First half of 2025 already records 1,417 transactions for units worth more than Dh15 million
Published: Wed 30 Jul 2025,
The prime residential neighbourhood of the Palm Jumeirah continues to dominate luxury home sales. – KT file
Demand for ultra-luxury homes in Dubai continues to strengthen, with properties valued at Dh15 million plus recording 1,417 transactions in the second quarter of 2025, data shows.
This represents a 67 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a 113 per cent rise compared to the same period last year, according to new market data from PRIME by Betterhomes.
The data reflects a clear shift in buyer behaviour, with growing preference for completed, move-in-ready properties in established prime locations, analysts say.
Activity in the off-plan segment reached 264 transactions, up 103 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 48 per cent year-on-year, reflecting sustained buyer interest in under-construction developments. However, completed properties remained the preferred option for high-end buyers, accounting for 1,153 transactions. That figure is more than four times the number of off-plan deals during the same period, marking a 60 per cent quarterly increase and a 137 per cent rise compared to Q2 2024.
Analysts say the shift points to a growing preference for ready homes in established locations, offering immediate handover, privacy, and certainty.
“Buyers at the top end of the market are increasingly prioritising properties that are move-in ready, particularly in well-established prime areas,” said Dean Douglas Evans, associate director at PRIME by Betterhomes. “The volume of secondary sales is a clear indication of that shift,” he added.
The most active areas in the secondary segment were The Oasis, Palm Jebel Ali, The Acres, Palm Jumeirah, and Mohammed Bin Rashid City (MBR City), all of which experienced strong buyer activity seeking quality homes in prestigious and well-connected neighbourhoods.
Looking at the annual trend, the upward trajectory is notable. In 2022, there were 1,249 transactions in the Dh15 million and above segment. That number rose to 1,354 in 2023 and 2,594 in 2024. In the first half of 2025 alone, 2,268 such properties have already changed hands, 87 per cent of 2024’s full-year total, and nearly double the volume recorded in all of 2022.
This sustained growth reinforces Dubai’s accelerating appeal to global ultra‑high‑net‑worth investors. As with other major real estate markets, Dubai’s ultra‑prime sector is benefiting from global wealth expansion and investor preference for safe, tangible assets. While supply in many Western markets remains constrained, demand for ready, trophy-style properties is rising in cities like Dubai, London, and New York.
With demand deepening and the supply of completed luxury homes remaining relatively limited, industry observers expect the momentum to continue through the second half of the year.
