What a building in Dubai really costs
The official construction cost indices, item by item. Dated, sourced facts, with no forecast and no buying advice.
Residential construction cost index, Q3 2026, year on year
122.05 in Q3 2026 against 109.76 in Q3 2025 (base 2019 = 100), that is +11.2%. Overall reading (residential and non-residential): +11.3%.
An index measures a change. It is not a cost in dirhams.
Source: dataset “Construction Cost Index by Building Stages (2019=100)” · dataset period Q1 2017 to Q3 2026 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Inside the developer's head
The index describes a standard basket of site spending. Here are its published weights.
The index basket
Tap a block to see what it contains.
Materials
weight 57.97% · +18.9% year on year- Cement, concrete, glass and other minerals28.56% · +23.2%
- Other machinery and equipment5.63% · +7.0%
- Electrical equipment5.61% · +12.0%
- Basic metals4.95% · +35.0%
- Chemicals3.75% · +12.7%
- Fabricated metal products2.82% · +16.1%
- Mining and quarrying2.37% · +5.3%
- Wood (excluding furniture)1.71% · +9.4%
- Rubber and plastics1.11% · +12.5%
- Electronics and optics1.05% · +9.9%
- Refined petroleum products0.23% · +45.0%
- Furniture0.18% · +4.7%
weight · year on year : Q3 2026 / Q3 2025
These weights are those published with the index. They describe a standard basket, not a specific project.
Source: dataset “Construction Cost Index by Economic Activity (2019=100)” · dataset period Q1 2013 to Q3 2026 · retrieved 8 November 2026
The same basket, by construction stage
Tap a block to see what it contains.
Structural works
weight 21.42% · +32.0% year on year- Concrete works6.86% · +33.0%
- Foundations5.16% · +29.8%
- Blockwork4.29% · +33.3%
- Superstructure4.01% · +35.7%
- Waterproofing1.11% · +19.7%
weight · year on year : Q3 2026 / Q3 2025
These are shares of construction cost, not of a home's sale price.
Source: dataset “Construction Cost Index by Building Stages (2019=100)” · dataset period Q1 2017 to Q3 2026 · retrieved 8 November 2026
The construction sector in 2024
- 821,307 employees, +10.2% year on year.
- Value added: 35% of the sector's output.
- Sector output: +23.3% year on year, in value.
No dirham amount is quoted: this dataset's unit is not yet confirmed.
Source: dataset “Economic Indicators of Construction” · dataset period 2006 to 2024 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Historical reference, 2017 to 2019
In 2019, construction employed 21.6% of Dubai's workforce. It received 10.0% of total compensation of labour.
These two datasets stop in 2019. We derive no amount and no pay per person from them.
Source: dataset “Workforce by Economic Activity” · dataset period 2017 to 2019 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Source: dataset “Workforce Compensation by Economic Activity” · dataset period 2017 to 2019 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Nine months of increases, month by month
Twelve-month change in the residential index and its four stages, in 2026.
| Month | General index | Site preparation | Structural works | Finishing works | Wages and other works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | +4.8% | +6.5% | +15.2% | +4.1% | +0.1% |
| February 2026 | +5.1% | +6.5% | +16.2% | +4.3% | +0.1% |
| March 2026 | +5.6% | +6.5% | +15.4% | +5.9% | +0.2% |
| April 2026 | +7.8% | +6.5% | +21.0% | +8.3% | +0.6% |
| May 2026 | +11.8% | +6.5% | +35.6% | +10.8% | +0.7% |
| June 2026 | +12.9% | +5.0% | +39.5% | +11.9% | +0.6% |
| July 2026 | +11.6% | +5.0% | +33.3% | +11.8% | +0.4% |
| August 2026 | +11.2% | +2.8% | +32.1% | +11.3% | +0.4% |
| September 2026 | +10.9% | +2.8% | +30.5% | +11.2% | +0.5% |
Source: dataset “Annual Percentage Change in Construction Cost Index by Building Stages - Monthly” · dataset period January 2026 to September 2026 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Month on month: overall index
Peak in May 2026: +4.15% month on month. Then: June +1.06%, July −1.05%, August +0.32%, September −0.08%.
| Month | Month on month: overall index |
|---|---|
| January 2026 | +2.05% |
| February 2026 | +0.55% |
| March 2026 | +0.86% |
| April 2026 | +2.03% |
| May 2026 | +4.15% |
| June 2026 | +1.06% |
| July 2026 | −1.05% |
| August 2026 | +0.32% |
| September 2026 | −0.08% |
The year-on-year change stays high: it compares each month with the same month of 2025.
Source: dataset “Monthly Percentage Change in Construction Cost Index by Building Stages (2019=100)” · dataset period January 2026 to September 2026 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Prices were already rising in 2025. From Q4 2024 to Q4 2025, ready-mix concrete rose +14.4% and the 6 cm hollow block +24.2%.
Average prices in Q4 2025: a starting base
| Material | Price, Q4 2025 | Year on year |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-mix concrete, per m³ | AED 292 (≈ EUR 72) | +14.4% |
| Hollow block, 6 cm, per piece | AED 3.13 (≈ EUR 0.77) | +24.2% |
| Portland cement, per 50 kg bag | AED 14.12 (≈ EUR 3.48) | +7.3% |
| Steel bars, 10 to 25 mm, per tonne | AED 2,503 (≈ EUR 617) | +0.2% |
This series stops before the 2026 increase. These are neither current prices nor costs per square metre.
Source: dataset “Average Construction Material Prices” · dataset period Q1 2012 to Q4 2025 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Who rose by how much
Change in each item of the residential index, Q3 2026 against Q3 2025.
| Item | Year-on-year change | Weight in the index |
|---|---|---|
| Refined petroleum products | +45.0% | 0.23% |
| Basic metals | +35.0% | 4.95% |
| Cement, concrete, glass and other minerals | +23.2% | 28.56% |
| Fabricated metal products | +16.1% | 2.82% |
| Chemicals | +12.7% | 3.75% |
| Rubber and plastics | +12.5% | 1.11% |
| Electrical equipment | +12.0% | 5.61% |
| Electronics and optics | +9.9% | 1.05% |
| Wood (excluding furniture) | +9.4% | 1.71% |
| Other machinery and equipment | +7.0% | 5.63% |
| Mining and quarrying | +5.3% | 2.37% |
| Furniture | +4.7% | 0.18% |
| Equipment hire | +3.6% | 2.25% |
| Other costs | +2.8% | 3.25% |
| Labour wages | 0.0% | 36.52% |
Basic metals: +35.0%, for a weight of 4.95%. Wages, which weigh 36.52%, changed by 0.0%.
Source: dataset “Construction Cost Index by Economic Activity (2019=100)” · dataset period Q1 2013 to Q3 2026 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Your own stress test
Enter your cost base, then move three items. The calculation applies their published weights.
| Item | Weight in the index | Year-on-year change (Q3 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Cement, concrete and glass (weight 28.56%) | 28.56% | +23.2% |
| Steel and basic metals (weight 4.95%) | 4.95% | +35.0% |
| Energy: refined petroleum products (weight 0.23%) | 0.23% | +45.0% |
An illustration of the mechanism, not a quote.
Source: dataset “Construction Cost Index by Economic Activity (2019=100)” · dataset period Q1 2013 to Q3 2026 · retrieved 8 November 2026
What you are really buying
A new home combines land, structure, finishes, fees and margin. We only publish what is sourced.
The plot
A plot is worth mostly what you are allowed to build on it: use, floor area, height. No public dataset puts a figure on its share of a price.
Aurèle's knowledge base, “land and feasibility” sheet, revised on 1 November 2026.
Structure and finishes
In the index, structural works weigh 21.42% and finishes 36.32% of construction cost. These are not shares of the sale price.
Source: dataset “Construction Cost Index by Building Stages (2019=100)” · dataset period Q1 2017 to Q3 2026 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Fees
On purchase, the Dubai Land Department charges 4% of the price. Off-plan, your payments go into the project's escrow account. After completion, 5% stays blocked there for a year.
Dubai Land Department fee schedule; Law No. 8 of 2007 on escrow accounts, art. 14. Calculate buying costs
The developer's margin
No public source gives developers' margins in Dubai. We do not estimate it.
Materials testing
In 2025, 141,084 construction material samples were received for testing, +51.4% year on year.
This measures testing activity. It says nothing about building quality or the number of homes delivered.
Source: dataset “Materials Testing Services by Type and Status (série « خدمات فحص مواد البناء » = essais des matériaux de construction)” · dataset period January 2023 to December 2025 · retrieved 8 November 2026
The supply on its way
How many homes exist, how many are under construction, how many projects are permitted.
The housing stock in 2025
Including 802,274 apartments (+89,599 year on year) and 175,285 villas.
Source: dataset “Housing Units by Type and Planning Area - Emirate of Dubai” · dataset period 2011 to 2025 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Hotel rooms
129,071 hotel rooms in 2025, in 648 hotels.
Hotel apartments: 25,193 in 2025, against 26,369 a year earlier.
Source: dataset “Hotels and Hotel Apartments - Yearly” · dataset period 2011 to 2025 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Estimated population in 2025
+7.8% year on year. These are official estimates, not a census.
Source: dataset “Number of Population Estimated by Nationality” · dataset period 2009 to 2025 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Hotels by category, Q4 2025 (year end)
| Category | Hotels | Available rooms | Average occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 stars | 280 | 29,523 | 81% |
| 4 stars | 195 | 43,500 | 81% |
| 5 stars | 173 | 56,048 | 79% |
Source: dataset “Hotels and Rooms Occupancy Average by Classification Category (trimestriel 2016-2025 et annuel 2015-2024)” · dataset period 2015 to 2025 · retrieved 9 November 2026
Hotel apartments by class, Q4 2025 (year end)
| Category | Buildings | Hotel apartments | Average occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe | 81 | 13,888 | 83% |
| Standard | 98 | 11,305 | 84% |
Source: dataset “Hotel Apartments and Apartments Occupancy Average by Classification Category (annuel 2015-2025 et trimestriel 2016-2025)” · dataset period 2015 to 2025 · retrieved 8 November 2026
Average rate for the quarter, not the year. It says nothing about home prices or short-term letting.
Buildings, not homes, in 2025
218,886 buildings, +6.4% year on year.
A building often holds many homes: this total cannot be compared with the housing stock.
| Year | Multi-storey buildings | Private villas | Investment villas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 10,847 | 51,869 | 18,397 |
| 2012 | 11,135 | 53,395 | 18,855 |
| 2013 | 11,067 | — | — |
| 2014 | 11,398 | 46,363 | 32,860 |
| 2015 | 11,676 | 47,240 | 38,208 |
| 2016 | 12,246 | 44,720 | 43,903 |
| 2017 | 18,467 | 53,636 | 69,150 |
| 2018 | 13,573 | 40,367 | 70,885 |
| 2019 | 14,123 | 42,743 | 77,802 |
| 2020 | 14,715 | 44,309 | 86,226 |
| 2021 | 15,166 | 45,430 | 93,096 |
| 2022 | 15,357 | 46,601 | 97,959 |
| 2023 | 15,590 | 48,048 | 103,991 |
| 2024 | 15,987 | 50,434 | 112,494 |
| 2025 | 16,740 | 52,431 | 122,854 |
2013 is missing for seven types out of eight, removed as a source error. Only multi-storey buildings keep it.
Source: dataset “Buildings By Type and Planning Area - Emirate of Dubai” · dataset period 2011 to 2025 · retrieved 8 November 2026
101,668 apartments under construction in September 2026.
| Month | Apartments |
|---|---|
| January 2018 | 124,305 |
| January 2019 | 113,469 |
| January 2020 | 98,687 |
| January 2021 | 80,966 |
| January 2022 | 71,079 |
| January 2023 | 65,212 |
| January 2024 | 57,297 |
| January 2025 | 63,220 |
| January 2026 | 84,287 |
| September 2026 | 101,668 |
Series shown from January 2018: a change of definition makes earlier figures not comparable. Months missing at the source: April 2023, April 2026, May 2026, June 2026.
Source: dataset “Buildings Under Construction by Type - Emirate of Dubai” · dataset period January 2010 to September 2026 · retrieved 8 November 2026
New permits for multi-storey buildings, by year
| Year | New permits |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 104 |
| 2011 | 102 |
| 2012 | 117 |
| 2013 | 176 |
| 2014 | 247 |
| 2015 | 356 |
| 2016 | 308 |
| 2017 | 349 |
| 2018 | 208 |
| 2019 | 121 |
| 2020 | 72 |
| 2021 | 123 |
| 2022 | 117 |
| 2023 | 137 |
| 2024 | 207 |
| 2025 | 300 |
| 2026 * | 118 |
Incomplete years, hatched: 2026 (January to April only). A permit authorises a project; it is not a completed building.
Source: dataset “Building Permits Issued and Licensed Areas by Building and Permit Type - Emirate of Dubai” · dataset period January 2010 to April 2026 · retrieved 8 November 2026
These figures describe the past. They predict neither prices nor rents.
Three readings, three profiles
The same figures answer different questions. Common reference: prices paid for a one-bedroom apartment.
You are buying to live in
Construction cost concerns projects still to be built. On a resale, the price is read in registered sales.
You are investing
A cost index says nothing about your yield. Compare prices paid and registered rents, area by area.
You are building
Your own quote remains the only base. The test above only shows how three items weigh on it.
| Area | Resale, 1 bedroom | Off-plan, 1 bedroom |
|---|---|---|
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | AED 990,000 (≈ EUR 244,000)2,473 sales | AED 1,159,000 (≈ EUR 286,000)3,310 sales |
| Dubai Marina | AED 1,700,000 (≈ EUR 419,000)1,063 sales | AED 3,405,000 (≈ EUR 839,000)224 sales |
| Business Bay | AED 1,420,000 (≈ EUR 350,000)1,105 sales | AED 2,300,000 (≈ EUR 567,000)1,452 sales |
Source: Dubai Land Department, sales registered from 13 November 2025 to 12 November 2026, median price, apartments only.
Sources and limits
Each dataset shown, its period and retrieval date. Then what these figures do not say.
Construction Cost Index by Building Stages (2019=100)
- Period
- Q1 2017 to Q3 2026
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Construction Cost Index by Economic Activity (2019=100)
- Period
- Q1 2013 to Q3 2026
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Annual Percentage Change in Construction Cost Index by Building Stages - Monthly
- Period
- January 2026 to September 2026
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Monthly Percentage Change in Construction Cost Index by Building Stages (2019=100)
- Period
- January 2026 to September 2026
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Average Construction Material Prices
- Period
- Q1 2012 to Q4 2025
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Economic Indicators of Construction
- Period
- 2006 to 2024
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Workforce by Economic Activity
- Period
- 2017 to 2019
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Workforce Compensation by Economic Activity
- Period
- 2017 to 2019
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Materials Testing Services by Type and Status (série « خدمات فحص مواد البناء » = essais des matériaux de construction)
- Period
- January 2023 to December 2025
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Housing Units by Type and Planning Area - Emirate of Dubai
- Period
- 2011 to 2025
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Buildings By Type and Planning Area - Emirate of Dubai
- Period
- 2011 to 2025
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Buildings Under Construction by Type - Emirate of Dubai
- Period
- January 2010 to September 2026
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Building Permits Issued and Licensed Areas by Building and Permit Type - Emirate of Dubai
- Period
- January 2010 to April 2026
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Hotels and Hotel Apartments - Yearly
- Period
- 2011 to 2025
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Hotels and Rooms Occupancy Average by Classification Category (trimestriel 2016-2025 et annuel 2015-2024)
- Period
- 2015 to 2025
- Retrieved
- 9 November 2026
Hotel Apartments and Apartments Occupancy Average by Classification Category (annuel 2015-2025 et trimestriel 2016-2025)
- Period
- 2015 to 2025
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Number of Population Estimated by Nationality
- Period
- 2009 to 2025
- Retrieved
- 8 November 2026
Open data published on Dubai Data (data.dubai/en), a freely accessible portal, retrieved between 8 November 2026 and 9 November 2026.
- An index measures a change in prices. It is not a cost in dirhams.
- The weights are those published with the index, for a standard basket of spending.
- Items are read on the residential component of the indices.
- Average material prices stop in Q4 2025, before the 2026 increase.
- “Manufacturing” is published at 57.6% while its items add up to 55.6%. The page uses the detailed items (materials: 57.97%).
- Index and quarterly change by stage: exports truncated for early years. No series before 2018 is shown from them.
- Buildings under construction: series break in January 2018. April 2023 is missing at the source for apartments, as are April to June 2026.
- Buildings by type: a count of buildings, not homes; 2013 removed for seven types out of eight.
- Building permits: 2026 covers January to April only.
- Workforce and compensation by activity: 2017 to 2019 only, a dated historical reference, in shares only.
- Economic indicators: no dirham amount, as the unit is inferred and not confirmed at the source.
- Population: official estimates, not a census; no link is drawn with prices.
- Hotels and hotel apartments by class: the “yearly” file repeats the fourth quarter. The page therefore reads the latest published quarter.
- The 2025 yearly figures for hotels by category repeat 2024 (a source error): they are not shown. The quarterly file lacks 2020.
- No forecast: these data describe the past.
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