Emaar Properties has announced a one-time AED 4.4 billion (US$ 1.2 billion) special dividend after its pre-tax profit rose 18% to AED 19.8 billion (US$ 5.4 billion) in the first nine months of 2026. Revenue grew 13% to AED 37.5 billion, property sales reached AED 34.7 billion, and 14 new projects came to market. The one soft spot was hospitality, where UAE hotel occupancy dropped to 63%.

Here is a clear breakdown of each part of the results and what it says about Dubai's largest developer.

Emaar special dividend: AED 0.50 per share

Emaar's board approved a one-time payout of AED 4.4 billion, equal to 50 fils per share or 50% of share capital. It is separate from the regular annual dividend and reflects the company's earnings this year. As an example, a shareholder with 10,000 shares would receive AED 5,000 from the special dividend alone.

Emaar nine-month profit, revenue and backlog

Profit grew faster than revenue. While revenue rose 13%, EBITDA climbed 19% to AED 19.7 billion (US$ 5.4 billion), giving Emaar a 53% margin.

AED 158.8 billion revenue backlog

As of 30 September, Emaar's property sales backlog stood at AED 158.8 billion (US$ 43.2 billion), up 6% year on year. This is the value of homes already sold but not yet recorded as revenue. Developers book that income as construction moves forward, so the backlog gives a good view of Emaar's earnings over the next few years.

Emaar UAE property development results

The UAE build-to-sell business recorded AED 26.2 billion in property sales. Emaar Development grew revenue 26% to AED 22.2 billion and pre-tax profit 28% to AED 12.5 billion. Adding Dubai Creek Harbour and other UAE operations, development revenue reached AED 28.3 billion, up 18%, with a UAE backlog of AED 127.2 billion.

Founder Mohamed Alabbar linked the results to work on construction sites, handovers and the running of Emaar's destinations, adding that the company's responsibility to buyers continues long after the sale.

New Emaar launches in 2026

Emaar released 14 residential projects across its master communities, including:

  • Serro and Serro II at Heights Country Club & Wellness
  • Valia at Dubai Creek Harbour
  • Alva at The Valley

Handovers and construction progress

More than 4,800 homes were handed over in the UAE, and over 80% of active UAE projects were ahead of schedule at the end of September. Emaar Development also awarded 23 main works contracts worth AED 13.5 billion and 43 infrastructure contracts worth AED 4.3 billion. The group holds about 604 million sq ft of land, 315 million sq ft of it in the UAE, for future phases.

Recurring income: Dubai Mall up, hotel occupancy down

Emaar's malls, hotels, leisure and commercial leasing businesses earned AED 7.6 billion (US$ 2.1 billion), broadly flat on last year. They contributed AED 5.9 billion in EBITDA, or 30% of the group total. The flat figure covers two very different trends.

Dubai Mall and retail: 98% occupancy

Retail and commercial leasing revenue rose 10% to AED 5.2 billion, with EBITDA up 8% to AED 4.4 billion and occupancy at around 98%. Dubai Mall added Primark's first UAE store, Ulta Beauty's second UAE branch and new luxury openings on Fashion Avenue.

Emaar hotel occupancy falls to 63%

Average UAE hotel occupancy dropped to 63% from 80% a year earlier, as fewer international visitors came to the region. Hospitality, leisure and entertainment still brought in AED 2.4 billion (US$ 700 million), with local demand covering part of the gap. In September, Emaar Hospitality Group opened Vida Aljada, the brand's first hotel in Sharjah.