Sharjah’s property market achieves a historic milestone with record sales of Dh65.6 billion

Strong investor demand, growing international interest, expanding infrastructure developments, and a rising population make Sharjah one of the UAE’s most dynamic property markets.

The housing market in Sharjah has reached new heights, recording sales worth Dh65.6 billion in 2025 while preparing for the delivery of nearly 34,000 new homes over the next five years.

According to a recent report by Cavendish Maxwell, a combination of factors, including strong investor demand, growing foreign investment, infrastructure development, and population growth, has made Sharjah one of the most promising real estate growth stories in the UAE.

Moreover, the momentum has continued into 2026, with transaction values rising by 41% to Dh18.5 billion in the first quarter.

According to Ali Siddiqui, Research Manager at Cavendish Maxwell, Sharjah has entered a new era of economic growth and real estate development.

“A new era of economic aspiration lies ahead for Sharjah,” Siddiqui pointed out.

Foreign direct investment stood at Dh7.7 billion last year, and in the first six months of the year alone, investments worth Dh5.5 billion recorded a 361% surge, he said. The GDP growth rate stood at 4.4%, while business licences increased by about 9% to more than 77,500, he added.

All this suggests that the emirate is at a turning point.

“Reforms to foreign ownership, major investments in infrastructure, and lower living costs compared to other emirates are causing property prices to soar,” he added.

Since the enactment of freehold ownership reforms in 2022, development activity in the emirate has accelerated even further, as the reforms opened the sector to more international investors. According to Cavendish Maxwell, investors from 130 countries purchased properties in Sharjah last year alone.

Although UAE nationals continue to be the largest buyers, foreign investors are increasingly attracted to Sharjah because of its affordability and master-planned communities offering lifestyle amenities, green spaces, and family-friendly environments.

Demand for residential properties continues to be driven by the expatriate population, which accounts for more than 85% of Sharjah’s residents. Professionals working in Dubai are relocating to Sharjah, where they can find more spacious homes at affordable prices without compromising their ability to commute to workplaces in Dubai.

The price gap between the two emirates remains significant. According to the report, residential rents in Sharjah are generally 20% to 30% lower than those in Dubai.

One of the key elements behind Sharjah’s success story lies in its future housing pipeline.

Approximately 33,700 housing units are expected to be completed by 2030, of which 24,800 will be apartments, while the remaining 9,900 will consist of villas and townhouses.

The pipeline is considered one of the largest residential development programmes ever undertaken by the emirate and reflects growing developer confidence in future demand.

Major initiatives are being led by prominent entities such as Arada, Alef Group, BEEAH Group, Shurooq, and Eagle Hills. Most of these developments focus on creating integrated communities comprising residential, commercial, leisure, and educational spaces similar to those seen across the UAE.

Around 2,600 residential units were delivered in 2025, while about 1,100 units were added to the market during the first quarter of this year.

Investment in infrastructure has also strengthened Sharjah’s attractiveness.

The Dh40 billion Etihad Rail Network is expected to improve connectivity between Sharjah and other emirates, creating new demand drivers for residential and mixed-use developments. Furthermore, upgrades to the E611 road are expected to reduce travel time to Dubai during peak hours by up to 45%.

Sharjah has also invested extensively in aviation infrastructure. Through a Dh2.4 billion expansion project at Sharjah International Airport, passenger capacity is expected to increase to 20 million by 2027, supporting tourism growth and economic diversification.

The tourism industry is already showing positive signs of progress. In 2025, passenger traffic at Sharjah Airport reached 19.5 million, representing a 14% increase compared to the previous year. The number of hotel guests rose by 22% to 2.1 million, while hospitality revenues increased by 20% to Dh780 million.

With Sharjah’s population expected to grow from its current level of 1.98 million to 2.1 million by 2030, analysts forecast increased demand for housing.

Although the introduction of a large supply of housing will test the market’s absorptive capacity, analysts generally agree that Sharjah’s strengths — including affordability, infrastructure development, economic growth, and regulatory reforms — will sustain its strong property growth trajectory in the coming years.