Dubai to Lead UAE Housing Boom With 56,600 New Homes Due by End of 2026
Dubai is on track to add roughly 56,600 new residential units by the end of 2026, positioning the emirate as the driving force behind a broader wave of housing supply entering the UAE market, according to Colliers’ UAE Real Estate Market Report for the second quarter of 2026.
The figure comes on top of around 11,650 homes already delivered in Dubai during the second quarter alone, comprising 9,200 apartments and 2,450 villas. Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates are also set to see fresh supply, though on a considerably smaller scale.
According to Arabian Business, the pipeline reflects a market that has absorbed several years of strong population growth and investor demand, and is now moving into a phase increasingly shaped by differences between individual locations and project types.
Dubai Leads UAE Housing Pipeline
Dubai’s 56,600-unit pipeline for the remainder of 2026 far exceeds the near-term supply expected in any other UAE market. The expansion is unfolding alongside continued infrastructure investment across the emirate, including metro expansion, roads and interchange projects.
For Dubai’s residential market, the added stock is expected to give buyers and tenants significantly more choice after years of rapid development and sales activity. It also means individual projects will need to compete more directly on location, product quality and pricing as supply grows.
Abu Dhabi Prepares for Another 3,200 Homes
Abu Dhabi’s pipeline is smaller but steady. Around 2,200 homes were completed in the capital during the second quarter, with deliveries spread across communities including Al Shamkhah, Yas Island, Bloom Living in Zayed City, and Al Raha Beach.
A further 3,200 homes are scheduled for completion during the rest of 2026, continuing a multi-year trend of strong residential demand and price growth across the emirate’s master-planned communities and investment zones.
Sharjah Dominates Northern Emirates Supply
Outside Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Sharjah is emerging as the main contributor to new housing stock. Around 7,450 homes are expected to be completed across the Northern Emirates during 2026, though Colliers noted that the completion pipeline has moderated.
Sharjah alone accounts for roughly 5,450 of those units — nearly three-quarters of the regional total. Ras Al Khaimah is expected to add about 1,400 homes, while Ajman is forecast to deliver approximately 600.
Sharjah’s pipeline is also continuing to expand: around 4,600 new residential units were launched in the emirate during the second quarter. Recent handovers across the Northern Emirates include Il Teatro Residences in Aljada, Sharjah, and the final units at Danah Bay in Ras Al Khaimah.
Dubai/UAE Real Estate Context
The scale of Dubai’s pipeline — nearly eight times Sharjah’s total and more than 17 times Abu Dhabi’s remaining 2026 supply — underscores the emirate’s continued dominance in absorbing UAE housing demand. As Colliers notes, however, the market is entering a more selective phase, where completed supply will increasingly be judged by location, product quality and pricing rather than sheer volume.
Key Details
| Market | Q2 2026 Completions | Remaining 2026 Pipeline |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | ~11,650 (9,200 apartments, 2,450 villas) | ~56,600 |
| Abu Dhabi | ~2,200 | ~3,200 |
| Sharjah | — | ~5,450 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | — | ~1,400 |
| Ajman | — | ~600 |
| Northern Emirates (total) | — | ~7,450 |
Conclusion
With tens of thousands of new homes scheduled for completion across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates by the end of 2026, the UAE’s residential market is set to see a substantial expansion in available stock. As Colliers highlights, the next phase of the property cycle will be defined less by the volume of construction and more by where those homes are located and how effectively the market absorbs the added supply.
Source
Source: Arabian Business, DLD
