Real Estate

Dubai Tenancy Market Heads for All-Time Record as Registered Rental Contracts Surpass 214,000 in Seven Months

Market data from fäm Properties highlights robust resident retention and strong rental demand, alongside AED 34.5 billion in property sales delivered in July alone.

By 19Network Editorial Team · Aug 12, 2026 · 5 min read

Sunlight reflects off glass skyscrapers and residential towers lining a dense urban waterfront in downtown Dubai.

Dubai's rental market is on track to set an all-time annual high after registering 214,445 tenancy contracts over the first seven months of 2026.

Key Takeaways

All-Time Record Trajectory: Dubai registered 214,445 tenancy contracts between January and July 2026—a 1.9% increase compared to the same period in last year's record-breaking annual total.
High Renewal Activity: July contributed 38,197 rental contracts, comprising 18,431 new agreements and 19,766 renewals, demonstrating long-term resident retention.
One-Bedroom Apartments Lead: One-bedroom properties dominated the market, representing 88,327 registered contracts (41% of all agreements), followed by two-bedroom units at 23%.
Top Leasing Hubs: Al Warsan First led all areas with 20,830 registered contracts year-to-date, followed by Jebel Ali First (18,478), Al Barsha South Fourth (16,489), and Business Bay (13,728).
Parallel Sales Strength: July delivered 13,872 property sales transactions valued at AED 34.5 billion ($9.39B), dominated by off-plan sales worth AED 20.5 billion.

Dubai’s residential rental market is on track to achieve an all-time annual high for registered tenancy agreements following exceptional transaction volumes recorded over the first seven months of 2026. According to a comprehensive market analysis released by fäm Properties based on official Dubai Land Department data, the emirate recorded 214,445 registered tenancy contracts between January 1 and July 31, 2026—marking a 1.9% increase compared to the corresponding period in 2025. The impressive year-to-date performance follows a landmark year in 2025, which concluded with a historic peak of 377,660 registered rental contracts. The consistent upward trajectory throughout 2026 reinforces Dubai's standing as a world-leading hub for business professionals, expatriate families, and international investors seeking long-term stability. July 2026 served as a major growth driver, contributing 38,197 registered tenancy contracts to the year-to-date total. Crucially, contract renewals accounted for more than half of July's total volume, with 19,766 lease renewals registered alongside 18,431 brand-new rental agreements. Commenting on the data, Firas Al Msaddi, Chief Executive Officer of fäm Properties, noted that the high volume of lease renewals reflects strong resident retention and underlying economic resilience, proving that residents continue to view Dubai as one of the safest and most desirable cities globally to live, work, and raise a family. Data breakdown by property type…

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