Dubai's real estate sector added AED 65.1 billion to the economy in the first half of 2026 at current prices, up 5.4% from AED 61.8 billion a year earlier, according to the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, as reported by WAM. It made up 11.8% of real GDP.
Construction grew 2.4% in real terms to AED 33.2 billion, and 8.6% at current prices to AED 35.3 billion. Dubai's overall real GDP fell 2.3% to about AED 473 billion, while GDP at current prices rose 0.2% to about AED 505 billion.
01The sectors
| Dubai, H1 2026 | Value added | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate (current prices) | AED 65.1bn | +5.4% |
| Real estate (constant prices) | AED 55.8bn | −2.5% |
| Construction (constant prices) | AED 33.2bn | +2.4% |
| Financial and insurance (constant prices) | AED 65.9bn | +8.8% |
| Wholesale and retail (constant prices) | AED 96.9bn | −6% |
| Transport and storage | AED 50.6bn | −7.4% |
| Real GDP | about AED 473bn | −2.3% |
Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, via WAM, 19 October 2026.
Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, said the results reflect "the strength and adaptability of an economy" through a period of global uncertainty.
02What it means if you are buying
Building activity kept growing. Construction rose in real terms while trade and transport fell, which matches the pipeline of projects now on site. Track what completes in 2027 and 2028.
Real estate held up in value terms. The sector's value added rose at current prices even as the wider economy slowed, so check recent sales in the area you are looking at before relying on headline growth.
SourcesWhere this story comes from.
Sources
- Khaleej Times: Dubai's GDP reaches Dh473 billion in first half of 2026, 19 October 2026
- Zawya: Dubai's GDP reaches $129bln in H1 2026, 19 October 2026
Corrections
- No corrections to this story. If something has changed or is wrong, tell us and we will correct it and log the change here.
20 Oct 2026, 14:47 GST · Reported by OffPlan Insider Newsdesk, checked against the developer's own material before publication.
