Dubai Real Estate Rental Transactions - 16 March 2026
Dubai Rental Transactions
Registered Monday, 16 March 2026
A total of 3,821 rental contracts were registered in Dubai on Monday, 16 March 2026. The combined value of these agreements reached AED 1,731,196,624.
The S at Sobha Hartland II, Ultra-Luxury 4BR Sky Residences, MBR City, Dubai
Source: Building Arabia.
Rental Transactions by Contract Type
| Category | Number of Transactions | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New | 1,289 | 298,667,627 | 81,325,426 |
| Renewed | 2,532 | 1,432,528,997 | 390,069,162 |
| Grand Total | 3,821 | 1,731,196,624 | 471,394,588 |
Renewals represented the majority of activity, accounting for roughly two-thirds of the day’s registrations.
Rental Transactions by Property Ownership
| Category | Number of Transactions | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Hold | 2,000 | 1,433,350,456 | 390,292,840 |
| Non Free Hold | 1,821 | 297,846,168 | 81,101,748 |
| Grand Total | 3,821 | 1,731,196,624 | 471,394,588 |
Free Hold properties represented just over half of the contracts but accounted for the majority of transaction value.
Rental Transactions by Property Usage
| Category | Number of Transactions | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | 894 | 252,475,670 | 68,747,630 |
| Industrial | 1 | 103,363 | 28,145 |
| Industrial / Commercial | 1 | 618,387 | 168,383 |
| Residential | 2,905 | 1,470,801,776 | 400,490,613 |
| Storage | 1 | 10,000 | 2,723 |
| Other | 19 | 7,187,427 | 1,957,094 |
| Grand Total | 3,821 | 1,731,196,624 | 471,394,588 |
Residential usage dominated transaction volume, representing the majority of leases registered during the day.
Rental Transactions by Property Type
| Category | Number of Transactions | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A) Land | |||
| Other | 15 | 3,954,177 | 1,076,699 |
| Subtotal A) Land | 15 | 3,954,177 | 1,076,699 |
| B) Unit | |||
| Arabian House | 1 | 50,000 | 13,615 |
| church | 2 | 504,000 | 137,236 |
| Flat | 2,058 | 159,762,067 | 43,502,265 |
| Hotel | 14 | 1,212,626 | 330,191 |
| Kiosk | 2 | 187,900 | 51,164 |
| Labor Camps | 629 | 1,257,931,483 | 342,527,293 |
| Ladies Saloon | 1 | 70,000 | 19,061 |
| Mezzanine | 2 | 157,000 | 42,750 |
| Office | 351 | 121,936,726 | 33,197,203 |
| Open space | 1 | 30,000 | 8,169 |
| Parking | 1 | 424,779 | 115,665 |
| Restaurant | 2 | 815,000 | 221,920 |
| Restaurants Complex | 1 | 247,800 | 67,474 |
| Shop | 276 | 103,901,570 | 28,291,782 |
| Showroom | 10 | 3,537,000 | 963,104 |
| Staff Accommodation | 2 | 24,000 | 6,535 |
| Storage | 3 | 510,000 | 138,870 |
| Store | 1 | 10,000 | 2,723 |
| Studio | 23 | 804,333 | 219,015 |
| Warehouse | 34 | 9,273,051 | 2,525,000 |
| Warehouse complex | 1 | 92,000 | 25,051 |
| Workshop | 1 | 103,363 | 28,145 |
| Other | 1 | 3,000,000 | 816,882 |
| Subtotal B) Unit | 3,417 | 1,664,584,698 | 453,256,555 |
| C) Villa | |||
| Complex Villas | 22 | 3,960,760 | 1,078,491 |
| Villa | 177 | 49,756,021 | 13,548,270 |
| Other | 1 | 132,250 | 36,011 |
| Subtotal C) Villa | 200 | 53,849,031 | 14,662,772 |
| D) Virtual Unit | |||
| Office | 189 | 8,808,718 | 2,398,562 |
| Subtotal D) Virtual Unit | 189 | 8,808,718 | 2,398,562 |
| Grand Total | 3,821 | 1,731,196,624 | 471,394,588 |
Units represented the dominant asset category, driven largely by labor camp leases which accounted for the majority of transaction value within the segment.
Top 10 Localities by Rental Value
| Locality | Number of Transactions | Value (AED) | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madinat Dubai Almelaheyah | 254 | 1,081,403,962 | 294,459,894 |
| Al Goze Industrial First | 60 | 51,847,525 | 14,117,774 |
| Jabal Ali Industrial First | 78 | 50,789,535 | 13,829,553 |
| Muhaisanah Second | 104 | 50,045,013 | 13,626,961 |
| Business Bay | 145 | 44,094,923 | 12,006,786 |
| Al Safouh Second | 24 | 33,793,134 | 9,201,670 |
| Burj Khalifa | 28 | 32,223,716 | 8,774,327 |
| Al Thanyah Fifth | 49 | 25,182,884 | 6,857,150 |
| Al Thanyah First | 40 | 15,834,688 | 4,311,692 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 19 | 15,200,890 | 4,139,112 |
Beyond these areas, 140 other localities recorded rental activity.
Together they accounted for AED 330,780,354 in additional transactions.
Examples among the next highest locations include Al Hudaiba, Naif, and Jabal Ali First.
Summary
The 16 March registry data reflects a rental market largely driven by contract renewals, which represented the majority of transactions recorded during the day. Residential usage remained the dominant segment by volume.
Within the asset mix, Units accounted for most registrations, particularly large labor camp leases. Activity was geographically concentrated, with Madinat Dubai Almelaheyah alone representing a significant share of the day’s total transaction 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.