Inside Emaar's Record-Breaking Start to 2026

A Landmark Quarter for Emaar:

Emaar Properties just closed the strongest quarter in its history, and the numbers make that clear on their own. Property sales reached AED 22.4 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 16% year-on-year, while total revenue climbed to AED 12.4 billion, a 23% jump compared to the same period last year. Net profit before tax hit AED 7.2 billion, according to figures reported by Gulf News. Founder Mohamed Alabbar tied the performance directly to Dubai's broader economic resilience, a theme that's carried through much of the developer's messaging this year.

Where the Growth Is Actually Coming From:

Dig into the numbers and the story becomes more specific. Emaar Development, the group's Dubai-focused build-to-sell arm, recorded AED 20.1 billion in property sales during the quarter, a 22% rise from Q1 2025, with net profit before tax up 46% to AED 4 billion. It wasn't just existing communities driving this either. The company launched 10 new residential projects in the quarter alone, including The Heights Country Club and Wellness, a master-planned development built around fitness and green living rather than the standard apartment-and-amenities formula.

Building the Next Phase of Dubai:

This quarter didn't happen in isolation. It follows a record-setting 2025, when Emaar Development posted its highest-ever annual property sales of AED 71.1 billion, alongside revenue of AED 27.5 billion, up 44%, and net profit before tax of AED 15.5 billion, up 52%. During that year the company also acquired 36 million square feet of land with an estimated development value of AED 120 billion, and launched more than 48 residential projects across its master-planned communities. Among the standouts was Emaar Hills, a new district anchored by Dubai Mansions, a collection of ultra-luxury homes aimed squarely at high-net-worth global buyers.

What This Means for Buyers and Investors:

Taken together, these figures point to a developer expanding rather than consolidating. A revenue backlog of AED 163.4 billion as of March 2026, up 29% year-on-year, gives Emaar clear visibility into future earnings, while its continued land acquisitions suggest more launches are still ahead rather than behind. For buyers watching Dubai's market, this kind of sustained developer momentum tends to be a useful signal, not just about one company's balance sheet, but about the broader confidence still flowing into the emirate's property sector. Figures above are drawn from reporting by Khaleej Times and Gulf News.