Dubai property this week recorded AED 13.47 billion of transactions between 12 and 16 October, including AED 8.59 billion of sales. There were slightly fewer deals than at the start of the month but they were larger, lifting the average sale to around AED 3.2 million. The new pedestrian bridge linking Etihad Rail to the Dubai Metro opened, and the rental market stays on course for a record year even as asking rents soften.
Key Takeaways
- Dubai recorded AED 13.47 billion of real estate transactions between 12 and 16 October 2026, including 2,676 sales worth AED 8.59 billion.
- Compared with the week of 28 September to 2 October, sales value rose 13.3% while the number of sales fell 6.8%, lifting the average sale by about 22%.
- The week’s largest sale was an apartment in W Residences on Palm Jumeirah at AED 53.7 million.
- A 400-metre pedestrian bridge connecting Al Yalayis Etihad Rail station with Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station opened on 15 October.
- Rental registrations are on course for an annual record, while asking rents have fallen in most major apartment communities.
Table of Contents
- Dubai Property This Week in Numbers
- Thursday’s Transactions
- Launches in Focus
- Etihad Rail and the Metro, Now Linked on Foot
- Rentals: Record Demand, Softer Rents
- What Dubai Property This Week Means for You
- Frequently Asked Questions
Dubai Property This Week in Numbers
Dubai Land Department recorded AED 13.47 billion of real estate transactions between 12 and 16 October 2026.
| 12 to 16 October | 28 September to 2 October | |
|---|---|---|
| Total transactions | AED 13.47 billion | AED 11.28 billion |
| Sales value | AED 8.59 billion | AED 7.58 billion |
| Number of sales | 2,676 | 2,871 |
| Average sale | About AED 3.21 million | About AED 2.64 million |
| Mortgages | AED 3.72 billion | AED 3.05 billion |
The pattern is worth noticing. There were 6.8% fewer sales than at the start of the month, but sales value rose 13.3%, so the average sale was about 22% larger. It is the same shift we have tracked since our August transactions report: fewer buyers at the entry level, and more committed capital at the top.
The week’s top sales reflected that:
- An apartment in W Residences, Palm Jumeirah, for AED 53.7 million
- An office in Sensoria at Five Luxe, Marsa Dubai, for AED 21.8 million
- An apartment in Bugatti Residences, Business Bay, for AED 20.9 million
Our view: Mortgage registrations also rose, to AED 3.72 billion for the week. More buyers using finance is a healthy sign, because it points to end users and long-term owners rather than short-term speculation.
Thursday’s Transactions
On Thursday 15 October alone, Dubai Land Department registered AED 2.8 billion of transactions across 744 deals. That included 512 sales worth AED 1.7 billion, made up of 400 residential units, 63 buildings and 49 plots of land, alongside AED 855 million of mortgages.
The day’s largest transaction was a AED 172 million commercial land mortgage in Sobha Hartland, followed by a AED 22 million villa mortgage on The World Islands.
The autumn months tend to be busier for Dubai property, as residents return from summer, companies hire and families relocate, and the pace of registrations this week reflects that.
Launches in Focus
Bay Estate, Dubai Islands. Nakheel’s new gated waterfront community, launched earlier this month, continues to draw interest. The first release includes around 360 three- and four-bedroom villas and townhouses, plus beachfront and waterfront plots, across three collections. We covered the details in our October 2026 Market Brief.
Address The Bay, Emaar Beachfront. Emaar has announced Address The Bay, a 182-room five-star hotel at Emaar Beachfront in Dubai Harbour, due to open in 2027. New hospitality tends to strengthen the appeal of the surrounding community for both residents and short-term rental demand.
Pricing and payment plans vary by home type across new launches, so speak to our team for the latest availability.
Etihad Rail and the Metro, Now Linked on Foot
The most useful transport news this week came on Thursday 15 October, when the pedestrian bridge connecting Al Yalayis Etihad Rail station with Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station on the Red Line largely opened to commuters.
The enclosed walkway is about 400 metres long, with travelators, and takes around five minutes. Shuttle buses also run between the two stations, and the RTA’s F38 feeder bus links the Metro station with nearby communities including Dubai Production City and Dubai Sports City. Passengers can add a Dubai public transport day pass when booking an Etihad Rail ticket.
That matters because it completes the journey. Passengers can now arrive from Abu Dhabi by train and continue to Dubai Marina, Business Bay or Downtown Dubai by Metro without a car. Etihad Rail runs ten trains a day between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with a journey of around 64 minutes and fares from AED 39.
Our view: Better connections tend to widen the appeal of nearby communities. Jumeirah Golf Estates, Al Furjan, Dubai Production City and the wider Al Yalayis corridor may attract more interest from people who live in one emirate and work in the other. Our guide to the Etihad Rail Dubai to Abu Dhabi launch looks at this in more detail.
Rentals: Record Demand, Softer Rents
Dubai’s rental sector is on course for an all-time annual record, with freehold rental registrations in the first nine months already up on last year.
Record volumes do not mean rising rents, however. Asking rents for apartments have fallen over the past year in nine of the ten largest apartment communities, led by Downtown Dubai, while the number of rental listings has risen by more than half. More homes on the market mean more choice, and many tenants are using it to move or renegotiate.
Our view: Demand is strong but supply is rising faster. Landlords who price to the current market rather than last year’s peak are letting quickly. Those who do not are facing longer vacancies.
What Dubai Property This Week Means for You
Buyers: New waterfront launches add choice at the top end, while steady registrations show the market remains active. Compare payment plans, handover dates and developer delivery records carefully, and remember that more buyers are now using finance, so mortgage pre-approval strengthens your position.
Sellers: With the autumn season under way, now is a good time to prepare your home for market. Price it against recent registered sales in your building or community rather than asking prices, because buyers are comparing carefully.
Landlords: Tenant demand is strong, but asking rents have softened in many communities. Competitive pricing and good presentation will help you let quickly.
Investors: New transport links such as Etihad Rail can shift demand over time, so keep an eye on communities near new stations. In apartment-heavy areas with a lot of new supply, careful selection matters more than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much property was sold in Dubai this week?
Between 12 and 16 October 2026, Dubai recorded AED 13.47 billion of real estate transactions, including 2,676 sales worth AED 8.59 billion and AED 3.72 billion of mortgages.
What was the most expensive property sold in Dubai this week?
An apartment in W Residences on Palm Jumeirah sold for AED 53.7 million, the highest sale between 12 and 16 October 2026.
Is the Etihad Rail station in Dubai connected to the Metro?
Yes. A pedestrian bridge of about 400 metres, with travelators, connects Al Yalayis Etihad Rail station with Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station on the Red Line. It largely opened to commuters on 15 October 2026, and the walk takes around five minutes.
Are Dubai rents falling?
Asking rents for apartments have fallen over the past year in most major apartment communities, as the number of homes available to rent has increased. Demand for rental homes remains strong, with registrations on course for a record year.
Why are Dubai property sales getting larger?
Recent weeks have seen slightly fewer sales but higher total value, which lifts the average transaction. Entry-level buyers have become more selective, while activity in higher-value homes has held up.
Talk to Us
Whatever your next move, the Sherwoods team can help you make sense of the market with advice based on the latest registered data.
UAE: +971 4 355 0094 or +971 50 591 5762 UK: +44 20 3962 9980 Email: info@sherwoodsproperty.com Web: sherwoodsproperty.com
Sherwoods Property, since 1988.
Sources: Dubai Land Department; Roads and Transport Authority; Etihad Rail; Nakheel; Emaar; Arabian Business; Emirates 24|7; Gulf News. Figures correct as of 16 October 2026. This article is general information and not investment advice. Sherwoods International Property, RERA registration number 1238.
