The Research Desk

Price Index Methodology

Every figure we publish is traceable. This is exactly how the Dubai Plot Price Index is built, quarter on quarter.

Principles

Built on Registered Transactions

We measure what actually traded — not asking prices, not opinions. The index reflects registered land transfers, normalised so quarters and communities can be compared fairly.

Primary source

Registered land transfers from the Dubai Land Department, supplemented by completions we independently verify with brokers and developers.

Median, not mean

We report the median value per square foot. Medians resist distortion from a handful of trophy sales that would skew an average.

Like-for-like

Values are normalised by plot category, zoning and frontage so a beachfront plot is never compared against inland land.

The Process

How Each Quarter Is Built

Collect transfers

We gather all registered land transfers for the quarter across the communities we cover.

Clean the data

Related-party, bulk and non-arm's-length transactions are removed so only genuine market trades remain.

Normalise & bucket

Each trade is normalised per square foot and bucketed by community and category.

Publish the median

We report the median per bucket — but only where at least eight qualifying transactions exist.

Safeguards

What We Exclude, and Why

  • Cells with fewer than 8 transactions are withheld — too thin to be reliable.
  • Outliers beyond statistical bounds are flagged and reviewed before inclusion.
  • Off-plan and ready land are reported separately, never blended.
  • Revisions are logged transparently when new completions are verified.
View the Live Index

Sample · Prime Villa Land

▲ +24% YoY
1,710
Q1'25
1,840
Q2'25
1,990
Q3'25
2,120
Q4'25
2,205
Q1'26
2,340
Q2'26

Want the full dataset?

Download the Quarterly Index

The complete methodology, dataset and commentary — 48 pages, free to verified subscribers.