Dubai: Dubai’s residential property market recorded Dh139.1 billion in sales during the first quarter of 2026, with off-plan homes continuing to drive buyer activity even as rent and price growth began to show signs of cooling. New research from Cavendish Maxwell showed that 44,200 residential transactions were completed between January and March, up 4.6% from the same period last year. Sales value rose 21.5%, showing that buyers continued to commit larger sums to Dubai homes despite a slower start to the year. Off-plan sales remained the biggest force in the market, accounting for 73% of all residential transactions. More than 32,300 off-plan units were sold for a combined Dh105.5 billion, nearly 35% higher than in the first quarter of 2025. Developers dominate off-plan sales Developers continued to capture most off-plan buyer activity, helped by payment plans, newer projects and lower entry prices in apartment-led communities.…