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Dubai Residential REIT reported a 15.1 percent increase in net profit before fair value changes for the first six months of 2026, lifting the total to Dhs716.5 million from Dhs622.3 million a year earlier, according to a statement issued by the company. Revenue rose 8.1 percent to Dhs1.036 billion in the period from Dhs957.8 million previously, the REIT said, while the performance benefited from sustained demand for residential units in core Dubai communities. The statement highlighted that these gains occurred against a backdrop of disciplined portfolio management that has supported consistent income streams for unitholders since the vehicle’s launch.
Adjusted EBITDA climbed 14.6 percent to Dhs822.6 million with the margin widening to 79.4 percent from 74.9 percent a year ago, the REIT’s announcement showed. Average occupancy across the portfolio reached 98.6 percent in the first half, up 0.5 percentage points year on year, while tenant retention stood at 94.1 percent, an improvement of 0.3 percentage points, according to the released figures. The company attributed the operational strength to the quality of its residential assets concentrated in established and high-demand areas of the emirate.
The board approved an interim dividend of Dhs573.2 million, equivalent to 4.4 fils per unit and representing 80 percent of first-half profit before fair value changes, Dubai Residential REIT said in the statement. At the IPO price the payout annualises to a yield of roughly 8 percent while the figure stands at approximately 7.1 percent based on the June 30 closing price. Distribution is expected to provide unitholders with a substantial return anchored in the vehicle’s core residential rental income.
Gross asset value expanded 6.9 percent from the end of 2025 to reach Dhs25.2 billion, driven by the addition of 56 villas and the acquisition of Jebel Ali Village, the REIT’s figures show. Net asset value stood at Dhs22.6 billion with the per unit measure climbing to Dhs1.74, an increase of Dhs0.04 from December 2025, according to the announcement. The valuation uplift reflects both organic portfolio performance and strategic additions completed during the period.
In the statement, the managing director said, “Dubai Residential REIT’s H1’26 performance demonstrates the quality of our portfolio. We delivered double-digit net profit growth, maintained near-full occupancy.” The executive added that looking ahead the REIT would continue to manage the portfolio with discipline while its focus remains clear on leveraging this differentiated residential platform to deliver stable income and create long-term value for unitholders. The company has also submitted an expression of interest for three medium-term residential projects that would add 448 premium units and 107 community units if completed.
The results align with broader trends in Dubai’s residential sector where the Dubai Statistics Center has recorded continued population growth that exceeded 3.7 million residents by the end of 2025, supporting elevated occupancy levels across licensed rental properties. A separate assessment published by CBRE Middle East placed average residential occupancy in prime Dubai communities above 95 percent for the first half of 2026, consistent with the REIT’s reported metrics. Such demand dynamics have enabled vehicles focused on residential assets to sustain rental income growth even as new supply enters selected sub-markets.
