Dubai‘s office market is witnessing a significant transformation, with office sales values soaring to unprecedented heights. A recent report highlights that Dubai office sales values are up 84%, reaching AED 5.4 billion in the first half of 2025. This impressive growth reflects robust demand for modern, high-quality workspaces as investors increasingly prioritize environmentally sustainable assets.
According to a new report by Cavendish Maxwell, office sales values in Dubai experienced an astonishing 84% increase year-on-year, culminating in AED 5.4 billion across approximately 1,900 transactions. This marks the most active half-year period since 2014.
Transaction volumes also rose, climbing 22% compared to the same timeframe last year, indicating sustained demand across both high-end office spaces and logistics segments.
During the first half of 2025, Dubai expanded its office footprint by adding 34,000 square meters of new office space, bringing the total gross leasable area to 9.32 million square meters. The report anticipates that an additional 110,000 square meters will be added by the end of 2025, with projections of 340,000 square meters for 2026. By 2028, the total gross leasable area in Dubai’s office market is expected to reach 10.85 million square meters.
Vidhi Shah, Director and Head of Commercial Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell, commented, “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. 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% year-on-year.”
Shah further noted, “With strong government backing and sustained investor confidence, Dubai’s office market continues to deliver outstanding performance, with yet more records for sales volumes and values. This momentum is expected to continue, with a wave of new supply further strengthening the market and offering buyers and renters more flexibility.”
Sales and Rental Growth
Office sales prices surged by 22.2% year-on-year, reaching AED 1,748 per square foot, while average rents increased by 26.4%. Prime districts saw rent spikes nearing 35%. In comparison to the latter half of 2024, sales prices increased by nearly 13%, with rents rising by 10%—a clear indicator of the strong demand for premium office spaces.
Prime areas such as DIFC and Downtown Dubai experienced rental increases of 35% and 33.5%, respectively, while older locations like Bur Dubai, Deira, and Healthcare City exhibited more modest growth of 3.8%, 2.6%, and 2.2%. Investors and tenants are increasingly gravitating toward A-grade buildings that offer modern amenities and meet ESG criteria.
Off-Plan Market Surge
The off-plan market has also gained traction, as ready office units constituted 85% of transactions. Off-plan sales skyrocketed by nearly 180% from the previous year and 90% from the second half of 2024. The rise in popularity of modern, innovation-driven, and ESG-focused developments is the primary driver behind this shift.
Business Bay emerged as the leading sales location, recording 672 transactions, followed by Jumeirah Lakes Towers with 534 deals, Motor City with 216, Barsha Heights with 160, and Dubai Silicon Oasis with 77. Notably, offices ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet accounted for 48% of sales, while smaller units under 1,000 square feet comprised 39%. Units between 2,000 and 5,000 square feet represented 12%, and those exceeding 5,000 square feet made up the remaining 2%.
With a current offering of 9.32 million square meters of gross leasable area, Dubai is expected to add 110,000 square meters by the end of 2025, with further expansions of 340,000 square meters anticipated in 2026. Long-term forecasts project an additional 1 million square feet of office space to be delivered in 2027 and 2028, boosting total inventory to 10.85 million square meters.
Shah expressed caution about the development pipeline, noting, “While the development pipeline appears robust, completion timelines may vary. Occupancy rates are likely to remain high in the short term, with most new supply expected between 2026 and 2028 when price pressures on sales and rentals may ease.”