Dubai crosses 4m residents as property deals top Dh900b

Dubai's population has surpassed four million, a milestone that is already feeding directly into housing demand and reinforcing record activity in a property market that saw transactions approach Dh900 billion last year.

- BY NIVETHA DAYANAND Assistant Business Editor

The emirate added nearly 18,000 residents in a single month by the end of August 2025, reflecting sustained inflows driven by employment growth, business relocation and continued international migration. According to Savills, this steady demographic expansion is translating into real, broad-based demand across both rental and ownership segments.

New residents are entering the market across multiple price points, from mid-income professionals seeking apartments close to employment hubs to high-net-worth individuals targeting prime waterfront and villa communities.

Depth and liquidity

Dubai Land Department data shows property sales reached more than Dh680 billion in 2025 across over 200,000 transactions, the strongest annual performance on record. Total real estate transaction value, including mortgages and gifts, climbed to around Dh919 billion, highlighting the depth and liquidity of the market.

Savills notes that population growth is now one of the most powerful drivers shaping housing demand in the emirate.