Secondary market prices of villas and townhouses in Arabian Ranches have seen an increase of around 33 per cent to 50 per cent in this year to date, said realtors.

Vineet Kumar, Head of Sales – Dubai, Asteco Property Management, said: "Beginning of this year, two- and three-bedroom villas in Arabian Ranches were sold for Dh650 to Dh750 per sq ft but currently prices vary between Dh900 per sq ft and Dh1,250 per sq ft depending on the size and location of the plot."

According to Asteco, sale price for a type 4, two-bedroom Al Reem villa of 1,800 sq ft in Arabian Ranches was Dh1.2 million in January this year. The same property is now around Dh1.6 million.

"Also, a type 2, three-bedroom Saheel Villa of 3,772 square feet area was around Dh2.8m in January this year. Currently the villa is around Dh3.8m," said Kumar.

Avais Najam, Managing Director, Venture Horizon Real Estate broker, said: "Current prices for villas and townhouses in Arabian Ranches is around Dh1,000 per sq ft. The lowest price that we have seen this year during the first quarter was around Dh650 per sq ft. So in effect prices have gone up almost 50 per cent in some units in Arabian Ranches from the first quarter of this year up to now.

"We are aware of a type 15 Mirador villa with a built-up area of 4,401 sq ft selling for Dh4.9m, which is around Dh1,100 per sq ft. Last year during the peak in August 2008, sales price in Arabian Ranches were around Dh1,000 per sq ft."

He said service charges in Arabian Ranches is around Dh7,000 per annum.

Yolanta Farah, Associate Director, Head of Residential Sales & Leasing, Group Seven Properties, said some of the townhouses in Palmera of Arabian Ranches have recorded an increase in price by about 10 per cent since the first quarter of this year.

"Between March this year and now in October while some independent villa prices have come down three per cent, the Al Reem and Palmera townhouses prices are up by around 10 per cent," said Farah.