Dubai’s secondary (resale) property market has seen a clear pickup at the start of 2026, with transaction values rising by 23.2% year-on-year in January and February to reach AED 51.6 billion, compared to AED 41.9 billion during the same period last year.

Part of this increase is linked to higher-value deals. The average transaction rose from AED 3.5 million to AED 4.8 million, with a total of 10,674 transactions recorded over the two-month period. At the same time, the average price per square foot moved up from AED 1,481 to AED 1,741.

Much of the momentum came from the villa segment, which continued to attract strong interest. Transaction volumes increased to 1,980 deals, up from 1,704 a year earlier, while total sales value climbed from AED 20.6 billion to AED 32.7 billion. Prices also followed an upward trend, with the average reaching AED 2,298 per square foot, compared to AED 1,928 previously.

This points to sustained demand for larger homes, particularly among buyers looking for more space and longer-term value.

Apartments showed a more stable pattern. The number of transactions rose slightly from 6,931 to 7,181, while total sales value increased from AED 11.9 billion to AED 12.8 billion. Prices also edged higher, averaging AED 1,660 per square foot, up from AED 1,532.

There were also notable high-value deals in areas such as Palm Jumeirah and Downtown Dubai, indicating that interest in premium properties is still holding.