The Dubai Land Department reported that 186 real estate development companies entered the market during the first seven and a half months of 2026, reflecting continued expansion in one of the region’s most active property sectors.
The Department of Economy and Tourism issued 180 licences to new developers, accounting for the vast majority of registrations during the period. Trakhees, the licensing arm of Dubai’s Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation responsible for Dubai Maritime City development activity, granted three additional licences.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development issued two licences, while Expo City Dubai granted one.
The steady monthly average of 25 new developers underscores growing investor confidence in Dubai’s capacity to absorb additional projects as the emirate maintains robust transaction volumes across residential and commercial segments.
The expanding pool of developers is expected to intensify market competition and broaden the range of projects available to buyers and investors, extending beyond established players to include a wider variety of companies with diverse project portfolios.
Dubai’s property market has demonstrated strength across all price segments in 2026, with transaction values reaching Dh221.4 billion across 79,300 deals in the first half alone.
The influx of new development companies reinforces Dubai’s position as a regional and international destination for property investment, attracting both capital and developers as the market continues to deliver projects across affordable, mid-tier and luxury categories.
