The Dubai average was about AED 1,673 per sq ft in Q2 2026 (roughly 4,400 euro per m2), down 4% on the quarter. Prime towers cost several times more than outer districts, and buying adds about 7%.
The average Dubai home sold for about AED 1,673 per sq ft in the second quarter of 2026, according to Cushman & Wakefield, which is roughly AED 18,000 per m2, or about 4,400 euro or 4,900 US dollars per m2. That city-wide figure hides a wide spread: an apartment in an outer district can cost less than a third of one in a prime tower. Prices fell about 4% in the quarter after several years of growth, and on top of the price a buyer pays roughly 7% in fees. Figures are indicative as of October 2026. For what the same property can earn, see Dubai rental yield and investment.
Price per sq ft and per m2 by area
Dubai quotes prices per square foot of built-up area, which includes walls and balcony, so the usable area is typically only 70% to 85% of what is quoted. To convert, multiply AED per sq ft by 10.76 for AED per m2. Broker data give these indicative ranges for apartments, converted at about 4.13 dirhams to the euro (our conversion):
- Jumeirah Village Circle: AED 900 to 1,300 per sq ft, about 2,350 to 3,400 euro per m2
- Business Bay: AED 1,500 to 2,200, about 3,900 to 5,700 euro per m2
- Dubai Marina: AED 1,800 to 2,600, about 4,700 to 6,800 euro per m2
- Downtown Dubai: AED 2,800 to 3,800, about 7,300 to 9,900 euro per m2
- Palm Jumeirah: AED 3,200 to 4,500, about 8,300 to 11,700 euro per m2
These are portal and broker ranges, not registered transactions, so use them to compare areas rather than to value a unit. They fit the bands in best areas to buy property in Dubai. The dirham is pegged to the US dollar at 3.6725, so dollar prices are stable, while euro prices move with the euro.
What a budget buys
As an illustration with mid-range figures (our arithmetic), AED 1,000,000, about 242,000 euro, buys roughly:
- 910 sq ft (about 85 m2) in Jumeirah Village Circle
- 455 sq ft (about 42 m2) in Dubai Marina
- 300 sq ft (about 28 m2) in Downtown Dubai
Villas and townhouses in master-planned communities start well above that and are priced by plot and build size rather than by sq ft alone.
The 2026 trend: prices easing as supply arrives
After several years of strong growth, Cushman & Wakefield recorded city-wide sale prices down 4% in the second quarter of 2026, with larger falls in some prime submarkets: Palm Jumeirah apartments about 9%, Downtown Dubai and Business Bay about 7%, and villas in The Springs and The Meadows about 9%. About 13,200 homes were handed over in the quarter and about 32,000 more are expected in the second half. Other reports put the planned 2026 supply near 120,000 units, though in 2022 to 2024 only about 56% of projected units were actually delivered, so planned numbers overstate what arrives. Fitch Ratings has forecast a correction of up to roughly 15% in earlier statements. Averages differ by method: some portals show a higher city-wide figure than Cushman & Wakefield's, so compare like with like. Analysts expect the weakest segment to be mid-market studios and one-bedrooms, with villas and prime units more resilient. Read Dubai off-plan investment risks before paying instalments into a building that will complete in a supply wave.
What buying adds to the price
For a simple purchase of a ready apartment through an agent, the fees reported by Property Finder in July 2026 are:
- Dubai Land Department transfer fee: 4% of the price. It is legally split between buyer and seller, but usually paid by the buyer.
- Registration trustee office fee: AED 2,000 under AED 500,000 or AED 4,000 above, plus 5% VAT.
- Title deed issue: AED 580.
- Agent commission: customarily 2% of the price plus 5% VAT, negotiated, and who pays it varies.
- Developer no-objection certificate on resale: AED 500 to 5,000.
If you borrow, add 0.25% of the loan for mortgage registration plus about AED 290 and a bank valuation of AED 2,500 to 3,500. Banks do not finance these upfront costs, so you pay them in cash. Guides budget 7% to 10% on top of the price; a plain cash purchase comes in near the low end. The mortgage side is in mortgages for foreigners in Dubai, and the general picture in total cost of ownership abroad.
Budget examples
These are illustrations on the fees above, not quotes:
- Apartment at AED 1,000,000 (about 242,000 euro): DLD fee 40,000, agent 21,000 with VAT, trustee 4,200 with VAT, title deed 580, plus a developer certificate. About AED 66,000 to 71,000, or 6.6% to 7.1%.
- Apartment at AED 2,000,000 (about 484,000 euro): DLD fee 80,000, agent 42,000 with VAT, trustee 4,200, title deed 580, plus a certificate. About AED 127,000 to 131,000, or 6.3% to 6.6%.
If the seller pays half the transfer fee or the agent, the cost falls; off-plan purchases register on the developer's system instead of a title deed, so check the schedule in the off-plan purchase checklist.
Costs of owning
There is no annual property tax in Dubai. You pay a service charge set by the building and filed with the regulator, which brokers quote at AED 16 to 18 per sq ft on average and AED 6 to 35 across the market, plus utilities and, if you let it, management and a holiday-home licence. A property of at least AED 2,000,000 can also support a residence visa: see Dubai golden visa.
FAQ
How much does an apartment in Dubai cost? Price per sq ft is the quickest guide: broker ranges run from about AED 900 to 1,300 in Jumeirah Village Circle to AED 2,800 to 3,800 in Downtown Dubai, so the same size of flat costs roughly three times as much in the prime tower. Multiply the price per sq ft by the size you want, then compare current listings.
Are Dubai property prices falling? Cushman & Wakefield recorded a 4% fall in the second quarter of 2026 and larger falls in some prime submarkets, with more supply due in the second half. It looks like a cooling after strong growth, not a collapse, but the direction is down for now.
What are the fees when buying in Dubai? About 7% on top of the price: the 4% DLD fee, a 2% agent commission with VAT, a trustee office fee and small fixed charges. Banks do not finance them.
Do I pay annual property tax in Dubai? No. You pay service charges to the building, which are not a tax but are a real running cost.
How we help
We shortlist Dubai properties to your budget and goal, compare price per sq ft across areas, model the full cost including fees and service charges, and coordinate local lawyers. See also the UAE country page and our UAE property guide.
This article is informational only and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Figures are indicative, come from market sources and change over time; confirm current numbers before you buy.