- Dubai Municipality: Construction industry achieves 20% growth with more than 30,000 building license applications in H1 2025.
- More than 5.5 million square metres of newly licensed built-up area currently available for implementation.
- 45% reserved for multi-storey investment and commercial projects indicating increased business optimism.
- 40% of the space was occupied by residential villas that have a combined area of more than 2 million square metres.
- July was a record month with 1 million square metres licensed.
Dubai Municipality has also revealed a strong increase in construction, with over 30,000 building permission applications dealt with in the first half of 2025 — a 20% jump from the equivalent period last year.
The overall licensed built-up area was more than 5.5 million square metres, all sanctioned for immediate implementation, with July alone seeing 1 million square metres of new licensed space.
The data shows that investment confidence in the economy and the real estate market of Dubai remains intact.
Multi-story commercial/investment buildings formed 45% of total licensed space, followed by 40% residential villas which covered over 2 million square meters. Industrial and public buildings formed the remaining 15%.
Dubai: A Global Leader in Smart and Sustainable Construction
ENG. Mariam Al Muhairi, CEO of the Building Regulation and Permits Agency at Dubai Municipality, said: “These figures reinforce Dubai’s status as one of the world’s foremost construction destinations.
The sector’s steady growth reflects the Emirate’s sustainable economic trajectory and underlines Dubai Municipality’s commitment to advancing the sector with smart, sustainable solutions.
Through process simplification and innovation and digital transformation, we continue to propel the Emirate forward in fulfilling its vision of being the world’s best city in which to live and work.”
Digital Innovation Driving Construction Growth
Dubai’s unified “Build in Dubai” platform continues to accelerate the permitting process and improve efficiency.
The integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) into automated audits has enhanced submission quality from consultants and contractors, reduced errors and duplication, and delivered a more seamless and accurate service experience.
Training and Qualification to Boost Construction Quality
Dubai Municipality also regulates the Dubai Building Code, green building codes, and universal design standards that provide access for People of Determination.
The Municipality conducts weekly training programs via Dubai Municipality Academy, providing engineers with technical and digital skills necessary to address the futuristic urban development needs of Dubai.
