Commercial property prices and rents recorded significant movements across parts of the UAE during the first half of 2026, with Property Finder data highlighting considerable differences between individual locations and property types. Ras Al Khaimah recorded some of the largest year-on-year increases, while Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah showed a combination of rising and falling commercial rents.
Original article: UAE commercial property prices surge 348% as Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai hotspots revealed by Arabian Business.
Key Insights:
Ras Al Khaimah Records Significant Retail Price Increases
Ras Al Khaimah stood out in the H1 2026 data, particularly for average retail sale prices.
On Al Marjan Island, the average retail sale price reached AED 19.7 million, compared with AED 4.4 million in H1 2025, representing a 348% year-on-year increase. RAK Central recorded a 254% increase over the same period, with the average rising from AED 3.4 million to AED 11.9 million.
Al Hamra Village recorded a more moderate 44% increase, taking its average retail sale price to AED 2.4 million.
However, quarterly figures showed some moderation. Al Marjan Island’s average retail sale price declined 4.4% between Q1 and Q2, while RAK Central recorded a 33.8% quarterly decline.
Retail rents also increased in several RAK locations, with Mina Al Arab recording a 109.9% annual increase to AED 187,490.
Property Finder attributed RAK’s annual performance partly to tourism and luxury development, while describing the second-quarter slowdown as a period of moderation following earlier increases.
Dubai Commercial Performance Varies by Location
Dubai’s commercial market showed considerable differences between individual neighborhoods.
Deira recorded the largest annual increase among the five Dubai retail rental locations included in the analysis, with average rents rising 61.5% to AED 643,855. Jumeirah Village Circle increased 33.4%, while Arjan recorded a 19.3% rise.
Office rents also increased in several established business districts. Jumeirah Lake Towers recorded a 30.6% annual increase to AED 475,870, while Business Bay rose 11.4% to AED 421,041.
However, the trend was not consistent across the emirate. Bur Dubai office rents declined 29.2% year on year, while International City retail rents fell 11.4%.
The differences highlight how Dubai’s commercial market is increasingly shaped by individual locations and property types rather than a single emirate-wide trend.
Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Record Mixed Results
Abu Dhabi showed similarly varied performance. Al Danah recorded a 181% year-on-year increase in average office rents to AED 523,434, while Al Reem Island rose 7.4% to AED 570,030.
Khalifa City retail rents increased 17.1%, while Al Raha Beach recorded an 8.5% rise. In contrast, Mussafah retail rents fell 54.3%, with declines also recorded for office rents in several older commercial districts.
Sharjah’s office market recorded increases across a number of locations. Al Majaz office rents rose 64.4%, Sharjah Industrial Area increased 57.3% and Al Qasimia recorded a 41.3% rise.
Retail performance was more mixed, with Al Majaz recording an increase while Sharjah Industrial Area declined.
Commercial Market Becomes Increasingly Localized
Property Finder described the UAE commercial property sector as a “multi-speed” market, with performance increasingly determined by individual locations rather than broad emirate-wide trends.
The H1 figures support this assessment, with substantial annual increases in locations such as Al Marjan Island and Al Danah occurring alongside significant declines elsewhere. Quarterly movements also provide important context, with some locations that recorded large annual increases showing signs of moderation between Q1 and Q2.
Property Finder expects commercial demand during the second half of 2026 to remain highly targeted, with tenants negotiating more aggressively and individual locations continuing to perform differently.
For commercial property buyers and investors, the data highlights the importance of assessing individual districts, asset types and recent pricing trends rather than relying solely on headline UAE-wide figures.
