Published: 2026-08-18
Ajman registered 73,472 rental contracts worth a combined AED 2.91 billion in the first half of 2026, according to figures released by the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department and reported on 2026-08-18. The first quarter alone delivered 36,432 attested leases worth AED 1.442 billion, up 20% year on year, which means activity accelerated further in the second quarter. Officials attribute the result to sustained demand for housing and growing investor interest. The takeaway for anyone watching UAE property: the growth story has moved beyond Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and the Northern Emirates are becoming a rental market in their own right.
What the official figures show
The data comes from the emirate’s rental attestation system, through which every tenancy contract in Ajman must be registered. That makes the numbers a near-complete census of the leasing market rather than a survey estimate.
| Indicator | Value | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Rental contracts, H1 2026 | 73,472 | all attested tenancies |
| Total contract value, H1 2026 | AED 2.91 billion | announced by Ajman Municipality |
| Contracts in Q1 2026 | 36,432 | AED 1.442 billion, up 20% year on year |
| Residential leases, Q1 | 25,957 | about 71% of the quarter |
| Commercial leases, Q1 | 10,415 | shops, offices, warehouses |
| Investment contracts, Q1 | 60 | large portfolio deals |
Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director-General of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, said the results demonstrate growing confidence in Ajman and reflect the success of integrated efforts to provide a supportive environment for individuals and business owners. Yousef Mohammed Al Sheiba Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of the Rental Regulation Sector, confirmed continued activity in rental contracts and sustained demand for housing and investment.
The second quarter was even stronger
Simple arithmetic on the official numbers shows the market gathering pace. Subtracting the Q1 results from the half-year totals leaves roughly 37,040 contracts worth about AED 1.47 billion for the second quarter. Both figures are ahead of Q1, which itself was 20% ahead of the same period in 2025. In other words, the Ajman rental market is not just large, it is accelerating quarter on quarter, and it is doing so during months that traditionally count as the slower season in the UAE leasing calendar.
Why tenants and investors are choosing Ajman
Three forces are driving the volume. First, affordability: rents in Ajman remain well below Dubai and Sharjah for comparable space, which keeps pulling in families and businesses priced out of the bigger markets. Second, geography: the emirate sits directly on the E11 corridor, so commuting to Sharjah or northern Dubai is realistic, and a tenant can cut housing costs without changing jobs. Third, supply: developers have been delivering new residential stock in Ajman at price points that still allow investors to enter the market with a fraction of the capital a Dubai purchase requires.
The rental figures also sit inside a broader upswing. Total real estate transactions in Ajman reached AED 10.8 billion in the first half of 2026, and the leasing data confirms that the units being bought are finding occupants. That balance between sales and tenancy demand matters: it is what separates a healthy income market from a purely speculative one. A similar pattern is visible across the country, from record sales in the capital, covered in our review of Abu Dhabi’s record-breaking 2026 property market, to near-full occupancy in Dubai’s free zones.
What it means for the wider UAE market
For years the standard investor route into UAE property ran through Dubai, with Abu Dhabi as the institutional alternative. The Ajman numbers show a third lane opening. The Northern Emirates, led by Ajman, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, are turning into a yield play: entry prices are lower, tenant demand is documented by official attestation data, and emirate-level authorities are actively modernising rental regulation. For a landlord focused on rental income rather than capital-gain speculation, that combination is exactly what a portfolio needs.
It also changes the calculus for businesses. A company serving the UAE market no longer has to assume its staff will live where it is licensed. Firms registered in Dubai or in a free zone increasingly house teams in Ajman or Sharjah, and the 73,472 contracts include a meaningful commercial segment: over 10,400 commercial leases were attested in Q1 alone.
Checklist for investors considering Ajman rental property
- Confirm the property sits in a designated freehold area if you are buying as a foreign national.
- Budget for attestation: every tenancy in Ajman must be registered with the municipality, and the certificate is required for utilities and visa-linked matters.
- Model the yield on attested market rents, not asking prices, and factor in the emirate’s rent regulation when planning increases.
- Decide on the holding structure early: personal ownership or a UAE company, each with different banking and tax consequences.
- Open the bank account before the first tenancy, so rental income lands in a UAE account from day one.
- Keep corporate tax in mind: rental income earned through a company falls under the UAE corporate tax regime, while qualifying personal real estate income is generally outside it.
How Atlant Capital can help
Atlant Capital works with founders and investors entering the UAE, including those building rental portfolios in the Northern Emirates. We advise on the right ownership structure, handle company setup in the UAE from licence to visas, and manage corporate bank account opening so rental income flows into a properly documented UAE structure. If you are weighing Ajman against Dubai or Sharjah for your first income property, we can map the regulatory and banking side before you commit capital.
Conclusion
Ajman’s 73,472 rental contracts worth AED 2.91 billion in six months are more than a local success story. They are documented proof that UAE real estate demand has widened beyond the two flagship emirates, and that the Northern Emirates now offer a registered, regulated and accelerating rental market. For tenants that means choice; for investors, a lower-cost entry into one of the region’s most reliable income streams.
FAQ
How many rental contracts were signed in Ajman in the first half of 2026?
Ajman registered 73,472 rental contracts worth a combined AED 2.91 billion in H1 2026, according to the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department. The figures cover residential, commercial and investment tenancies attested through the emirate’s rental registration system.
How fast is the Ajman rental market growing?
In Q1 2026 the value of attested leases rose 20% year on year to AED 1.442 billion across 36,432 contracts. The half-year totals imply an even stronger second quarter, roughly 37,040 contracts worth about AED 1.47 billion.
Why are tenants and investors choosing Ajman over Dubai?
Lower rents and entry prices, direct road access to Dubai and Sharjah, and sustained housing demand confirmed by the municipality. Total real estate transactions in Ajman reached AED 10.8 billion in H1 2026, so the rental boom sits inside a wider market upswing.
Can foreign investors buy rental property in Ajman?
Yes. Ajman offers designated freehold areas where foreign nationals can own property. Many investors structure purchases through a UAE company to simplify leasing, banking and visas; a setup with a corporate account typically takes two to six weeks.
