Dubai Developers Maintain Off-Plan Pricing Amidst Sales Volume Shifts

Dubai developers are largely preserving their off-plan pricing strategies through 2026, even as the market experiences shifts in sales volumes and absorption rates. A recent analysis by fäm Properties, covering 717 off-plan projects launched since July 2023, indicates a strong reluctance to cut headline prices.

Out of the projects studied, a mere 44, or 6%, have seen price reductions of 5% or more since late February 2026. Beyond that, only 28 projects, accounting for 4%, are currently selling below their initial launch price. This suggests developers are prioritising price stability over aggressive reductions to stimulate sales.

Pricing and Absorption Dynamics

The report highlights that pricing is becoming a critical factor in how quickly projects sell out. Projects priced closer to the median for their respective areas tend to achieve higher sales absorption rates. For instance, among 574 projects launched since 2025, those priced 4.2% above the area median sold 73.8% of their units. In contrast, projects with a premium of 20% or more above their area's median price sold a median of 60% of units.

Firas Al Msaddi, Founder and CEO of fäm Properties, noted: "> Developers have generally been reluctant to reduce their headline prices, so where a project is positioned against comparable properties is having a greater bearing on its sales performance."

Sales Volume Adjustments

While headline prices remain largely stable, sales volumes have seen some recalibration. Registered developer apartment sales during the first eight months of 2026 totalled 62,147 units, a 6% decrease from the same period in 2025. However, this change was not uniform across all unit types:

• Studio sales: Increased by 26% to 21,728 units.
• One-bedroom sales: Declined by 18%.
• Two-bedroom sales: Fell by 16%.
• Three-bedroom sales: Decreased by 13%.

Dubai South emerged as a key driver for studio transactions, witnessing an astounding 185% increase in sales to 11,147 units during the first eight months of the year, indicating a strong demand for smaller, more affordable units in specific growth corridors.