Abu Dhabi’s real estate market recorded AED117 billion in total transaction value during the first half of 2026, with both deal volume and value rising sharply against the same period last year, according to data from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC).
Transaction value climbed 112 per cent year-on-year, while volume rose 61.7 per cent. Sales transactions led the way, reaching AED86.1 billion across 16,838 deals, a 163.7 per cent increase in value.
Mortgage transactions totalled AED26.7 billion through 8,876 transactions, up more than 33 per cent in value. Musataha and long lease transactions accounted for AED4 billion, with gift transactions adding AED311.5 million.
The foreign investment figures are the most striking. FDI into Abu Dhabi real estate reached AED13.8 billion in the first half alone, a 309 per cent increase on the same period in 2025, and already exceeding the full-year FDI total for 2025.
Non-resident investors from 116 nationalities participated in the market, compared with 82 nationalities a year earlier. The UK, China, Russia, the US, Germany and France were among the leading sources of foreign capital.
Abu Dhabi’s investment zones, which allow ownership by investors of all nationalities, attracted AED75 billion in the period, up 181 per cent from AED26.7 billion in H1 2025. ADREC approved eight new investment zones during the half, bringing the emirate’s total to 50.
“Investment decisions begin long before a transaction takes place. They begin with a clear understanding of the market, its direction and the rules that govern it. Our focus at ADREC is to provide that visibility from the outset through transparent regulation and reliable, up-to-date data, giving investors a stronger basis on which to assess opportunities and make long-term decisions. As Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector evolves, what matters is not only how much it grows, but how it grows. This requires a regulatory environment that responds to changing needs while supporting the sector’s long-term direction,” Rashed Al Omaira, Director General of ADREC said in a statement.
On the regulatory side, ADREC registered 28 new real estate projects in H1, a 16 per cent increase year-on-year, and issued 2,040 licences for real estate professionals, up 34 per cent. The total number of licensed brokers in the emirate now stands at 3,302. The Madhmoun platform, which regulates real estate advertising, has issued more than 41,200 permits since its launch.
