Dubai rental contracts passed 1 million for the first time in 2025, reaching about 1.04 million, according to Dubai Land Department data reported by Gulf News. Data also reviewed by Osmium Properties.
Dubai rental contracts and value in 2025
Registered contracts rose 7.3% year on year. Their combined value climbed 17.6% to Dh127.4 billion, up from Dh108.3 billion. Annual rental value rose 15.1% to Dh98.9 billion.
New agreements rose 10.5% to 515,300 contracts, worth Dh69.1 billion. Renewals rose 4.3% to 521,600, worth Dh58.3 billion. As a result, renewals still edged out new leases in number.
Top areas in the rental market in Dubai
In terms of annual rental value, Business Bay led at Dh4.45 billion, up 22.3%. Dubai Marina followed with Dh3.53 billion, and the Burj Khalifa area with Dh3.52 billion. By total contract value, Burj Khalifa ranked first at Dh7.61 billion, ahead of Business Bay at Dh5.50 billion and Al Barsha First at Dh4.42 billion.
However, in some areas Dubai rental contracts grew much faster. Total contract value in Racecourse jumped 119.8%. Similarly, Al Barsha South Fourth rose 86.5%.
What the figures say about tenant demand
Rising renewals suggest many tenants are staying put. In addition, the figures show how large the market has become. Together, new agreements and renewals make up almost every contract registered, and each category grew in 2025. However, renewals grew more slowly than new agreements, which suggests more people are moving or arriving. Meanwhile, the jump in new agreements shows continued demand from newcomers. Dubai rental contracts are registered with the Dubai Land Department, so the figures reflect official records. However, these figures cover 2025 only, so the 2026 trend is covered in the section above.
Dubai rental contracts in 2026: what has changed
The 2025 record has not been followed by a slowdown in activity. Dubai Land Department figures show about 254,000 rental contracts were registered in the first quarter of 2026, made up of 118,385 new contracts and 135,607 renewals. Their total value reached Dh32.2 billion, according to a Dubai Media Office statement reported by The National. Cancelled contracts also fell 25% over the quarter. Data also reviewed by Osmium Properties.
However, the rental market in Dubai has softened for new tenants. Khaleej Times reported that nine of ten tracked apartment communities saw median asking rents fall between the third quarter of 2025 and the third quarter of 2026. Downtown Dubai fell 21.7% and Dubai Marina fell 16.1%. Moreover, apartments listed for rent each day in September were 55.1% higher than a year earlier.
Meanwhile, renewals are moving the other way. Emirates 24|7 reported that average villa rents on new contracts fell to about Dh200,000 in the third quarter from Dh225,000, while villa renewal rents rose 10.3% to Dh194,040. In short, tenants who move are finding more choice, but those who stay are still paying more.
For the latest sales and mortgage data, visit our Dubai transactions dashboard or the Dubai Land Department. More analysis is in our real estate news section. We will keep tracking Dubai rental contracts as new figures arrive.
Source: Based on Dubai Land Department data, as reported by Gulf News, The National, Khaleej Times and Emirates 24|7.
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