Dubai Land Department records show 19,926 mortgage registrations were completed across the emirate in the first half of 2026, with total new lending reaching AED 101.1 billion. That puts the average registered loan at AED 5,076,000.
Against the previous half-year, mortgage registrations were down 11.9% from 22,611, while the total value of lending increased 4.7%. As a market indicator, mortgage registration activity remains one of the clearest measures of financed demand, showing how many buyers are completing purchases with bank funding rather than cash alone.
By area, Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) recorded the highest borrowing activity, with 1,164 mortgages over the period. Apartments & units made up roughly 58% of all mortgage registrations, while the Under AED 1M loan band was the most common at about 33% of registrations, offering a useful guide to typical borrowing levels in the market.
Where borrowers are buying — top areas
| # | Area | Mortgages | Lending | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | 1,164 | AED 1.9 billion | 5.8% |
| 2 | Business Bay | 832 | AED 5.5 billion | 4.2% |
| 3 | Jebel Ali | 795 | AED 1.8 billion | 4.0% |
| 4 | Madinat Hind 4 | 794 | AED 963 million | 4.0% |
| 5 | Al Hebiah Fifth | 643 | AED 1.3 billion | 3.2% |
| 6 | Al Yelayiss 2 | 620 | AED 764 million | 3.1% |
| 7 | Dubai Marina | 607 | AED 3.6 billion | 3.0% |
| 8 | Wadi Al Safa 5 | 597 | AED 1.6 billion | 3.0% |
Mortgage registrations by DLD area over the period. Share is of all Dubai mortgage registrations. Common market names shown.
What is being mortgaged — property type
| Property type | Mortgages | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Apartments & units | 11,610 | 58.3% |
| Land plots | 4,238 | 21.3% |
| Villas | 3,164 | 15.9% |
| Whole buildings | 914 | 4.6% |
Loan size bands
| Registered value | Mortgages | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under AED 1M | 6,549 | 32.9% |
| AED 1–2M | 6,296 | 31.6% |
| AED 2–3M | 3,001 | 15.1% |
| AED 3–5M | 2,355 | 11.8% |
| AED 5–10M | 900 | 4.5% |
| AED 10M+ | 825 | 4.1% |
Distribution by registered transaction value. A guide to typical borrowing sizes; individual loan amounts depend on down payment and lender.
What this means for your mortgage
We see 19,926 mortgage registrations in the first half of 2026 as clear evidence that financed demand remains a central part of Dubai’s property market. The distribution of loan sizes also points to broad-based activity, not just movement at the top end of the market. In our view, whether rates are rising or holding steady, buyers are in the strongest position when they understand their budget before they begin searching. We suggest starting with our mortgage eligibility calculator to estimate your borrowing range, and we can run a free desktop valuation on any specific building for you.