Off-plan hits 76% of Dubai's market. Here's what's behind it.
Three quarters of every property deal in Dubai right now is off-plan. According to the latest data shared during betterhomes' property market updates webinar, 76% of all Dubai transactions recorded by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) were off-plan, up from 72% the previous month and up 9% in market share versus pre-conflict levels. Year on year, off-plan volumes are essentially flat, down just 1%.
Why off-plan keeps trading when everything else slows down
Off-plan's property market’s resilience isn't accidental. It comes down to how the segment is structured. Developers operate on a build-to-sell model, which means they need to move units to keep projects funded and timelines on track. That creates a natural floor of activity that doesn't exist in the same way on the secondary market side.
The secondary market has options. Off-plan doesn't.
Secondary market owners typically have room to manoeuvre. They can hold, adjust their price expectations, or simply wait for conditions to improve. As Harry Martin, Head of Off-plan and Capital Markets, put it during the webinar: "The secondary market perhaps has a window of opportunity to wait if they need to, or a price buffer to fall back on. Off-plan doesn't have that luxury."
That dynamic is showing up clearly in the numbers. Overall transaction volumes are lower across the board, down roughly 35% compared to post-conflict levels. But within that softer market, off-plan is absorbing a larger and larger share of whatever deals are happening.
What the property market share shift actually means
A 9% gain in market share during a period of lower overall volume tells you something specific: off-plan isn't just holding on, it's consolidating its position. Buyers and investors who are still active are choosing off-plan projects, whether that's for the payment plan structures, the entry prices, or the pipeline of new launches coming through.
Is this a pause or a shift?
The broader pullback in transaction volumes looks more like a pause than a structural change. Buyers across segments are taking stock. But the fundamentals that have driven Dubai's off-plan market, developer pipeline, international investor demand, and competitive pricing relative to other global cities, haven't changed.
betterhomes' own market share within the off-plan segment is up 9% versus pre-conflict levels, which reflects continued activity and client confidence even as the wider numbers recalibrate.
What this means if you're considering off-plan right now
If you're an investor or buyer weighing up your options, the data suggests the off-plan property market remains the most active and liquid part of the Dubai real estate market. Payment plan structures mean lower upfront capital, and with developer supply still feeding through, there's no shortage of off-plan projects to evaluate.
That said, not all launches are equal. Location, developer track record, handover timelines, and payment terms all matter, and that's where having the right advice makes the difference.
Speak to our off-plan team
Whether you're looking to invest for the first time or add to an existing portfolio, our off-plan specialists can walk you through what's available, what's performing, and what to watch out for.
