Over the 12 months to July 2026, Dubai’s ten most active apartment communities recorded 21,091 ready (secondary) sales in total, according to Dubai Land Department data. That accounts for 46.6% of all ready apartment transactions across the emirate. Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) ranked first, with 4,516 sales.
Pricing across these top ten areas covers a broad spectrum, from AED 479,000 in International City to AED 4,159,000 in Downtown Dubai. The range highlights the choice available to buyers, from high-turnover, value-led neighbourhoods to prime waterfront and Downtown locations, all within the city’s most actively traded apartment markets.
For buyers, strong transaction volume is usually a sign of liquidity. In practical terms, that can mean an easier purchase process, a clearer resale path later on, and better comparable evidence when it comes to negotiating. Put simply, these are the communities where the highest number of apartment deals are being completed right now.
Top 10 areas by ready apartment sales
| # | Area | Sales | Avg price | Avg PSF | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) (Al Barsha South Fourth) | 4,516 | AED 1,123,000 | AED 1,338 | 10.0% |
| 2 | Dubai Marina (Marsa Dubai) | 2,758 | AED 3,084,000 | AED 2,455 | 6.1% |
| 3 | Business Bay | 2,710 | AED 1,991,000 | AED 2,009 | 6.0% |
| 4 | Jebel Ali (Jabal Ali First) | 2,001 | AED 1,111,000 | AED 1,179 | 4.4% |
| 5 | Meydan (Al Merkadh) (Al Merkadh) | 1,934 | AED 1,439,000 | AED 2,027 | 4.3% |
| 6 | Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa) | 1,826 | AED 4,159,000 | AED 2,883 | 4.0% |
| 7 | Al Hebiah Fourth | 1,415 | AED 1,244,000 | AED 1,146 | 3.1% |
| 8 | Wadi Al Safa 3 | 1,350 | AED 1,527,000 | AED 1,172 | 3.0% |
| 9 | International City (Al Warsan First) | 1,302 | AED 479,000 | AED 691 | 2.9% |
| 10 | Dubai South (Madinat Al Mataar) | 1,279 | AED 1,673,000 | AED 1,143 | 2.8% |
Ready (Existing Properties) apartment sales over the trailing 12 months, grouped by DLD registration area. Share is of all ready apartment sales in Dubai. Common market names shown; official DLD area name in brackets.
What this means for your mortgage
Our view is that transaction volume remains one of the clearest indicators of a healthy, liquid market. Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) and the other leading areas combine deep supply with consistent demand, which often helps keep pricing grounded in real market activity. Before choosing a community, we suggest testing your budget against current numbers with our mortgage eligibility calculator. We can also arrange a free desktop valuation on a home in any community.