The total value of land transactions in Dubai surged 403.6% driven by a forward-looking strategy and integrated urban planning: JLL

Dubai’s compelling real estate growth story, marked by significant appreciation in the volume and value of land sales, has reshaped the Emirate's urban landscape, establishing it as a global benchmark for investment performance, according to JLL’s latest report, ‘Beyond the Skyline: Dubai’s Land Market Transformation Story’. Dubai’s total land transaction values surged 403.6% between 2019 and 2024, demonstrating the success of the Emirate’s coordinated approach to infrastructure investment, policy reform, and demographic expansion, solidifying its position as a premier destination for global real estate capital.

Supported by strong fundamentals, Dubai’s land market witnessed unprecedented performance with the total value of land transactions rising from AED 13.7 billion in 2019 to AED 68.8 billion in 2024, while transaction volumes almost tripled from 691 to 1,991, marking an increase of 188.1%. The positive momentum continued into H1 2025, when the market recorded AED 43 billion in transactions, representing a 42.9% year-on-year uptick. Freehold areas significantly outperformed traditional asset classes, posting 495.8% growth in transaction volumes compared to a 240.7% increase in non-freehold zones, demonstrating the quantifiable premium investors place on unrestricted ownership rights and further validating Dubai's strategic expansion of freehold areas. 

Tim Millard, Head of Value and Risk Advisory - MENA JLL, said: “The fundamental transformation in Dubai’s real estate, underpinned by sustained growth drivers, has global implications for emerging markets seeking international real estate investment. Our analysis clearly indicates that Dubai's land market is poised for continued expansion, driven by strong demographic momentum, infrastructure-led value creation, ongoing regulatory evolution, and strategic economic diversification. This forward-looking environment presents substantial opportunities for international investors and developers alike, positioning the Dubai model as a blueprint for sustainable urban development.”

Dubai’s real estate stronghold is built on three core strategic pillars: demographic growth, infrastructure-led development, and regulatory reforms. The Emirate’s population, which expanded from 2.3 million in 2014 to over 4 million in 2025, and is projected to reach 5.8 million by 2040, is propelled by expatriate migration and an influx of high-net-worth individuals seeking long-term residency, reinforcing long-term demand for housing, land, and urban expansion. 

To accommodate this rapid population growth, Dubai turned demographic pressure into a competitive advantage through strategic urban planning. On the back of a sophisticated dual-approach development strategy, Dubai expanded through phases that combined urban sprawl with vertical intensification of established areas. The city activated peripheral zones through large-scale projects like Dubai South and planned communities along the Dubai-Al Ain Road, creating secondary and tertiary urban centres. 

By providing regulatory flexibility to enable greater density in prime locations through upzoning and plot consolidation, the city has been responding to market demand for centrally positioned properties with superior connectivity like Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, and Dubai Marina. This substantially impacted land values with newly announced development zones in Dubai typically experiencing rapid price escalation while established central areas maintained premium valuations due to limited supply and high population density. 

Infrastructure development has also served as a powerful land value catalyst. In 2025, Dubai allocated AED 39 billion (approximately USD 10.6 billion), representing 46% of its 2025 budget to infrastructure and construction projects, ensuring that connectivity, sustainability, and mobility remain central to urban growth. Key allocations include USD 2.6 billion for roads and connectivity, USD 2.4 billion for utilities and infrastructure, and USD 1.8 billion for transit and mobility. This sustained commitment has increased private sector participation, with non-institutional developers now accounting for 42.3% of the residential pipeline between 2026 and 2030, reflecting heightened confidence in infrastructure-led value creation. 

Targeted regulatory reforms have further unlocked global capital flows into Dubai’s real estate market. Buyer protection measures such as mandatory escrow accounts for off-plan projects, digital transformation strategies enabling blockchain property transactions, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) rezoning around Metro stations and planned transport corridors, and zoning flexibility for mixed-use development have enhanced transparency, efficiency, and investor confidence. The 2025 freehold conversion of 457 plots along Sheikh Zayed Road and in Al Jaddaf has already generated measurable value appreciation. Al Jaddaf, in particular, has attracted new waterfront developments, while Sheikh Zayed Road’s core corridor is witnessing high-value redevelopment under secure freehold ownership.

Sectoral data further reinforces the depth of Dubai’s real estate ascent. Between December 2019 and June 2025, apartment and villa prices increased by 63.5% and 116.3% respectively, supported by a 518.5% rise in transaction activity. In the commercial segment, Prime and Grade A office rents rose by 76.8% and 69.9%, with vacancy levels at historic lows of 0.0% and 4.6%, signaling strong corporate demand. Mixed-use developments accounted for 27.6% of total land transaction value, equivalent to AED 70.3 billion, highlighting investor appetite for integrated, lifestyle-oriented destinations. 

Geographically, the strongest activity was concentrated in Business Bay and Dubai Islands, which recorded AED 11.6 billion and AED 11.4 billion in transactions respectively. Emerging corridors such as Reem and Dubai South also demonstrated growing investor interest. Premium pricing was led by Dubai Marina (AED 1,092 per sq. ft. GFA) and Business Bay (AED 687 per sq. ft. GFA), while emerging communities such as Arjan and Dubai Creek Harbour recorded land value increases of 379.6% and 81.4% respectively since 2019. 

The report concludes that the 403.6% growth in Dubai’s land market between 2019 and 2024 is the outcome of a deliberate forward-looking strategy rather than cyclical growth. For stakeholders across the spectrum, Dubai's land market offers both immediate opportunities and strategic lessons in value creation through integrated urban planning. The emirate has successfully positioned itself not just as a regional hub, but as a global benchmark for modern real estate market development, offering a replicable framework for emerging markets seeking to attract international investment.