Long-term expat residents in Dubai are increasingly choosing to buy rather than renew leases, as rents ease and housing supply grows, Gulf News — Business/Property reports.
According to Gulf News — Business/Property, a growing number of expatriates who have rented in Dubai for years are now weighing a purchase instead of another lease renewal. Property experts quoted in the report say many of these buyers have rented for three, five or even eight years, have children in local schools and now see Dubai as a long-term home. The shift comes as rents ease, more homes become available and investors grow more selective. The market data cited is mixed. Cavendish Maxwell recorded residential sales of Dh72.6 billion across about 34,000 transactions in the third quarter of 2026, down 47 per cent in value and 38 per cent in volume year on year. Analysts say the drop does not necessarily signal a sharp downturn, partly because of delays between agreeing a deal and registering it. Savills counted around 34,500 transactions in the quarter, just four per cent below the previous three months, with prices for comparable properties relatively stable. Cavendish Maxwell also reported about 22,500 home-loan transactions in the first half of 2026, up more than seven per cent on the previous year. Supply is another factor. Cavendish Maxwell says Dubai added roughly 24,800 residential units in the first half of 2026, nearly 38 per cent more than a year earlier, while Savills estimates more than 525,000 units are scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2030, though scheduled deliveries do not necessarily mean all will be completed in that window. Industry experts expect stronger competition among developers and landlords, especially in high-rise apartment areas, and say overseas investors are becoming more cautious about returns, with some linking purchases to long-term residency plans. Experts quoted in the article say the rent-or-buy decision depends on mortgage affordability, upfront buying costs, expected length of stay and the quality of available properties. One consultant suggested checking service charges, building condition and actual transaction prices recorded by the Dubai Land Department rather than relying only on advertised prices. This is a summary of market commentary, not financial advice.