The Dubai branded residences market has expanded to 166 projects comprising 51,692 units, alongside a sharp rise in trophy transactions above AED100m ($27.2m).
The branded residence sector delivered one of its strongest years on record in 2025, marked by rapid expansion, record-setting transactions and a clear acceleration in ultra-luxury demand.
Once a niche segment within the premium residential market, branded residences have evolved into a structurally significant asset class, underpinned by investor-friendly policies, global brand participation and the city’s capacity to absorb trophy real estate at scale.
During 2025, a total of 34 branded residence projects were launched, adding 8,607 units to the market. This brought total inventory to 166 projects and 51,692 units by year-end, reflecting sustained international demand and continued confidence from developers and global brands.
As of 2025, the market comprised approximately 18,842 ready branded units, with a further 32,850 units under construction.
Branded residences in Dubai
Branded residences transaction volumes remained resilient year-on-year, with 12,873 transactions recorded in 2025 compared to 12,606 transactions in 2024, representing a 2.1 per cent increase.
In contrast, transaction values expanded sharply. Total branded residences transaction value rose from AED57.3bn ($15.47bn) in 2024 to AED79.1bn ($21.36bn) in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 38 per cent.
The divergence between volume and value highlights a clear shift towards larger-ticket transactions and greater capital concentration at the top end of the market.
Off-plan sales continued to dominate activity, accounting for approximately 82 per cent of branded residences transactions during the year.
One of the most striking indicators of momentum in 2025 was the surge in trophy transactions. Using AED100m ($27.2m) as the benchmark, Dubai recorded 22 trophy transactions in 2025, double the 11 recorded in 2024.
Ultra-luxury sales soar
In value terms, trophy transactions rose from AED1.5bn ($408m) in 2024 to AED 4bn ($1.09bn) in 2025, underlining growing confidence among ultra-high-net-worth buyers deploying capital into large-ticket branded assets.
The year was also defined by landmark individual transactions. Among the most notable was the sale of a Bugatti Residences penthouse for AED550m ($149.76m), the most expensive transaction recorded in the dataset and a milestone for automotive-branded residential real estate globally.
Pricing across Dubai’s branded residences segment demonstrated continued resilience in 2025. The average achieved price per square foot closed at $1,028 (AED 3,777), representing an increase of approximately 15 per cent compared to the previous year’s average of $895 (AED3,288) per square foot.
At the ultra-prime end, the highest achieved price per square foot was recorded at Atlantis The Royal at $4,979 (AED 18,294), followed by Jumeirah Asora Bay at $4,945 (AED 18,182) and Aman Residences at $4,718 (AED 17,328).
These benchmarks highlight the depth of demand for trophy waterfront assets and tightly held luxury inventory.
Branded residences continued to command a significant premium over non-branded residential stock, averaging approximately 43 per cent across comparable locations.
The highest branded premium was recorded on Jumeirah Bay Island, driven by extremely limited land availability and the presence of a single branded residential offering, Bulgari.
While waterfront and beachfront locations typically command the strongest branded premiums, 2025 data also revealed notable exceptions.
Dubai Maritime City and Dubai Islands recorded negative branded premiums relative to non-branded developments, reflecting stronger pricing achieved by select premium non-branded master communities and the influence of more affordable surrounding stock.
Location dynamics continued to evolve during the year. The Peninsula district, home to Aman, emerged as a new focal point for ultra-high-net-worth demand. The entry of brands including Aman, Rosewood and Capella is transforming the Peninsula into a highly concentrated ultra-prime waterfront enclave.
At a citywide level, Downtown Dubai remained the largest branded residential district with 22 projects, followed by Palm Jumeirah and Business Bay, each with 17 projects.
