Commercial real estate sales in Dubai, including offices and retail spaces, have experienced a significant surge at the beginning of 2026, skyrocketing by 300% in January compared to January 2025. This marks a clear indication of the strong demand for commercial spaces and the acceleration of business expansion within the emirate.
According to data from the Dubai Land Department, the value of commercial property sales reached approximately 4 billion AED through 821 transactions in January 2026. This contrasts with just 1 billion AED from 364 transactions during the same period last year, highlighting a remarkable investment momentum in the office and retail sectors.
The figures reflect the broadening scope of non-oil activities in Dubai, as the sharp increase in office and retail sales suggests the entry of new businesses and the expansion of existing entities. This leads to higher employment, an uptick in service demand, and bolstered spending cycles within the local economy.
The growth of the commercial sector is also a forward-looking indicator of confidence in the business climate, as companies are unlikely to purchase or invest in operational spaces without a clear vision for future growth.
The increase in both the number and value of transactions indicates a shift in the commercial market from a recovery phase to actual expansion, with ongoing upward pressure anticipated on rental prices for ready offices and retail spaces in prime locations.
This may incentivize developers to expedite the launch of new office projects or repurpose certain assets to accommodate the rising demand.
Sales Breakdown
During the specified period, sales of commercial properties in Dubai comprised 3.28 billion AED for offices from 678 transactions and 724 million AED for retail spaces from 143 transactions.
Sales of office properties under construction constituted the largest share of total office sales, amounting to 2.4 billion AED from 413 transactions. In contrast, the value of completed office sales reached 862 million AED from 265 transactions, while ready retail spaces brought in 382 million AED from 72 transactions, and off-plan sales totaled 341 million AED from 71 transactions.
Geographical Distribution
In terms of area, the Business Bay led office sales with 163 transactions amounting to 1.4 billion AED, followed by Tecom SITE A with 225 transactions valued at 577 million AED. Next came the Dubai Maritime City with 41 transactions worth 465 million AED, followed by Jumeirah Lakes Towers with 97 transactions totaling 309 million AED, and the Second Trade Center with 5 transactions valued at 116 million AED.
Luxury Assets
The demand in Dubai extends beyond just high-end residential properties; it also encompasses luxury office spaces. Major companies are actively pursuing deals in prime landmarks and commercial areas of the emirate, particularly in premium office locations like the Dubai International Financial Centre and Business Bay. The market recorded 44 significant transactions for offices and stores exceeding 20 million AED in value during January 2026.
Amongst these notable deals were the sale of a retail unit in Motor City for 72 million AED, a sale of an under-construction office unit in Business Bay for 70 million AED, and the sale of an off-plan office in the Second Trade Center for 29 million AED.