Emaar Property Cancellations Fall Below 600 a Month, Says Mohamed Alabbar
Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar says property cancellations have returned to normal levels, while the developer continues to collect payments and maintains a substantial sales backlog.
Property cancellations at Emaar Properties have declined to fewer than 600 per month after temporarily doubling during a period of regional tensions, according to founder Mohamed Alabbar.
Speaking at the ninth Sharjah Investment Forum on October 15, 2026, Alabbar said the developer typically sells around 4,000 residential units monthly, with cancellations generally averaging approximately 600. The increase to around 1,200 cancellations per month was temporary, he said, adding that figures have since returned to normal levels.
His comments offer an indication of how the Dubai-based developer has been managing buyer activity amid regional uncertainty.
Emaar Maintains Collections and Sales Backlog
Alabbar said Emaar continued collecting payments at a rate of around 9 per cent during the period of regional tensions, indicating that collections had remained consistent.
He also highlighted a sales backlog of approximately AED 180 billion, representing the value of property sales yet to be recognised as revenue.
Separately, Emaar reported a revenue backlog of AED 127.7 billion as of June 30, 2026, marking an increase of 8 per cent compared with the first half of 2025. The two figures refer to different reported measures and should not be treated as interchangeable.
According to the company, construction on its ongoing developments progressed in line with planned schedules during the first half of the year.
Alabbar said continued collections reflected customer confidence and expressed optimism about the UAE's economic outlook, highlighting the country's leadership, stability and living standards.
Noon and Hospitality Businesses Remain Active
Beyond real estate, Alabbar discussed activity across his other businesses, including e-commerce platform Noon. He said shoppers continued making purchases despite the uncertain regional environment.
He also reported that hospitality activity was running more than 60 per cent above previous levels, although the comparison period was not specified in the report.
Alabbar, who also chairs Eagle Hills, said safety, education and quality of life were becoming increasingly important considerations for people choosing where to live, establish businesses and invest.
He argued that long-term stability could be a significant advantage for the UAE as companies and families assess their options amid international uncertainty.
Alabbar Calls for More Flexible Business Planning
Addressing the wider business environment, Alabbar urged company leaders to review their strategies more frequently rather than relying entirely on fixed long-term budgets.
He recommended reviewing business plans every three months, with five-year budgets serving as broad guidelines rather than inflexible commitments.
Artificial intelligence was another major theme of his remarks. Alabbar described AI adoption as increasingly important for companies seeking to improve productivity, make decisions more efficiently and manage costs.
He also emphasised the value of learning how to communicate effectively with AI tools through clear instructions and well-structured prompts.
Emaar Emphasises Quality Over Discounts
Alabbar said Emaar's approach to competition centres on the quality of its developments rather than offering discounts. He also credited the performance of his businesses across international markets to the people managing their operations.
His remarks reinforce the company's stated emphasis on product quality and execution in a competitive property market.
For Dubai's real estate sector, the latest cancellation figures provide a positive signal regarding Emaar's reported sales activity. However, the figures relate specifically to the developer and do not, on their own, establish a recovery or trend across the entire UAE property market.
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