Dubai’s office market recorded its strongest half-year in more than a decade, with sales values soaring 84 per cent year on year to AED 5.4 billion across 1,900 transactions in the first half of 2025, according to Cavendish Maxwell. The surge represents the highest level of activity since 2014.
Business Bay led the market with 672 deals, followed by Jumeirah Lakes Towers (534), Motor City (216), Barsha Heights (160), and Dubai Silicon Oasis (77). Sales prices climbed 22.2 per cent to an average AED 1,748 per square foot, while rents increased 26.4 per cent overall and nearly 35 per cent in prime districts. Ready offices accounted for 85 per cent of deals, although off-plan sales are gaining momentum. The report also noted that investors are increasingly prioritising ESG-aligned assets.
“Dubai’s investment landscape continues to flourish, further cementing the emirate’s status as the UAE’s leading economic hub and a global destination for business,” said Vidhi Shah, Director and Head of Commercial Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell. “In H1 this year, Dubai attracted more than 500 new FDI projects, securing over AED 11 billion in capital inflows, while the DIFC registered more than 1,080 new businesses, a rise of 32 per cent year on year.”
Director and Head of Commercial Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell.
For many buyers, location remains the decisive factor. Raisa Mariam Rajan, CEO of a Dubai-based facilities management company, said: “Being open to considering up-and-coming areas benefits both the owner and the community. Development is a two-way street. Places like Dubai South and Expo City offer great value for money in terms of facilities and accessibility.”
Cavendish Maxwell estimates that Dubai’s office stock now stands at 9.32 million square metres of gross leasable area. Around 110,000 sqm of new supply is expected before year-end, with a further 340,000 sqm scheduled for delivery in 2026. Long-term forecasts point to another 1 million sq ft coming online by 2027–28, taking total inventory to nearly 10.85 million sqm.
