Are Dubai property prices expected to fall in 2026?

Residents expect a calmer market. In our Future Living 2026 survey of 1,714 Dubai residents, 32% expect sale prices to rise in the next 12 months, down from 72% in 2024, while 53% expect a fall, including 27% who expect a drop of more than 10%. These are residents’ views, not a market forecast. 70% remain confident in Dubai’s long-term prospects.

Will my rent go up when I renew in Dubai?

Most tenants don’t expect it to. 34% expect a rent increase at renewal, down from 77% in 2024, and 66% expect their rent to hold or fall. Any increase at renewal must still follow the RERA rental index.

Are tenants still planning to buy property in Dubai?

Yes. 55% of tenants plan to buy within one to three years, the same as in 2025. 67% of them plan to use a mortgage, and long-term residence is the most common reason for buying, given by 71%.

What type of property are Dubai buyers looking for now?

More space. Among tenants planning to buy, townhouse preference has risen to 30%, from 17% in 2024, while apartment preference has fallen to 41%. 23% want four bedrooms or more. Existing owners lean towards ready homes (41%) over off-plan (27%) for their next purchase.

How has regional uncertainty affected confidence in Dubai?

It held. 67% said their confidence in Dubai stayed the same or improved, and 45% said it rose. Property decisions moved more carefully: 36% saw no change to their plans, 31% became more committed or accelerated plans, and 33% slowed, paused or reassessed.

How long do Dubai residents plan to stay?

69% plan to stay for ten years or more, up from 59% in 2025. Among residents who have already lived here for more than ten years, it’s 75%.

Is the full report free?

Yes. Fill in the short form and the PDF downloads straight away. We’ll email you a copy too.

Future Living Report 2026: Dubai Resident Property Survey

What do Dubai residents really think about the city they call home?

We asked residents about their confidence in Dubai, their property decisions and their plans for the future. Now in its third edition, the betterhomes Future Living Report offers a closer look at what matters to the people living here.

About the survey

Respondents: 1,714 Dubai residents from 63 nationalities
Fieldwork: 17 June to 19 July 2026
Method: Voluntary online survey through betterhomes’ channels
Reporting: Percentages are rounded and reflect residents’ views
Published by: betterhomes, third edition

Figures describe what this sample of residents told us. They are not a forecast of the Dubai property market, and comparisons with 2024 and 2025 use the same questions asked of different samples each year.

2026 at a glance

67%: say confidence in Dubai held or improved after recent regional developments.45% say it rose
69%: plan to stay in Dubai for ten years or more.Up from 59% in 2025
32%: own their home.Up from 23% in 2024
55%: of tenants plan to buy within one to three years.Unchanged from 2025
32%: expect sale prices to rise in the next 12 months.Down from 72% in 2024
34%: of tenants expect a rent increase at renewal.Down from 77% in 2024

Confidence in Dubai held when it was tested

This is the first Future Living survey since a period of regional disruption. For 45% of residents, confidence in Dubai did not merely hold, it rose. Property plans moved more carefully than sentiment did.

how-recent-regional-developments-affected-property-plans-2026-11-11t121421564z

What it meansMost residents still believe in Dubai. Some are just taking a little longer to decide when to buy or move.

More residents are putting down roots

Home ownership has risen in every edition of this survey, and the residents who have been here longest are the ones most likely to stay.

homeownership-by-edition-2026-11-11t121438251z

What it meansThe longer people live here, the more likely they are to stay. 75% of residents who’ve been here more than ten years plan to stay another decade.

Where does Dubai stand among the world’s property markets?

Most residents already place Dubai among the world’s leading property markets, or expect it to get there within five years. 70% are confident in the city’s long-term prospects.

how-residents-see-dubai-against-the-worlds-leading-property-markets-2026-11-11t121456751z

What it meansMost residents see Dubai as a world-class property market, or one well on its way. We’ve watched it grow since 1986.

How government policy is shaping property decisions

70% of respondents say government policies or initiatives influenced their property decisions. For most of them it tipped a decision they were already weighing.

how-much-policy-influenced-the-decision-to-invest-2026-11-11t122108487z

What it meansGovernment support is shaping how people buy. If you’re buying your first home, the Dubai Land Department’s First-Time Home Buyer Programme is worth a look.

More from the survey

30%of tenants planning to buy now want a townhouse, up from 17% in 2024, as apartment preference falls.

52%of residents who have used an AI or a digital tool in a property search still cross-check it with a human expert.

76%are satisfied with their current home.

61%of residents who have seriously considered relocating still plan to stay ten years or more.

77%of owners want more green space and walkable areas in new developments, compared with 35% for smart-home technology.

53%would consider living in one emirate and working in another once Etihad Rail passenger services begin.

41%of owners prefer a ready home for their next purchase, up from 35% in 2025.

79%of owners rate their rental yields satisfactory or robust.

Watch: Future Living Report 2026 in brief

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The key findings from 1,714 Dubai residents, in 2 minutes

Future Living Report 2026