According to Cushman & Wakefield Core, more than 13,218 residential units were handed over in Dubai in the second quarter of 2026. Among the largest completed projects: Crest Grande in Sobha Hartland with 965 apartments, Skyhills Residences 1 in Dubai Science Park with 635 apartments, and City Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road with 608 apartments.
In the villa segment, large volumes came from Malta 1 and Costa Brava 1 in Damac Lagoons – 760 and 555 units, as well as Jebel Ali Village Townhouses with 614 villas and Elora at The Valley with 430 villas.
In the second half of the year, about 32,000 more units are expected to be handed over. If the forecast holds, by the end of 2026 the emirate will have delivered approximately 55,600 residential units – the most since 2008. For 2027, more than 60,000 units are planned.
While projects in Dubai are mostly being delivered on schedule, the pace of handovers may slow in the future due to limited contractor resources, supply chain issues, and a calmer market situation.
Up to 2030, nearly 525,000 units are announced, but only about 186,000 of them are more than 20% built. Therefore, actual delivery volumes are likely to be significantly lower than announced.
A more extended delivery schedule could benefit the market: supply will come gradually, reducing the risk of oversupply and helping maintain the balance of supply and demand.
In the first half of 2026, the number of new apartment launches fell by about 58% year-on-year, and villas by 78%. The slowdown began in the first quarter and intensified in the second due to geopolitical uncertainty: some developers preferred to postpone launches.
New projects are mainly concentrated in the mid-price segment and are aimed at end users. Developers have become more cautious in assessing real demand.
At the same time, prices remain generally stable. Instead of direct price cuts, companies are more often offering flexible payment plans, compensating DLD fees, providing discounts for multiple unit purchases, and increasing broker commissions.
The reduction in new launches could lower the volume of off-plan transactions in the near term. At the same time, it helps make the future supply more balanced and could improve sales rates in the medium term.
Despite the decline in launches, the market continues to attract new players. According to the Dubai Land Department, from the beginning of 2026 to mid-August, 186 new construction companies started operating in the emirate – about 25 per month.
The increase in the number of developers should intensify competition and expand the choice of projects for buyers and investors.
Thus, an interesting contrast emerges: the number of new projects is declining, but the number of companies wanting to work in the Dubai market continues to grow. The constant influx of new companies once again confirms Dubai's status as one of the most active real estate markets in the region. Additionally, the UAE government has boosted the mid-price housing segment by completely abolishing the minimum property value threshold of 750,000 dirhams previously required for an investor visa.
