Dubai Real Estate Rental Market Report 27 - 28 December 2025
The rental market finished the year strong, with over 2,100 leases signed for nearly AED 275 million. This weekend was all about existing tenants and big-ticket industrial deals. Renewals slightly outnumbered new leases, but new contracts brought in more money overall. The real story is in the numbers: one industrial area, Jabal Ali Industrial First, pulled in more than a third of the entire weekend's value on its own, thanks to some huge labor camp and warehouse deals. For regular homes, areas like Al Barsha First and Al Thanyah Fifth saw the most action.
Mareva Oasis Dubai Waterfront Villas and Mansions by Emaar Properties
Source: Building Arabia.
Rentals by Contract Type
More people renewed this weekend, but new tenants signed bigger checks.
| Contract Type | Number of Deals | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Contracts | 959 | 179,364,304 | 48,822,000 |
| Renewals | 1,182 | 95,611,183 | 26,023,000 |
| TOTAL | 2,141 | 274,975,487 | 74,845,000 |
Using 1 AED = 0.2723 USD
Where the Money Came From (Freehold vs. Non-Freehold)
Non-freehold areas had more deals and way more value this weekend. That's where the big commercial and industrial leases happen.
| Ownership Type | Number of Deals | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Freehold Areas | 1,123 | 181,445,079 | 49,387,000 |
| Freehold Areas | 1,018 | 93,530,408 | 25,458,000 |
| TOTAL | 2,141 | 274,975,487 | 74,845,000 |
What Was Rented (By Property Type)
Apartments and flats were rented the most, but the big money came from labor camps and large villas.
| Property Type | Number of Deals | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Units (Apartments, Shops, Offices) | 1,943 | 244,876,762 | 66,659,000 |
| - Flats | 1,484 | 99,113,129 | 26,978,000 |
| - Labor Camps | 130 | 96,015,250 | 26,134,000 |
| - Shops | 135 | 24,460,126 | 6,658,000 |
| - Offices | 154 | 20,601,483 | 5,607,000 |
| Villas | 116 | 27,060,929 | 7,365,000 |
| Land | 4 | 1,703,795 | 464,000 |
| Virtual Offices | 78 | 1,334,000 | 363,000 |
| TOTAL | 2,141 | 274,975,487 | 74,845,000 |
Top 10 Areas for Rental Value
Jabal Ali Industrial First was in a league of its own. After that, it was a mix of popular residential and commercial spots.
| # | Area | Deals | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jabal Ali Industrial First | 113 | 94,925,500 | 25,843,000 |
| 2 | Al Barsha First | 48 | 14,174,127 | 3,858,000 |
| 3 | Al Thanyah Fifth | 35 | 8,303,887 | 2,260,000 |
| 4 | Marsa Dubai | 38 | 7,798,609 | 2,123,000 |
| 5 | Business Bay | 105 | 6,737,573 | 1,834,000 |
| 6 | Al Barsha South Fourth | 78 | 6,288,878 | 1,712,000 |
| 7 | Um Suqaim Second | 2 | 5,165,000 | 1,406,000 |
| 8 | Naif | 67 | 4,876,849 | 1,327,000 |
| 9 | Jabal Ali First | 79 | 4,631,721 | 1,261,000 |
| 10 | Al Karama | 58 | 4,175,391 | 1,137,000 |
Other active areas included: Burj Khalifa, Al Warsan First, Al Nahda Second, Wadi Al Safa 5, Al Khairan First, Nadd Hessa, and over 90 more communities across Dubai.
Bottom Line: The last weekend of 2025 saw 2,141 rental contracts worth AED 275 million (about USD 74.8 million). The market was busy with apartment renewals and a few massive industrial leases that pushed the total value up. Jabal Ali Industrial First was the clear winner by a huge margin.
Disclaimer:
This report is based on publicly available data and Dubai Land Department (DLD) transaction summaries as of the date mentioned in the title of this post.
Final and detailed figures from the DLD may vary upon official release.
1 US Dollar = 3.672 UAE Dirhams
This report is merely informative, and all investments come with risk. You are responsible for your decisions.