Dubai , February 24 , 2026 : Zabadani Real Estate, a pioneer in the UAE’s land and property sector, has announced the closure of six land transactions in 2025 with a combined value of Dh3 billion (US$817.43 million), marking a sharp increase from four deals worth Dh1.2 billion (US$327 million) in 2024.
Among the most significant transactions was the sale of a prime land plot in Motor City valued at Dh700 million (US$190.73 million), underscoring continued investor appetite for strategically located development sites across the emirate.
The strong performance reflects both Zabadani’s leadership in Dubai’s land trading market and the sustained appreciation of land values, which continues to drive broader economic growth in the emirate.
Landmark Transaction in Al Jadaf
According to Anil Gehani, Founder and Managing Director of Zabadani Real Estate, the evolution of Dubai’s land market over the past 25 years has been transformative.
“The land trading business has come a long way since the introduction of freehold property ownership in 2002, which triggered a significant surge in land prices,” Gehani said.
“In 2025, we closed a landmark transaction in Al Jadaf at approximately Dh1,700 per square foot, with a total land value of around Dh330 million — without freehold conversion. This distinction is critical.
“The pricing reflects pure land value, not enhanced by ownership restructuring or speculative entitlement upside. It places Al Jadaf firmly in the same valuation conversation as more established central Dubai districts and underscores how land in the UAE is now priced on development potential, planning certainty and long-term capital preservation.”
Dubai Land Market on Strong Growth Trajectory
Zabadani’s transactions form part of a broader surge in Dubai’s land market. According to the Dubai Land Department, 4,466 land plots worth Dh128.5 billion were sold in 2025, representing a 10.4 percent year-on-year increase.
A recent report titled Beyond the Skyline: Dubai’s Land Market Transformation Story by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) highlights the scale of this transformation. Land transaction values jumped 403.6 percent between 2019 and 2024 — rising from Dh13.7 billion to Dh68.8 billion — while transaction volumes nearly tripled from 691 to 1,991 deals, marking a 188.1 percent increase.
The upward momentum extended into 2025, with Dh43 billion worth of land transactions recorded in the first half alone, reflecting a 42.9 percent year-on-year increase.
JLL attributes Dubai’s land market surge to a significant demographic shift driven primarily by expatriate migration and an influx of high-net-worth individuals relocating to the emirate.
“What makes this story unique is not just the scale of growth, but the quality of migration driving it,” JLL stated in the report. “This migration pattern represents a fundamental shift in global wealth flows, accelerated by Dubai’s strategic positioning as a regional business hub, favourable tax environment and enhanced quality of life offerings.”
Infrastructure Spending Fuels Appreciation
Dubai’s strategic urban planning and infrastructure investment have further reinforced land value growth. The Government of Dubai allocated Dh39 billion (US$10.6 billion) — 46 percent of its 2025 budget — to infrastructure and construction projects, demonstrating its commitment to land development, property expansion and the creation of new communities.
JLL noted that newly announced development zones typically witness rapid price escalation, sometimes even before construction begins, while established central districts maintain premium valuations due to limited supply and high population density. Areas such as Dubai Creek Harbour have experienced land value appreciation of up to 81.4 percent following launch announcements.
Outlook: Continued Demand for Land Assets
Gehani remains optimistic about the outlook for land investments.
“As more wealthy individuals — businessmen, start-ups, fintech entrepreneurs and retirees — move into the city, land prices will continue to grow. The migration of the world’s millionaires will keep demand for properties and land high. This is why investment in land parcels will remain lucrative from a return on investment perspective,” he said.
Founded in 1990 by Anil Gehani, Zabadani Real Estate has evolved from a traditional retail brokerage into a specialised advisory firm focused on land trading, investment advisory, redevelopment and project management across residential, commercial, hospitality and industrial assets.
Over the past three decades, the firm has built a reputation for handling high-value negotiations and strategic land transactions. It was featured in Forbes Middle East’s Top Ten Real Estate Consultancies for two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017, cementing its standing as one of the region’s most trusted real estate advisory firms.