Ajman Rental Contracts Reach AED 2.91 Billion in First Half of 2026
By Thasmiya
Ajman’s rental market continued to show strong momentum in the first half of 2026, with the total value of rental contracts reaching approximately **AED 2.91 billion**.
The latest figure adds to a wider period of growth across Ajman’s property sector, as the emirate attracts residents and businesses with comparatively accessible housing, expanding infrastructure and an increasingly active real estate market.
## **Ajman’s rental market continues to expand**
Rental activity remained strong during the first six months of 2026, with the value of contracts reaching approximately AED 2.91 billion.
The trend follows an already active start to the year. Ajman Municipality and Planning Department reported that rental contracts were worth **AED 1.442 billion in the first quarter of 2026**, with 36,432 contracts certified. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-eyhk?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
That Q1 total included:
- 25,957 residential contracts - 10,415 commercial contracts - 60 investment contracts
The figures demonstrate that demand is not limited to homes, with commercial properties also forming an important part of Ajman’s leasing market.
## **Rental contract values had already risen in Q1**
Ajman’s first-quarter rental contract value represented strong growth compared with previous years.
Rental contracts were valued at approximately **AED 1.203 billion in Q1 2024** and **AED 1.355 billion in Q1 2025**, before reaching AED 1.442 billion in the first three months of 2026. ([صحيفة الخليج](https://www.alkhaleej.ae/2026-04-28/%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF/%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA/1442-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%87%D9%85-%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B9%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A8%D9%86%D9%85%D9%88-20?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
That means the rental market entered 2026 from an already elevated base.
The Municipality and Planning Department has linked the continued activity to improvements in services, digital infrastructure and the overall customer experience.
## **Residential demand remains an important driver**
Residential contracts represented the largest share of certified leases in the first quarter, highlighting the continued demand for homes across the emirate.
Ajman has become an increasingly significant residential alternative within the northern emirates, particularly for households looking for different price points and property options within commuting distance of Sharjah and Dubai.
The emirate offers everything from studios and apartments to villas and newer residential communities, creating options across different budgets.
However, individual rental prices can vary significantly depending on location, building age, facilities, unit size and demand.
## **Ajman’s wider property market is also growing**
The rental numbers form part of a much larger period of activity in Ajman real estate.
The Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation recorded **6,815 real estate transactions worth more than AED 10.8 billion during H1 2026**. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-tnqu?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Of those, 5,435 were trading transactions with a combined value of **AED 7.64 billion**.
Mortgage activity also remained substantial, with 969 mortgage transactions valued at more than **AED 1.88 billion** during the six-month period. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-tnqu?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
These figures indicate that Ajman is seeing activity across both the rental and property ownership markets.
## **Which Ajman areas are seeing strong property activity?**
Separate H1 real estate data shows **Emirates City** was the most actively traded major development during the period.
It was followed by:
- City Towers - Ajman One
Among neighbourhoods, **Al Helio 2** recorded the highest trading activity, followed by Al Helio 1 and Al Zahia. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-tnqu?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
These rankings relate to property trading rather than rental contracts specifically, but they provide an indication of where wider real estate activity is concentrated.
## **Ajman recorded AED 6.625 billion in rental contracts during 2025**
The latest figures follow a particularly strong 2025.
Ajman Municipality and Planning Department reported that the value of rental contracts exceeded **AED 6.625 billion in 2025**, representing growth of **34.4%** compared with the previous year. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-hnnv?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The increase amounted to approximately AED 1.695 billion compared with 2024.
The department said the growth reflected Ajman’s increasing attractiveness across residential, commercial and investment rental markets, supported by infrastructure development, public services and regulatory policies.
## **Why are people looking at Ajman?**
Several factors are supporting Ajman’s growing property market.
One is the range of housing options available across the emirate. Residents can choose between established neighbourhoods and newer developments, while investors have access to apartments, villas and commercial properties across different price categories.
Ajman has also continued investing in roads, public services, digital government systems and urban development.
The government says these improvements form part of **Ajman Vision 2030**, which includes creating a competitive business environment and supporting sustainable economic growth. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-eyhk?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **Digital services are becoming more important**
Ajman Municipality has also highlighted improvements to its digital infrastructure as one factor supporting rental-market activity.
Digital processes can make tasks such as contract certification and accessing municipality services more convenient for landlords, tenants and property businesses.
The department said it continues to develop smart services and update regulatory procedures to improve customer experience and strengthen confidence in the market. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/ar/news/article-ar-jann?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
For a growing property market, simplifying these administrative processes can become increasingly important as transaction volumes rise.
## **What does the growth mean for tenants?**
Strong rental activity does not necessarily mean every tenant will face higher rents.
Rental conditions depend heavily on the specific area, property type, building and individual contract.
However, rising overall contract values can indicate stronger demand, changing rental rates, an expanding supply of properties or a combination of these factors.
Tenants looking for a new home should therefore compare multiple buildings and communities rather than relying only on an emirate-wide average.
Before signing a contract, residents should also confirm:
- The full annual rent - Number and value of payment cheques - Security deposit - Municipality and contract fees - Maintenance responsibilities - Parking availability - Utility arrangements - Renewal and rent-increase conditions
These additional costs can make a noticeable difference to the actual annual cost of renting.
## **What does it mean for landlords and investors?**
For property owners, sustained rental activity can support demand for income-generating real estate.
But investors should distinguish between rising overall market activity and the performance of an individual property.
Rental yield depends on factors including purchase price, annual rent, service charges, maintenance costs, vacancy periods and financing expenses.
A cheaper property with high service charges, for example, may produce a lower net return than its advertised gross rental yield suggests.
## **Ajman’s construction sector is expanding too**
The growth in real estate is also visible in construction activity.
Ajman Municipality issued **1,407 building completion certificates during the first half of 2026**, compared with 1,312 during the same period in 2025 — an increase of 7.24%. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-AMO-130530?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The municipality said the increase reflects continued construction activity and demand for development projects across the emirate.
New supply will be important as Ajman balances growing residential demand with the need to maintain a diverse range of housing options.
## **How Ajman compares within the UAE property market**
Ajman operates on a considerably smaller scale than Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but that can also be part of its attraction.
The emirate has increasingly positioned itself as an alternative for residents and investors looking for different entry points into the UAE property market.
Rather than competing directly with Dubai’s prime luxury market, Ajman offers a mixture of residential affordability, new developments and investment opportunities.
Its proximity to Sharjah and Dubai also means housing decisions in Ajman can be influenced by rental trends elsewhere in the northern UAE.
## **Why this matters**
Rental contracts reaching approximately **AED 2.91 billion during the first half of 2026** underline the continued expansion of Ajman’s residential and commercial property market.
The rental figures are particularly significant when viewed alongside more than **AED 10.8 billion in overall real estate transactions** recorded during the same six-month period. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-tnqu?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
For residents, the numbers point to an increasingly active rental market with expanding property choices. For investors and landlords, they highlight continued demand while also reinforcing the importance of evaluating individual communities, costs and achievable rental yields.
Ajman’s challenge will now be maintaining that momentum while ensuring new housing supply, infrastructure and regulation keep pace with its growing population and property market.
## **FAQs**
### **What was the value of Ajman rental contracts in H1 2026?**
Rental contracts were valued at approximately **AED 2.91 billion** during the first half of 2026.
### **How much were Ajman rental contracts worth in Q1 2026?**
Ajman Municipality and Planning Department reported rental contracts worth **AED 1.442 billion** during the first quarter. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-eyhk?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **How many rental contracts were recorded in Q1?**
A total of **36,432 rental contracts** were certified, including residential, commercial and investment contracts. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-eyhk?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **How large was Ajman’s overall property market in H1 2026?**
The Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation recorded 6,815 real estate transactions worth more than **AED 10.8 billion** during the first half of 2026. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-tnqu?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Which property projects were most actively traded?**
Emirates City ranked first among major projects, followed by City Towers and Ajman One. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-tnqu?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Are more properties being completed in Ajman?**
Yes. Ajman Municipality issued 1,407 completion certificates during H1 2026, up 7.24% compared with the same period of 2025. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-AMO-130530?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **How much were Ajman rental contracts worth in 2025?**
The total value exceeded **AED 6.625 billion**, representing 34.4% growth compared with 2024. ([المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة عجمان](https://ajmanmedia.ae/en/news/article-en-hnnv?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **Source Credits**
Information source and resource owners: Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation, Government of Ajman Media Office and Emirates News Agency.
## **Image Credits**
Image sources are combined from AI-generated visuals and other platforms. If any owner wants to be mentioned or any content needs to be changed, please email us at **concerns@whatmatters.ae**.