Residential sales in Sharjah more than doubled during the first half of 2026, while a growing pipeline of apartments and waterfront developments began to widen a market previously led by villas.
According to research by Savills Middle East, the regional arm of global property adviser Savills, Sharjah recorded 13,081 residential sales in H1, up 113% from 6,140 during the corresponding period in 2025.
The increase came despite a slowdown in the second quarter, when 5,357 homes were sold. This was about 31% fewer than in Q1, but 58.6% above the Q2 2025 total.
Savills attributed the quarterly fall to seasonal moderation after an unusually active first quarter. Q1 benefited from major project launches and ACRES 2026, a four-day property exhibition at which sale and purchase transactions completed during the event qualified for a 50% reduction in registration fees.
Official figures show strength of residential sales
Data from the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department classified 13,501 properties involved in H1 sale transactions as residential. The figure is slightly higher than the 13,081 residential sales reported by Savills, although the available information does not explain how the two datasets were compiled.
Residential properties accounted for 82.2% of the department’s 16,426 sale transactions, a total that also included usufruct sales and initial sales contracts. The overall number of sale transactions increased by 4.7% from H1 2025.
Across the wider property market, transaction values reached AED 29.5 billion, up 9.3% year-on-year. The department processed 59,460 transactions of all types, an increase of 23.7%, and registered 11 new property projects.
Savills reported 1,555 mortgage registrations in Q2, representing increases of 51% quarter-on-quarter and 30% year-on-year.
For the full six-month period, the registration department recorded 2,590 mortgage transactions with a combined value of AED 7.6 billion.
Shane Breen, head of Sharjah and Northern Emirates at Savills Middle East, said the Q2 figures showed the market moving into a more sustainable phase after an exceptional first quarter.
“The year-on-year growth in sales and the continued rise in mortgage registrations point to resilient demand, while buyers are becoming more selective on quality, location and value,” Breen said.
He added that waterfront apartments and mixed-use communities were complementing Sharjah’s established villa market.
Apartment asking prices fall as buyer choice increases
Average apartment asking prices fell by 2.9% from Q1 to approximately AED 1,010 per sq ft. This was 8.2% below the Q2 2025 average.
Savills linked the decline to the number of apartments coming to market, particularly within waterfront and mixed-use developments. The additional supply has increased competition and given buyers more choice.
Demand remained healthy for well-located projects, according to the firm, particularly along the Al Khan-Al Mamzar waterfront corridor.
Villa asking prices declined by 2% quarter-on-quarter to approximately AED 970 per sq ft, but remained 5.4% higher than a year earlier. Demand persisted in established master-planned communities, including Masaar, Al Zahia, Hayyan, and Sharjah Sustainable City, as more homes entered the market.
Linar adds 2,620 homes to waterfront pipeline
The largest residential launch during the quarter was Linar, an AED 4 billion waterfront development in Al Mamzar by Sharjah-based property developer Alef Group.
The project is planned with 2,620 homes across five residential towers, alongside a commercial tower containing retail and service space. The residential towers will contain one to three-bedroom apartments and a limited number of penthouses.
Expressions of interest for the first phase, covering 1,572 homes across Towers A, B, and C, were fully reserved. Their combined value exceeded AED 2 billion. Tower A is scheduled for handover from 2030.
Qasba Downtown and Terhab also progressed during Q2, alongside further residential development along the Al Khan-Al Mamzar corridor.
Villas and townhouses still account for a substantial part of future supply. Projects under development include Masaar 3, Hayyan, Al Tay Hills, Sustainable City 2, Sukoon, and Khalid Bin Sultan City.
Upcoming completions include Saro, the final phase of property developer Arada’s original Masaar masterplan, with 597 homes. Azalea, the fourth phase of Masaar, will add another 566 homes.
International ownership extends across 50 projects
Sharjah has permitted buyers of all nationalities to own property without time restrictions in approved developments and areas since a 2022 Executive Council decision.
By the end of H1 2026, 50 projects had been approved for ownership by non-UAE and non-GCC nationals. Six received approval during the half-year.
Investors from 121 nationalities participated in Sharjah’s property market during the period. Non-Arab foreign nationals invested approximately AED 8.2 billion across 4,264 properties. Indian buyers ranked second behind UAE nationals by the number of properties traded, with 1,657.
Savills expects further apartment and villa launches from Q3 onwards. The firm cited continued freehold expansion, growing international investor participation, and Sharjah’s pricing relative to neighbouring emirates as factors expected to support demand through the remainder of 2026.
