Dubai South recorded 1,357 property sales worth AED1.6 billion in May 2026, marking its third consecutive month as the emirate’s top-performing real estate zone. The figures cap a seven-month run in the top five areas, with transaction volumes climbing 15.9% from April.
The surge accelerated after regional conflict erupted at the end of February. Since then, residential sales transactions across the sprawling master development have jumped 36.4%, according to a market report from fäm Properties released on Wednesday.
Developer off-plan sales drove the gains. Those transactions climbed 24.8% in May to reach 1,233 deals, following a 35.71% spike in April. The cumulative increase since late February: 57.87%.
“The level of market activity at Dubai South underlines the strength of its fundamentals as a fully integrated, connected urban and business hub propelling growth across the emirate’s broader economy,” said Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties.
The performance stands out against a backdrop of regional uncertainty. While some markets typically cool during geopolitical turbulence, Dubai South’s trajectory suggests investor confidence in long-term government plans for the zone.
“Growing transaction volumes reflect genuine end-user and investor confidence in the government’s long-term development vision for this dynamic aviation and logistics ecosystem, underpinned by the expansion of Dubai World Central into the world’s largest airport,” Al Msaddi added.
Wadi Al Safa 3 trailed in second place during May with 983 transactions valued at AED1.7 billion, despite recording higher total value. Wadi Al Safa 5 took third with 631 sales worth AED833.9 million, followed by Al Barsha South Fourth with 551 transactions totalling AED690.4 million. Jebel Ali First rounded out the top five with 541 sales reaching AED920.9 million.
The broader Dubai property market logged 10,281 sales transactions worth AED28.9 billion in May, according to data from DXBinteract. Apartments dominated activity with 8,772 sales valued at AED14.6 billion. Villa transactions reached 1,037 worth AED7.2 billion, while 133 plot sales accounted for AED4.2 billion.
Commercial properties—offices and retail spaces—generated 335 transactions valued at AED2.9 billion. The average property price per square foot rose 3% year-on-year to AED1,650.
Primary market sales outpaced resales by nearly three to one. Off-plan and newly completed properties accounted for 7,595 transactions totalling AED18.5 billion, compared with 2,686 resales valued at AED10.4 billion. The pattern mirrors the off-plan boom at Dubai South, where developer sales have climbed steadily since February.
Luxury transactions punctuated the month. A villa at Signature Villas on Palm Jumeirah sold for AED145 million, the highest-priced villa deal in May. The most expensive apartment—AED113 million—changed hands at Solaya 5 in Jumeirah First. Two other luxury apartments fetched AED106 million at Solaya 6 in La Mer and AED101 million at One Casa in Al Wasl on the Dubai Water Canal.
Nearly 40% of all transactions involved properties priced below AED1 million. Deals in the AED1 million to AED2 million bracket accounted for 31.02% of sales. Properties between AED2 million and AED3 million represented 12.41% of activity, while those priced between AED3 million and AED5 million made up 8.19%. Sales above AED5 million accounted for 8.56% of transactions.
Among primary market apartment projects, Binghatti Skyflame led with 144 units sold at a median price of AED550,000, generating AED311.1 million. Binghatti Skyflame 2 followed with 193 sales at a median AED565,000, totalling AED124.8 million. Azizi Venice buildings dominated several spots in the top sellers list.
In the villa segment, Lunaya recorded 62 sales worth AED524.6 million at a median price of AED6.9 million. Reportage Hills logged 47 villa transactions valued at AED95.1 million, with a median price of AED1.8 million. Palm Jebel Ali registered 22 high-value villa sales totalling AED815.7 million, with a median price of AED31.3 million.
The concentration of activity at Dubai South reflects its scale as the emirate’s largest single urban master development. The zone encompasses residential, commercial and industrial components centred around the planned expansion of Dubai World Central.
That airport project—positioned to become the world’s largest aviation hub—anchors the government’s long-term vision for the area. The expansion timeline and investor confidence in infrastructure delivery appear to be driving off-plan sales, even as regional tensions persist.
Whether that momentum continues through the summer months—traditionally a slower period for Dubai property—will test the durability of investor appetite. For now, the numbers point to sustained demand in a zone that has climbed from relative obscurity to market leader in less than a year.
