Dubai Commercial Demand Surges as Office Sales Double

Dubai’s commercial real estate cycle continues to accelerate, extending the momentum that has defined recent quarters. Office sales for 2025 closed at Dh13.1 billion — double the previous year — while Grade A industrial stock tightened to near-full occupancy.

Rental activity surpassed Dh126 billion, marking another record in a market increasingly driven by corporate expansion and institutional capital rather than residential speculation.

Against this backdrop, the first phase of 2026 is reinforcing a clear separation between asset classes. Commercial, logistics, and mixed-use districts are outperforming; mid-market residential is normalising; and land acquisition strategies are shifting in response to construction inflation and rising feasibility thresholds.

The cycle is maturing — and investors now face a market where precision outweighs momentum.

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Office Market Resets Expectations: Sales Double and Prime Rents Break New Levels

Dubai’s office sector has moved into a structurally different zone of performance. The city posted Dh13.1 billion ($3.57bn) in office sales during 2025 — more than double the 2024 figure and the strongest office performance in over a decade.

Transaction volumes increased 53%, driven by multinational relocations, the expansion of financial and professional services, and an influx of AI, defense, and advanced manufacturing firms.

Chronic Prime Shortage

The story is not just demand; it is scarcity.

• Only 153,000 sqm of new office supply is projected for 2026

• DIFC rents increased 35% year-on-year

• Vacancy in core Grade A buildings remains close to zero

• Fit-out and service charges have risen, lifting effective costs for tenants but reinforcing landlord leverage

The AHS Tower — a 69-storey commercial high-rise on Sheikh Zayed Road — was fully sold out during development, generating $700 million+.

Commercial towers do not typically sell out pre-completion unless institutional demand is deep and confidence is long-term.

What Rising Dubai Commercial Demand Means for Investors

• Yield consistency is stronger in commercial assets than in residential at this stage of the cycle.

• Capital values for Grade A offices are expected to rise 10–15% in 2026, outperforming residential price growth.

• Investors should prioritize buildings with efficient floor plates, ESG compliance, and established tenant demand.

• Refurbished Grade B assets present emerging value: rental spreads between B and A classes have widened enough to justify repositioning strategies.

The Dh126 Billion Rental Base: A Structural Anchor for Long-Term Investment

Dubai’s rental market provides a foundation that is now too large to ignore in investment strategy.

The Dubai Land Department recorded Dh126 billion ($34.4bn) worth of rental contracts across 1.1 million tenancies — the highest rental year ever documented.

Key data points:

• 6% growth in total contract registrations

• 10% rise in new rental contracts (indicating fresh population inflows)

• 17% rental value growth, led by prime and villa stock

• Commercial lease lengths have expanded as companies secure long-term operational certainty

Why This Matters for Commercial Investors

A rental economy of this size supports:

• More stable mixed-use developments

• Longer-term leases in office and retail assets

• Higher absorption in decentralized business districts

• Institutional-grade underwriting for income-producing assets

As supply increases in certain residential zones, end-user absorption is expected to stabilize rental trajectories — a positive outcome for commercial tenants seeking predictable cost baselines.

Explore curated office and retail opportunities  at Mitchell’s Commercial Realty.

Strategic Developments Reshaping Commercial Supply

The cycle’s next stage is defined by the emergence of new commercial hubs — not replacements for the core, but expansions that deliver new formats and better alignment with population distribution.

Motor City: Integrated Commercial District

A partnership between Avenew Development and Kora Properties will deliver a major commercial hub in Motor City, responding to increasingly permanent shifts toward work-near-home ecosystems.

Motor City benefits from:

• Mature residential density

• Strong connectivity to key corridors

• Demand for mid-rise commercial stock outside the CBD

Expect this district to attract SME headquarters, logistics support, and professional services firms priced out of central office markets.

Majan: Institutional Capital Positions Early

Nisus Finance deployed Dh110 million into Majan — a signal that mid-market commercial zones with strong transport adjacency are becoming institutional targets.

The district is strategically positioned between several established and emerging corridors, making it one of the more undervalued early-cycle commercial plays.

Land Deals Reach Dh3 Billion

Developer activity remains strong, with Zabadani Real Estate recording Dh3 billion in land transactions for 2025.

Land is shifting from a speculative trade to a scarcity-driven asset — especially as construction inflation raises replacement costs.

Logistics and Industrial Real Estate: The Cycle's Most Reliable Performer

Logistics remains a standout performer. Grade A industrial space is now over 95% occupied, supported by e-commerce growth, rising trade volumes, and expanding cold-chain requirements.

Key demand drivers:

• UAE exports/re-exports up double digits

• E-commerce market expected to hit $11 billion by end-2026

• Pre-leasing is now standard — industrial stock is absorbed before completion

• Growing regional demand for pharmaceuticals, perishables, and specialty storage

Industrial yields sit at 7.25%–8.25%, outpacing global peers while maintaining low vacancy and long lease terms.

Strategic Positioning for Investors

• Secure long-lease logistics boxes near Dubai South or JAFZA periphery.

• Prioritize cold storage — the fastest-growing subsector.

• Target institutional-grade warehouses with strong power capacity, optimized circulation, and automation-ready design.

Capital Markets Show Deep Liquidity and Institutional Support

Commercial real estate performance is underpinned by broader financial strength.

Islamic Treasury Sukuk Oversubscribed 6×

The UAE’s first 7-year sukuk, raising $150 million, drew demand six times higher than the available issuance.

This represents:

• A strong liquidity environment

• Investor appetite for UAE-backed instruments

• Increased fiscal confidence — a positive anchor for CRE lending conditions

Global Funds Strengthen Footprint

Madison Realty Capital launched a new office in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), adding to the list of institutional entrants establishing regional hubs.

More global funds with boots on the ground means:

• Greater competition for stabilized commercial assets

• More sophisticated underwriting

• Rising interest in logistics, hybrid office spaces, and develop-to-hold products

Business Formation Continues to Outpace Office Supply

Company registrations continue to rise at a pace that exceeds new office delivery:

• 18,486 Indian-owned businesses joined Dubai Chamber in 2025 (up 11%)

• 37.6% of new members are in real estate, renting, and business services

• Consultants, tech firms, and financial services groups are migrating at scale

Implications

• CBD vacancy will remain below equilibrium for several years

• Mid-tier business districts (JLT, Barsha Heights, Arjan) offer strong rental uplift potential

• Hybrid offices — flexible layouts with high ESG ratings — will command premium demand

Regulatory Strength Adds Another Layer of Stability

Dubai’s regulatory advancements are now materially reducing investor risk.

Enhanced Escrow Oversight

Developers must adhere to stricter milestone-based fund release structures, reducing completion risk for off-plan commercial assets.

Higher Transparency Standards

Increased global scrutiny and domestic reforms are improving governance. This shift makes Dubai more accessible for sovereign funds, pension funds, and family offices seeking clean, compliant markets.

Key Risks Investors Must Price In

Despite strong fundamentals, certain structural pressures are emerging.

 Three areas in particular warrant closer attention:

1. Construction Cost Inflation

Costs are rising across cement, steel, labour, and MEP.

This will:

• Slow delivery timelines

• Increase replacement costs

• Benefit developers with existing land banks and pre-purchased materials

2. Two-Speed Market Behavior

Commercial assets are accelerating while certain residential pockets normalize due to heavy supply pipelines.

3. Developer Liquidity Divergence

Well-capitalized developers will widen their advantage as financing costs increase and feasibility margins tighten.

Where Investors Should Position Capital in 2026–2030

Based on current structural signals, the strongest segments are:

Top Opportunities

• Prime and Grade A offices in DIFC, SZR, and Dubai South

• Logistics and cold storage with long-term lease covenants

• Community retail anchored by daily-use tenants

• Mixed-use commercial districts in Motor City and Majan

Selective Opportunities

• Grade B refurbishments in undersupplied submarkets

• Office floors in Business Bay with efficient layouts

• Light industrial in transition corridors

Avoid / Approach Carefully

• Residential towers in oversupplied districts

• Off-plan from developers with weak liquidity

• Commercial assets without ESG alignment or competitive fit-out

  
  

Conclusion: A Commercial Cycle Defined by Scale and Quality

Dubai’s commercial real estate market has entered a phase that combines demand maturity, capital depth, and supply scarcity in ways rarely seen simultaneously. Office sales doubling, logistics hitting 95% occupancy, and tenancy contracts breaking Dh126 billion are not isolated achievements — they are indicators of a long-duration commercial expansion cycle.

For investors, the path forward centres on income-driven assets, structurally constrained districts, and partnerships with developers capable of managing rising construction and financing costs.

The commercial economy is now the centre of gravity in Dubai’s real estate cycle — and the smartest capital is already reallocating accordingly.

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