2026, the non-oil economy expanded 1.8%, and Dubai’s economy grew 2.4 per cent year-on-year in Q1.
Against that backdrop, betterhomes reported its highest monthly lease completion volume on record. By September, median apartment rents were within 0.6 per cent of their level a year earlier. Homeownership is also widening: as of June 8, more than 3,200 buyers had purchased properties worth over AED 5 billion through Dubai’s First-Time Home Buyer Programme.
The supply pipeline is substantial. A further 25,477 homes are scheduled for completion before year-end, followed by 136,815 in 2027 and 153,221 in 2028. Apartments account for 91 per cent and 85 per cent of those two years respectively. These are scheduled completions, not forecasts, and delivery dates can shift.
“A softer quarter for the economy hasn’t changed the basics of Dubai’s housing market. The city keeps growing, people keep choosing to live here, and new homes keep coming to market to meet that demand. The pipeline is significant, so the questions buyers and investors should ask are local ones: what’s being built nearby, when it completes and who it’s for. Look at the evidence on the ground, not just the headlines,” Richard Waind, CEO, betterhomes said in a statement.
With supply concentrated in apartments and new inventory spread across different areas and timelines, betterhomes argues that citywide totals are a less useful guide than what is being built in a specific neighbourhood and when.
