Sales value hit AED37.9 billion ($10.32 billion), up 30% year-on-year. This shift favours value-driven deals over volume.
Transaction numbers fell 3% to 3,619 units. However, the market stays robust. Behnam Bargh, Managing Director at CRC, points to UAE economic stability. Yet, core strength persists.
Office Sector Leads Value Surge
The office sector drove growth in Dubai commercial real estate Q1 2026. Volumes rose 2% to 1,565 units. Sales value jumped 73% quarter-on-quarter to AED8.2 billion.
Secondary market prices broke AED2,000 per sq ft. They averaged AED2,023 per sq ft for the first time. Al Sufouh topped activity. Business Bay and JLT followed.
Off-plan deals showed huge gains. Volumes grew 26%. Value soared 158%. These now make up 78% of all commercial transactions.
Warehouse demand stayed fierce. Leads rose 73% year-on-year and 72% quarter-on-quarter. This signals strong institutional interest in logistics.
Retail Repricing Fuels Boom
Retail assets saw dramatic change in Dubai commercial real estate Q1 2026. Sales values surged 162% year-on-year. Buyers seek premium, high-traffic spaces.
Jumeirah Village Circle led retail deals. Motor City ranked next. Neighbourhood retail now supplements destination shopping.
Other reports confirm commercial strength. Gulf News cites Dh38 billion across 3,622 deals. This aligns with CRC data on rising values.
Dubai sets itself as a global commercial hub. The D33 framework draws foreign investment. Non-oil sectors like logistics expand. Investors should eye office and retail for yields. Logistics assets offer long-term bets amid digital growth. This resilience aids portfolios in uncertain times.
