Dubai Real Estate Rental Transactions: MTD May 2026
Dubai Real Estate Rental Transactions Report
Month-to-Date May 2026 (01–17 May 2026)
Market Overview
Between 01 and 17 May 2026, the Dubai rental registry recorded 47,353 transactions with a total value of AED 17,665,577,509 (USD 4,810,039,835). New contracts accounted for 20,156 transactions valued at AED 12,264,030,091, while renewed contracts totaled 27,197 transactions worth AED 5,401,547,419.
Non-freehold properties recorded a higher total value than freehold, despite a lower concentration of contracts. Residential usage remained the dominant segment by both volume and value, followed by commercial activity. Other usage categories contributed marginally in comparison, with industrial, storage, educational, and health-related segments remaining minimal in overall share.
Azizi Milan Residences, Dubai | City of Arabia
Source: Building Arabia.
1. Rental Transactions by Contract Type
| Category | Number of Transactions | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New | 20156 | 12,264,030,091 | 3,339,274,913 |
| Renewed | 27197 | 5,401,547,419 | 1,470,764,922 |
| Grand Total | 47353 | 17,665,577,509 | 4,810,039,835 |
2. Rental Transactions by Property Ownership
| Category | Number of Transactions | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Hold | 24647 | 7,362,333,929 | 2,004,638,278 |
| Non Free Hold | 22706 | 10,303,243,581 | 2,805,401,557 |
| Grand Total | 47353 | 17,665,577,509 | 4,810,039,835 |
3. Rental Transactions by Property Usage
| Category | Number of Transactions | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | 11737 | 5,015,034,729 | 1,365,560,337 |
| Educational facility | 3 | 26,827,146 | 7,304,464 |
| Health Facility | 3 | 224,355 | 61,086 |
| Industrial | 78 | 18,933,981 | 5,155,028 |
| Residential | 35344 | 12,569,974,052 | 3,422,667,271 |
| Storage | 6 | 930,218 | 253,285 |
| Other | 182 | 33,653,029 | 9,162,748 |
| Grand Total | 47353 | 17,665,577,509 | 4,810,039,835 |
4. Rental Transactions by Property Type
| Category | Number of Transactions | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A) Building | |||
| Arabian House | 2 | 1,600,000 | 435,644 |
| Building | 5 | 60,849,204 | 16,569,122 |
| Factory | 2 | 55,000 | 14,975 |
| Hotel | 2 | 2,607,200 | 709,909 |
| Labor Camps | 2 | 3,327,912 | 906,185 |
| Nursery | 1 | 587,500 | 159,975 |
| Petrol station | 1 | 1,000,000 | 272,277 |
| Shop | 1 | 200,000 | 54,455 |
| Warehouse | 1 | 600,000 | 163,366 |
| Subtotal | 17 | 70,826,816 | 19,285,041 |
| B) Land | |||
| Other | 147 | 30,519,954 | 8,310,482 |
| Subtotal | 147 | 30,519,954 | 8,310,482 |
| C) Unit | |||
| ATM | 1 | 20,000 | 5,445 |
| Bank | 12 | 36,960,000 | 10,063,913 |
| Building | 2 | 129,500 | 35,259 |
| Clinic | 33 | 421,302,183 | 114,705,924 |
| Complex Warehouse | 19 | 5,056,284 | 1,376,765 |
| Endowments attached to mosques | 2 | 240,000 | 65,346 |
| Factory | 1 | 731,234 | 199,096 |
| Farm | 1 | 200,000 | 54,455 |
| Flat | 27072 | 4,641,066,725 | 1,263,688,967 |
| Garage | 1 | 50,000 | 13,614 |
| GYM | 1 | 192,500 | 52,413 |
| Health club | 3 | 1,070,000 | 291,293 |
| Hotel | 426 | 275,242,728 | 74,944,245 |
| Kiosk | 23 | 1,589,695 | 432,837 |
| kitchen | 1 | 60,000 | 16,337 |
| Labor Camps | 4982 | 7,096,374,781 | 1,932,227,524 |
| Ladies Saloon | 2 | 183,000 | 49,822 |
| Mezzanine | 14 | 903,954 | 246,124 |
| Office | 4647 | 1,506,042,788 | 410,069,077 |
| Open Land | 1 | 270,000 | 73,514 |
| Open space | 12 | 5,456,039 | 1,485,623 |
| Parking | 21 | 4,951,209 | 1,347,953 |
| Penthouse | 3 | 748,008 | 203,670 |
| Portacabin | 1 | 130,000 | 35,396 |
| Restaurant | 24 | 8,005,392 | 2,179,666 |
| Restaurant Complex | 11 | 7,594,465 | 2,067,854 |
| School | 3 | 26,827,146 | 7,304,464 |
| Shop | 3534 | 2,097,203,536 | 571,027,036 |
| Showroom | 138 | 76,124,264 | 20,727,853 |
| Staff Accommodation | 16 | 953,455 | 259,607 |
| Storage | 6 | 1,059,100 | 288,352 |
| Store | 10 | 2,271,770 | 618,609 |
| Studio | 348 | 14,383,782 | 3,916,535 |
| Supermarket | 2 | 363,664 | 99,020 |
| Supermarket, a multi-section | 2 | 435,068 | 118,459 |
| Villa | 2 | 100,000 | 27,227 |
| Villa addendum | 1 | 20,000 | 5,445 |
| Warehouse | 522 | 143,868,454 | 39,171,274 |
| Warehouse complex | 13 | 3,272,540 | 891,090 |
| Workshop | 21 | 21,529,725 | 5,862,125 |
| Other | 7 | 386,060 | 105,118 |
| Subtotal | 41941 | 16,403,369,048 | 4,466,217,578 |
| D) Villa | |||
| Clinic | 6 | 21,352,500 | 5,813,653 |
| Complex Villas | 200 | 45,453,920 | 12,376,235 |
| Flat | 2 | 179,287 | 48,818 |
| Medical center | 1 | 315,000 | 85,767 |
| Office | 1 | 500,000 | 136,138 |
| Restaurant | 1 | 300,000 | 81,683 |
| Shop | 10 | 940,288 | 256,035 |
| Villa | 2813 | 816,615,820 | 222,356,205 |
| Villa addendum | 3 | 221,578 | 60,331 |
| Other | 1 | 199,000 | 54,184 |
| Subtotal | 3038 | 886,077,393 | 241,268,606 |
| E) Virtual Unit | |||
| Desk | 1 | 12,500 | 3,403 |
| kitchen | 1 | 50,000 | 13,614 |
| Office | 2161 | 156,996,372 | 42,745,570 |
| Shop | 41 | 117,515,426 | 31,998,959 |
| Warehouse | 6 | 210,000 | 57,178 |
| Subtotal | 2210 | 274,784,298 | 74,821,590 |
| Grand Total | 47353 | 17,665,577,509 | 4,810,039,835 |
5. Top 10 Localities by Value
| Locality | Number of Transactions | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jabal Ali Industrial First | 1777 | 3,702,754,053 | 1,008,231,257 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 309 | 1,378,803,838 | 375,439,666 |
| Al Bada | 331 | 1,232,289,191 | 335,545,632 |
| Al Goze Third | 1157 | 938,800,743 | 255,613,426 |
| Al Ttay | 226 | 698,149,893 | 190,092,254 |
| Al Goze Industrial First | 215 | 561,982,504 | 153,014,909 |
| Dubai Investment Park First | 931 | 443,298,510 | 120,705,724 |
| Burj Khalifa | 1022 | 443,250,579 | 120,689,716 |
| Muhaisanah Second | 489 | 382,473,704 | 104,143,295 |
| Business Bay | 2705 | 338,311,925 | 92,115,055 |
A total of 186 other active localities recorded AED 6,545,882,162 in combined value. Examples include Al Thanyah Fifth, Port Saeed, and Marsa Dubai.
Conclusion
Rental activity during the period remained concentrated in industrial clusters and high-density residential zones. Labor camps and flats continued to dominate unit-level activity, both in volume and value contribution. Jabal Ali Industrial First remained the highest-value locality, while premium districts such as Palm Jumeirah and Al Bada followed in total rental value.
Disclaimer
This report is based on publicly available market transaction summaries and compiled data related to Dubai real estate activity for the stated period.
Figures are presented for informational purposes only and may vary from final official statistics published by the Dubai Land Department (DLD).
1 US Dollar = 3.6725 UAE Dirhams
This material does not constitute financial or investment advice. Real estate investments involve risk and readers should conduct independent research before making any investment decisions.