EMAAR DEVELOPMENT RECORDS STRONG FIRST-HALF GROWTH AS DUBAI’S PROPERTY MARKET CONTINUES TO EXPAND

Emaar Development has reported a strong financial performance for the first six months of 2026, recording AED 22.4 billion (US$6.1 billion) in property sales and AED 6.7 billion (US$1.8 billion) in net profit after tax, an increase of 43 per cent compared with the same period last year.

The UAE build-to-sell developer, majority-owned by Emaar Properties, said the results for January to June were supported by continued demand across its portfolio of master-planned communities, steady construction progress and disciplined execution. Revenue increased by 34 per cent to AED 13.3 billion (US$3.6 billion), while EBITDA rose 42 per cent to AED 7.1 billion (US$1.9 billion), representing a 53 per cent margin.

The figures follow a strong opening quarter for Emaar Development. In the first three months of 2026, property sales had already reached AED 20.1 billion, up 22 per cent year on year, while revenue rose 36 per cent to AED 6.9 billion.

By the end of June, the company’s revenue backlog had reached AED 127.7 billion (US$34.8 billion), representing an 8 per cent increase compared with the first half of 2025. For a developer with a substantial pipeline of residential projects, the backlog provides an indication of future revenue already secured through contracted sales.

Emaar Development’s performance comes against a wider backdrop of continued expansion in Dubai’s residential and mixed-use landscape. The company’s portfolio encompasses a range of large-scale communities, including Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai Creek Harbour, Emaar Beachfront, Arabian Ranches, Emaar South, Rashid Yachts & Marina, The Valley and The Oasis.

Rather than concentrating development within a single district, Emaar has continued to build across different segments of Dubai’s property market, from waterfront residences and high-density urban developments to villa communities and larger lifestyle-led masterplans.

That breadth is particularly visible in the company’s current pipeline. Emaar’s official portfolio includes established destinations such as Downtown Dubai and Emirates Living alongside newer developments including The Heights Country Club & Wellness, Expo Living, Grand Polo Club & Resort and The Oasis.

Construction across Emaar Development’s ongoing projects continued in line with planned schedules during the first half of the year. The company has also pointed to technology-enabled processes, artificial intelligence initiatives and operational optimisation as part of its efforts to improve efficiency across development activities.

Its financial results also reflect a significant land position. Emaar has identified approximately 287 million square feet of mixed-use development opportunities within its land bank, providing capacity for further projects as demand evolves. The wider group has also announced a new AED 200 billion masterplan, reinforcing its long-term focus on development in Dubai.

For Emaar, the scale of the land bank is important not simply because of the number of projects it can accommodate, but because of the company’s longstanding preference for integrated communities. The model extends beyond individual residential buildings to encompass retail, hospitality, leisure, green spaces and other services designed around a broader neighbourhood environment.

Downtown Dubai provides one of the clearest examples of this approach. Emaar describes the district as its flagship master development, encompassing two square kilometres in the centre of the city and incorporating residential, commercial, hospitality, entertainment and retail destinations.

Other communities offer a markedly different character. Emirates Living, established in 2003, spans more than 52 million square feet of greenery and incorporates residential neighbourhoods, lakes, walking trails, sports facilities, schools, retail centres and community amenities.

The same principle is being applied to newer developments. Dubai Creek Harbour, The Valley, Emaar Beachfront and The Heights Country Club & Wellness each occupy different positions within the company’s wider portfolio, allowing Emaar to address varied preferences in terms of location, architecture, lifestyle and residential format.

Emaar Development is part of Emaar Properties, the Dubai-based real estate group founded by Mohamed Alabbar in 1997. Emaar Properties was incorporated in Dubai and listed on the Dubai Financial Market in 2000. Over the years, the group has expanded beyond residential development into shopping malls, hospitality, entertainment, and other lifestyle businesses.

The company’s history is closely tied to Dubai’s transformation into an international business and tourism centre. Among its best-known developments are Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa, alongside The Dubai Mall and a wide portfolio of residential communities. Emaar Development itself has delivered more than 82,700 residential units since 2002, according to the company’s current investor-relations information.

Its current footprint extends beyond Dubai and the UAE through Emaar Properties’ international operations, with established markets including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, India, Pakistan and Turkey.

Within the UAE, however, Dubai remains central to Emaar Development’s identity and business model. The company’s current communities span waterfront, urban, suburban and resort-oriented settings, giving it a broad platform from which to respond to changing patterns of residential demand.

The first-half results also include a substantial community contribution. Emaar Development said it contributed AED 200 million (US$54 million) during the period to national community initiatives, divided equally between two endowment funds supporting orphans and vulnerable groups across the UAE.

Sustainability has likewise remained part of the company’s development approach, with Emaar highlighting responsible planning, resource-efficient design and environmental considerations across its projects. These priorities sit alongside the practical demands of delivering large-scale communities on schedule and maintaining the standards expected of a growing residential portfolio.

The company’s current official website lists communities across Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, including Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai Creek Harbour, Emaar Beachfront, Rashid Yachts & Marina, The Valley, The Oasis, Grand Polo Club & Resort and Address Al Marjan Island.

The combination of sales momentum, profitability and a sizeable contracted backlog gives Emaar Development considerable visibility as it moves into the second half of 2026. Yet the broader significance of the results lies in what they reveal about Dubai’s continuing development: the city is increasingly being shaped not simply through individual buildings, but through interconnected communities with their own identities, amenities and social infrastructure.

Emaar’s first-half performance therefore sits within a much larger urban story. As Dubai continues to attract residents, investors and businesses, the challenge for major developers is no longer only to build at scale, but to create places capable of sustaining that growth over time. For Emaar Development, the latest results suggest that its long-established community-led model remains closely aligned with the city’s current trajectory.