August brought the seasonal slowdown we would expect during Dubai's summer months, with transaction volumes easing following the stronger activity seen in June and July. But beneath the headline decline, the market remained remarkably steady.
Prices held broadly firm, villa and townhouse activity proved resilient, and the total value of transactions fell considerably less than overall sales volume. Rather than signalling a change in direction, August looks much more like a seasonal pause with buyers and sellers holding their positions as Dubai moves towards the traditionally busier autumn market.
August 2026 at a Glance
Dubai recorded 11,087 residential transactions during August, down 15.5% compared with July, with the total value of sales reaching AED 23.8 billion.
Off Plan remained the dominant segment, accounting for 7,904 transactions and 71.3% of total sales, while the Secondary market recorded 3,183 transactions.
The most notable difference came between property types. Apartment transactions fell 17.2% month-on-month to 9,693, while villa and townhouse sales declined by just 1.1% to 1,394. This suggests that while apartment activity was more affected by the traditional summer slowdown, demand for villas and townhouses remained comparatively resilient.
Perhaps more importantly, value held up better than volume. While transactions fell 15.5%, the total value transacted declined by only 9.8%, pushing the average transaction value to AED 2.14 million, up from AED 2.01 million in July.
What This Means for Buyers and Investors
August reinforces the importance of looking beyond transaction volumes alone.
Despite fewer properties changing hands, prices remained remarkably stable. Median apartment prices eased by just 1.0% month-on-month to AED 1,451 per sq ft, while villa and townhouse prices declined by only 0.7% to AED 1,732 per sq ft.
Across the 97 communities analysed, 38 recorded price movements of less than 1% in either direction - further evidence that sellers were largely holding their pricing rather than discounting into a quieter market.
For buyers, this creates an interesting window. With fewer active purchasers competing during the summer months, there may be greater opportunity to negotiate on individual properties - but the data does not suggest widespread price reductions. The opportunity remains in identifying the right property, community and seller rather than waiting for the wider Dubai market to fall.
Community Trends
Once again, the data demonstrates the very different dynamics driving Dubai's Off Plan and Secondary markets.
Off Plan activity remained concentrated within Dubai's emerging growth corridors, with Dubai South recording 1,938 transactions and accounting for almost a quarter of all Off Plan sales during August. Downtown Jebel Ali and Azizi Milan followed, while Jumeirah Village Circle and Dubai Residence Complex also remained among the most active locations.
The Secondary market told a different story, with established communities continuing to attract buyers looking for completed homes. Jumeirah Village Circle led with 375 transactions, followed by Business Bay, Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai and Dubai Hills Estate.
Interestingly, Jumeirah Village Circle was the only community to feature among the leading locations in both markets - highlighting just how differently buyer demand is distributed between new development and completed property.
Our Perspective
August should be viewed in context.
Dubai's residential market recorded 104,137 transactions during the first eight months of 2026, averaging more than 13,000 transactions per month. While August was 37.5% below the exceptional August 2025 peak, the year-to-date picture is considerably more revealing.
Off Plan transactions are only 7.5% below the same eight-month period last year, while Secondary transactions are down 40.1%. This suggests that the adjustment we are seeing is concentrated primarily within the resale market rather than representing a broad contraction across Dubai property.
Most importantly, prices have remained disciplined throughout the quieter summer period. Sellers have largely held their ground, developers continue to bring new stock to market, and villa demand has remained particularly resilient.
As Dubai moves into September and the traditionally stronger autumn period, the next few months should provide a clearer indication of whether the recovery in activity we saw during June and July resumes.
At Exclusive Links, our role is to help clients understand what sits behind the headline figures. Dubai is not one property market, and opportunities can look very different depending on the community, property type and whether you are buying Off Plan or Secondary.
Download the Full August 2026 Report
This article provides just a snapshot of Dubai's residential property market during August.
Download the Full August 2026 Market Report for detailed analysis covering transaction volumes, Off Plan and Secondary performance, community trends, price movements, the rental market and what the latest data could mean for your next property decision.
👉 Download Full August Report
Source: Dubai Land Department & Property Monitor - Exclusive Links August 2026 Month in Review.
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