The Big Short Series | The Rental Reality Check Dubai Needed | Episode 4

Dubai’s long term rental market is at a breaking point with rising population yet falling yields. Oversupply is driving investor action and reshaping opportunities for 2026.

With over half a million views across its first three episodes, The Big Short has become one of the most watched deep dives into Dubai's Real Estate Market.

In Episode 4, The Breaking Point: The Rental Reality Check Dubai Needed, the focus is on the long term rental market and why the headlines may not tell the full story.

Dubai’s population has grown +5.5% year on year according to Dubai Population Clock, yet Property Monitor shows total rental contracts have fallen -11.9%. While new rental contracts are rising, renewals have dropped from 34,173 in January to 24,771 in September, showing tenants are moving in search of better options and Dubai has become a tenants market.

Sources: Dubai Population Clock & Property Monitor

Long term rental yields are under pressure. In key areas such as Jumeirah Village Circle, Arabian Ranches, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah and Downtown Dubai, yields are down 3-11% year on year, even as price per square foot continues to rise according to Property Monitor.

Secondary sale transactions between April and August 2025 fell -31.15%, this is not a seasonal shift but a major market change, the same period last year witnessed a +26% increase.

At AirDXB, we provide insight into what these figures mean for landlords, investors and property owners, helping them navigate the evolving Dubai Real Estate Market .

Episode 4 dives deep into what’s really happening behind the headlines and what that means for smart property owners, investors, and landlords going into 2026.