Dubai Property Firms Report Record Profits as Home Demand Surges

DUBAI’S REAL ESTATE SECTOR POSTS STRONG FIRST-HALF GAINS AMID RISING PROPERTY DEMAND

Emaar Properties booked 8.67 billion dirhams in profit during the first six months of 2026, a figure that captures, in a single number, just how forcefully demand for UAE homes and commercial space has accelerated. Across nine listed real estate companies in the country, combined net profits reached 21.88 billion dirhams for the first half of 2026, a 24.18 percent jump from the 17.62 billion dirhams recorded in the same period a year earlier.

The gains spread across both major exchanges. Companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market earned 6.557 billion dirhams in net profit, up 13.3 percent from 5.787 billion dirhams in the first half of 2025. The five firms trading on the Dubai Financial Market outpaced that, collectively posting 15.33 billion dirhams, a 29.5 percent year-on-year rise from 11.83 billion dirhams.

Revenue growth ran ahead of profit gains. The nine companies together brought in 66.92 billion dirhams in the first half of 2026, a 21 percent increase from 55.28 billion dirhams in the comparable 2025 period, reflecting higher project revenues and sustained operational expansion across the sector.

In Abu Dhabi, four listed companies saw combined revenues climb 16.4 percent to 26.66 billion dirhams from 22.89 billion dirhams. Aldar Properties led the Abu Dhabi group, reporting first-half 2026 profits of 4.204 billion dirhams, up 16.4 percent from 3.612 billion dirhams. Madan Holding posted a more modest 2.9 percent gain, with net profits of 2.202 billion dirhams against 2.118 billion dirhams previously. Ishraq Investment Company delivered the sharpest growth among Abu Dhabi names, recording 75.29 million dirhams in profit compared to 41.69 million dirhams, an 80.59 percent increase.

Not every company shared in the momentum. Ras Al Khaimah Real Estate was the notable exception among Abu Dhabi-listed firms, reporting profits of 76.65 million dirhams in the first half of 2026 against 160.6 million dirhams in the prior-year period, a 52.2 percent decline. On the revenue side, Dar Real Estate’s first-half sales rose 8.5 percent to 16.843 billion dirhams from 15.526 billion dirhams, while Madan Holding achieved stronger momentum, with sales climbing 40 percent to 9.188 billion dirhams from 6.545 billion dirhams.

Dubai’s five listed companies showed even sharper profit expansion. Emaar Properties’ 8.67 billion dirhams represented a 22.5 percent increase from 7.079 billion dirhams in 2025. Emaar Development followed with 5.56 billion dirhams in profit, a 48 percent surge from 3.75 billion dirhams. TECOM Group added 804.7 million dirhams, up 9.1 percent from 737.4 million dirhams. Diyar Development contributed 276.6 million dirhams, a 10.2 percent increase from 250.9 million dirhams. Al-Etihad Real Estate rounded out the five with 18.4 million dirhams in profit, approximately 26 percent above the 14.56 million dirhams it earned in the first half of 2025.

The five Dubai-listed companies together expanded revenues by 24.3 percent to 40.26 billion dirhams from 32.39 billion dirhams in the first half of 2025, driven by residential demand, new development launches, and growth in Dubai’s broader real estate and tourism sectors.

Whether the pace of profit growth can hold through the second half of 2026, particularly for companies that have already posted near-50 percent year-on-year gains, remains the question investors will be watching most closely.