Dubai Residential Market Poised for Record-Breaking Year of Handovers
Dubai’s property sector is currently hitting a historic milestone, with 2026 expected to see the highest volume of new home completions since 2008. According to a recent report by Cushman & Wakefield Core, the market saw over 13,000 units finalized in the second quarter alone, including major projects like Crest Grande and various phases within the Damac Lagoons development. With roughly 32,000 additional units projected for the latter half of the year, total annual deliveries are set to reach approximately 55,600 homes.
However, this surge in handovers may be short-lived as the industry faces mounting construction headwinds. While developers have an ambitious pipeline, only a fraction of planned projects have moved beyond the early stages of development due to supply chain issues and contractor limitations. This mismatch suggests that future supply will likely enter the market at a more staggered pace than previously anticipated. Furthermore, the market has seen a sharp decline in new project launches—down 58% for apartments and 78% for villas—as developers adopt a more cautious, disciplined approach in response to geopolitical uncertainties and shifting demand.