Most homes due in 2026 are already sold: what that means for investors

Developers have sold 94.91% of the 43,217 homes scheduled for completion in 2026, according to figures reported by Khaleej Times in April. Across the whole 2026–2029 pipeline, 304,493 of 426,182 scheduled units (71.45%) were already sold, per Gulf Daily News. Emaar had sold 99.1% of its 9,085 units due this year, and Dubai Holding and Meydan were fully sold out for 2026. For investors, strong pre-sales lower the risk that a finished building sits empty. They do not remove it. A sold unit may still come back to the market as a resale or a rental on handover day, and the supply that arrives in one area at one time matters more than the citywide total.

Delivery risk points the other way. Cushman & Wakefield Core found that only about 186,000 of nearly 525,000 planned units had passed 20% construction progress. Cavendish Maxwell expects 14,000 to 23,500 completions in the second half of 2026, against 47,000 scheduled. Late handovers delay rental income, but they also stagger new supply.

What this means: before committing, compare the developer's recent handovers with their promised dates, check how many similar units finish in the same community in the same year, and work out net yield after service charges. The headline sell-through rate is a good sign, not a return.