Business Bay Apartments 2026 Q1 Resale Report
(1st January - 31st March 2026)
AED 2,150
Average price per sq. ft
Compared to Q1 2025
790 transactions
AED 1.619B total resale value
Apartments in Business Bay Q1 2026 Resale Report
Executive Summary
One-bedroom apartments led resale activity in Business Bay during Q1 2026 with 352 transactions, a decrease of 15.0 percent year over year, at an average price of AED 1,668,418. Studio apartments recorded 212 transactions in Q1 2026, down 16.0 percent year over year, with an average price of AED 1,089,921. Two-bedroom units saw 178 transactions in Q1 2026, a decline of 14.0 percent year over year, at an average price of AED 2,623,763, while three-bedroom apartments totaled 45 transactions, down 20.0 percent year over year, with an average price of AED 6,362,517. Off-plan primary market transactions in Business Bay reached 925 units in Q1 2026, with a combined value of AED 3,500,537,581, compared to 790 resale transactions during the same quarter.
Key Facts
- In Q1 2026, the average resale price per square foot for apartments in Business Bay reached AED 2,150, reflecting a 6.3% year-over-year increase.
- Business Bay recorded 790 resale apartment transactions in Q1 2026, a decline of 16.2% compared to the same quarter in 2025.
- The total value of resale apartment transactions in Business Bay during Q1 2026 was AED 1,619,404,148, down 7.0% year-over-year.
- Ready properties accounted for 74.7% of resale transactions in Business Bay during Q1 2026, while off-plan completions represented 25.3%.
- One-bedroom apartments led resale activity in Business Bay during Q1 2026 with 352 transactions at an average price of AED 1,668,418, down 15.0% in volume year-over-year.
- Studio apartments in Business Bay saw 212 resale transactions in Q1 2026 at an average price of AED 1,089,921, representing a 16.0% decline in transaction count year-over-year.
- Two-bedroom apartments recorded 178 resale transactions in Business Bay during Q1 2026 at an average price of AED 2,623,763, with transaction volume falling 14.0% year-over-year.
Key Performance Indicators
Key Performance Indicators
Resale - Q1 2026
Rental - Q1 2026
Source: Property Monitor, Metropolitan Premium Properties Analysis
Price Trend
Price Trend - Business Bay Apartments
Average Price per Sq. Ft - Business Bay Apartments
| Period | Average Price per Sq. Ft (AED) |
|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | 2,022 |
| Q2 2025 | 2,068 |
| Q3 2025 | 2,018 |
| Q4 2025 | 2,095 |
| Q1 2026 | 2,150 |
Source: Property Monitor, Metropolitan Premium Properties Analysis
How did Business Bay Apartments transactions split between off-plan and ready in Q1 2026?
In Q1 2026, ready apartment transactions dominated Business Bay's market, accounting for 74.7% of deals and 75.8% of transaction value, while off-plan sales represented 25.3% of transactions and 24.2% of total value. The near-alignment between transaction-count share and value share indicates that average deal sizes were comparable across both segments during the quarter. Ready properties commanded a roughly three-to-one advantage over off-plan units in both volume and spending, reflecting established inventory turnover in the district.
Which Apartments bedroom configurations recorded the highest resale activity in Business Bay during Q1 2026?
In Q1 2026, one-bedroom apartments dominated transaction activity in Business Bay with 352 sales, followed by studio units at 212 transactions and two-bedroom properties at 178 transactions. Average prices across measurable segments ranged from AED 1,089,921 for studios to AED 6,362,517 for three-bedroom units, which recorded 45 transactions. All reportable bedroom configurations experienced year-on-year transaction declines, with three-bedroom units showing the steepest drop at 20.0% and two-bedroom apartments the most moderate at 14.0%.
Performance by Bedroom Type
Price Insights by Bedroom
| Bedrooms | Avg Price | Price YoY | Transactions | Trans. YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | AED 1,089,921 | +2% | 212 | -16% |
| 1 B/R | AED 1,668,418 | +11% | 352 | -15% |
| 2 B/R | AED 2,623,763 | +10.9% | 178 | -14% |
| 3 B/R | AED 6,362,517 | +37.7% | 45 | -20% |
| 4 B/R | AED 6,808,472 | +28.8% | 2 | -80% |
| 6 B/R | AED 34,097,750 | N/A | 1 | N/A |
Transaction Distribution by Bedroom
Transaction Volume by Bedroom Type - Q1 2026
| Bedroom Type | Transactions |
|---|---|
| Studio Bed | 212 |
| 1 B/R Bed | 352 |
| 2 B/R Bed | 178 |
| 3 B/R Bed | 45 |
| 4 B/R Bed | 2 |
| 6 B/R Bed | 1 |
Source: Property Monitor, Metropolitan Premium Properties Analysis
How did off-plan primary-market sales of Apartments in Business Bay perform in Q1 2026?
Off-plan apartment transactions in Business Bay totaled 925 units during Q1 2026, representing a decline of 33.3% year-over-year, while the aggregate transaction value reached AED 3,500,537,581, effectively flat with a 0.1% year-over-year change. Primary market off-plan activity exceeded secondary market resale activity in the same quarter, with off-plan transactions outnumbering resale transactions (790 units) and off-plan values surpassing resale values (AED 1,619,404,148) by a factor of more than two. The divergence between declining transaction volumes and stable transaction values in the off-plan segment suggests a shift toward higher-value unit sales in Business Bay apartments during the quarter.
Rental Summary
Rental Contract Distribution - Q1 2026
Contract Types
Rental Insights by Bedroom
| Bedrooms | Avg Rent | Price YoY | Transactions | Trans. YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | AED 74,436 | +5.3% | 848 | +5% |
| 1 B/R | AED 98,927 | +6.5% | 1583 | +4% |
| 2 B/R | AED 136,538 | +6.8% | 1093 | 0% |
| 3 B/R | AED 185,356 | +5.3% | 346 | -3% |
| 4 B/R | AED 338,276 | +16.8% | 23 | -26% |
| 6 B/R | AED 1,700,000 | N/A | 2 | N/A |
| 7 B/R | AED 1,000,000 | 0% | 2 | +100% |
Source: Property Monitor, Metropolitan Premium Properties Analysis
Dubai Apartments Market Context -- Q1 2026
During Q1 2026, Dubai's real estate market recorded 44,267 sale transactions and 147,091 rental transactions, with rental activity representing the dominant share of overall transaction volume. Within the sales segment, initial sales accounted for 71.9% of transactions while resale properties comprised 28.1%, indicating continued buyer preference for off-plan and newly completed units across Dubai. In the rental market, lease renewals represented 66.4% of the 147,091 rental contracts signed during the quarter, compared to 33.6% for new tenancies. These city-wide patterns provide context for understanding Business Bay's apartment market performance during the same period.
Dubai Overall Market Context
Dubai Apartments Market Totals - Q1 2026
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Initial Sale | 71.9% |
| Resale | 28.1% |
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| New | 33.6% |
| Renewal | 66.4% |
Source: Property Monitor, Metropolitan Premium Properties Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the average price per square foot for resale apartments in Business Bay during Q1 2026?
How many resale apartment transactions occurred in Business Bay in Q1 2026?
What was the total resale transaction value for Business Bay apartments in Q1 2026?
What was the average price for a one-bedroom resale apartment in Business Bay in Q1 2026?
How much did a two-bedroom resale apartment cost on average in Business Bay during Q1 2026?
What share of Business Bay resale transactions in Q1 2026 were for ready properties versus off-plan?
What was the average price for a studio resale apartment in Business Bay in Q1 2026?
Methodology
This report draws on resale transaction data for Business Bay apartments recorded by Property Monitor from the Dubai Land Department registry covering the period January 1 to March 31, 2026. Year-on-year comparisons reference the corresponding quarter in 2025, with percentage changes computed on a like-for-like quarterly basis. The average price per square foot of AED 2,150 reflects registered resale transactions totaling AED 1,619,404,148 across 790 units, while a separate tally of 925 off-plan transactions valued at AED 3,500,537,581 is reported independently. Readers should note that registration timing may lag actual sale agreements by several weeks, meaning transactions finalized late in the prior quarter can appear in the current period, potentially affecting direct quarter-to-quarter comparability.
Glossary
- PSF
- Price per square foot. A standardized metric that divides a property's total sale price by its area in square feet, enabling comparison across units of different sizes.
- Off-plan
- Properties sold by developers before construction is complete, typically purchased through payment plans during the building phase.
- Secondary market
- The resale market where existing properties are sold between private parties or investors, as opposed to new units sold directly by developers.
- Resale
- A transaction where a property owner sells to another buyer, whether the unit is completed or still under construction. Distinct from primary developer sales.
- Ready property
- A completed, habitable unit available for immediate occupancy and transfer of title, as opposed to off-plan units still under construction.
- AED/sqft
- The price per square foot denominated in United Arab Emirates Dirhams, the standard currency and measurement for Dubai real estate pricing.
- Sale classification
- A categorization system distinguishing Off-Plan Developer Sales, Resale Off-Plan Origin units, and standard Resales of completed properties.
- Transaction type
- A classification indicating whether a sale involves an Off-Plan property or an Existing (completed) property at the time of transaction.
- Studio apartment
- A single-room residential unit combining living and sleeping areas with a separate bathroom, typically the smallest apartment configuration in Dubai developments.
- Business Bay
- A freehold mixed-use district in central Dubai featuring residential towers, commercial offices, and retail space along the Dubai Water Canal.
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