Abu Dhabi Real Estate transactions surge 76% to Dh171.26 billion in 2026

The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) has announced its real estate transaction figures for the first nine months of 2026, with values increasing across all reported categories.

Total transactions reached Dh171.26 billion across 38,483 exchanges, representing a 76.1 per cent increase in value and a 32.8 per cent rise in transaction volume compared to the same period in 2025, when total transaction value stood at Dh97.19 billion across 28,977 deals.

Sales were the main contributor to growth, with 23,749 transactions valued at Dh119.33 billion, a 105 per cent increase in value and a 49.2 per cent increase in transaction volume year-on-year, up from 15,910 transactions worth Dh58.20 billion in the same period of 2025. Mortgage activity also registered growth, with 14,390 transactions valued at Dh45.92 billion, reflecting a 13.2 per cent rise in transaction volume and a 30.2 per cent increase in value compared to 12,706 transactions totalling Dh35.26 billion in the same period of 2025.

At a district level, Al Reem Island recorded the highest transaction value at Dh29.86 billion, followed by Al Hudayriyat Island at Dh28.62 billion, Al Saadiyat Island at Dh18.69 billion, Yas Island at Dh13.4 billion and Zayed City at Dh5.36 billion. Looking ahead, six districts are projected to account for 77 per cent of incremental real estate supply through 2030 including Al Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Yas Island, Zayed City, Khalifa City and Al Hudayriyat Island.

Rashed Al Omaira, Director General of ADREC, said: “The scale of investment shows how many people and businesses are making a long-term commitment to Abu Dhabi. That commitment extends well beyond the transaction itself. Buyers expect projects to be delivered, businesses need space to grow, and residents want communities that work well over time. Our responsibility at ADREC is to make sure the rules governing the market reflect those expectations, from how property is sold to how developments are managed after handover.”

Foreign investment in Abu Dhabi’s investment zones increased by 131 per cent year-on-year to Dh86.11 billion in the first nine months of 2026, accounting for 81 per cent of total investment value within those zones. Foreign direct investment (FDI) by non-resident individuals in Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector reached Dh17.22 billion during the same period, more than double the Dh8.2 billion recorded for the full year of 2025. Investors from 121 nationalities contributed to this FDI, with the UK, China, Russia, the US, France, and Germany representing the leading sources by investment value.

Other transaction categories also recorded growth in value. Gift transactions increased by 145 per cent in number to 76, with their total value rising by 389 per cent to Dh0.44 billion. Musataha and long-lease transactions reached 268 deals valued at Dh5.57 billion, representing a 52.9 per cent increase in value despite an 18.7 per cent decline in transaction volume compared to the same period in 2025.

As market activity expands, ADREC continues to develop the regulatory and professional framework supporting the sector. During the first nine months of 2026, the centre registered 54 new real estate development projects and issued 3,677 licences for real estate professionals, a 32 per cent increase in licences compared to the same period in 2025. ADREC also introduced the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Broker Transformation Course, a mandatory licensing curriculum replacing the previous broker course. The programme is designed to strengthen brokers' regulatory knowledge, advisory capabilities and professional conduct, supporting higher standards of service across the sector.

Abu Dhabi has been recognised as the world’s most improved market in JLL’s 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index, recording the largest gain among all markets assessed. The emirate climbed eight places from 41st in 2024 to 33rd globally in 2026, with a score of 2.42. This advancement marks Abu Dhabi’s transition from the Semi-Transparent to the Transparent tier. Regionally, Abu Dhabi ranked second in the MENA region.