Dubai’s office market recorded AED15.8 billion in sales during the first half of 2026, driven by a sharp rise in high-value off-plan transactions, according to Cavendish Maxwell.
DUBAI: Dubai office sales reached AED15.8 billion in the first half of 2026, marking an almost 200 per cent year-on-year increase, as investors continued to snap up premium office space across the emirate, according to a new report by real estate consultancy Cavendish Maxwell.
The report revealed that 2,600 office transactions were completed between January and June, up more than 38 per cent from the same period last year. Off-plan properties dominated the market, accounting for 65 per cent of all sales.
A key driver behind the record performance was a surge in high-value purchases. More than 220 office transactions worth over AED20 million were recorded during the six-month period, compared with just 20 such deals in each half of 2025. Around 95 per cent of these premium transactions involved off-plan properties.
The average price paid for an off-plan office climbed to AED8.3 million, more than double the AED3.5 million average recorded a year earlier. Ready office prices also increased, rising to AED3 million from AED2.6 million in H1 2025.
Despite the strong annual performance, the report noted that market activity slowed during the second quarter. Office transactions fell by nearly 36 per cent compared with the first quarter, while both sales prices and rental rates eased slightly amid seasonal factors and regional geopolitical uncertainty.
Vidhi Shah, Director and Head of Commercial Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell, said Dubai’s office market remains underpinned by strong economic fundamentals, including its diversified economy, strategic location and business-friendly environment. However, she noted that market performance in the coming months will depend on regional developments, future supply and occupier demand.
Business Bay emerged as Dubai’s busiest office sales location during the first half of the year, recording 814 transactions, followed by Al Sufouh 1, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai Maritime City and Barsha Heights. Together, these five areas accounted for more than 70 per cent of all office sales.
The report also showed that approximately 92,300 square metres of new office space was delivered during H1 2026, bringing Dubai’s total office stock to 9.46 million square metres. Although more supply is scheduled over the next two years, Cavendish Maxwell expects availability to remain relatively tight through the rest of 2026 due to likely construction delays.
With demand for premium workspaces remaining strong and off-plan developments attracting significant investor interest, Dubai office sales continue to highlight the emirate’s position as one of the region’s most active commercial real estate markets.
