Abu Dhabi's real estate market recorded AED 117 billion in total transactions in H1 2026 (January–June), up 112% compared with the same period in 2025. Residential unit sales reached AED 70.4 billion across 15,900 units, up 178% in value and 99% in volume year-over-year. Off-plan sales accounted for 89% of residential sales value. Resident expatriates and non-resident foreign investors together accounted for 70% of residential sales value, with foreign direct investment (FDI) roughly quadrupling year-over-year to AED 13.8 billion. Al Hidayriyyat Island was the top-performing district by sales value, at AED 19.0 billion.
All figures in this report are ADREC's published half-year totals for January–June 2026, compared where noted against the same six-month period in 2025.
Market Growth at a Glance
Total Real Estate Activity, H1 2022 – H1 2026
Real estate sales made up AED 86 billion of the AED 117 billion in total H1 2026 transactions — 74% of transacted value, the highest share of any half-year in ADREC's series. The remainder covers mortgages and other registered transactions.
| Period | Total Transactions (AED Bn) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| H1 2022 | 27 | — |
| H1 2023 | 46 | +70% |
| H1 2024 | 40 | -13% |
| H1 2025 | 55 | +38% |
| H1 2026 | 117 | +112% |
Office & Retail Occupancy Stayed High Through H1 2026
Office supply reached ~3.4 million sqm GLA (up 0.3% since end-2025), with occupancy around 95–96% and new lease prices up 13% year-over-year; Prime and Grade A space is effectively fully committed. Retail supply reached ~3.85 million sqm GLA, growing 5% (annualized) in H1 2026 versus 1.3% for all of 2025, with occupancy in the mid-90s and new lease prices up 9% year-over-year.
409,000 Units Today — 480,000 by 2030
As of H1 2026, total residential supply in Abu Dhabi Emirate was ~409,000 units, growing at an average annual rate of 2.9% since 2022. ADREC projects ~71,000 additional units by 2030, growing supply at an average annual rate of 3.8% through the decade.
Most of the future pipeline is concentrated in the same districts already driving sales. Al Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Yas Island and Al Hidayriyyat Island, together with Zayed City and Khalifa City, are expected to account for 77% of new supply through 2030.
This links current sales activity with the areas where most new residential stock is being planned, indicating that the strongest-performing districts are also central to Abu Dhabi's future development pipeline.
Who Bought in H1 2026
Resident expatriates were the largest buyer group in H1 2026, accounting for 51% of residential sales value (AED 35.6B). Emiratis followed at 30% (AED 21.0B). Non-resident FDI made up 20% of value (AED 13.8B), roughly 4x its H1 2025 level, with non-resident investors from 116 nationalities.
| Period | Emirati | Resident Foreign | Non-Resident FDI | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H1 2025 | AED 8.9B (35%) | AED 13.1B (52%) | AED 3.4B (13%) | AED 25.3B |
| H1 2026 | AED 21.0B (30%) | AED 35.6B (51%) | AED 13.8B (20%) | AED 70.4B |
Non-resident FDI value roughly quadrupled year-over-year, and Emirati buyer value more than doubled. Top FDI nationalities in H1 2026 (alphabetically): China, France, Germany, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Russia, Taiwan, UK, US.
Where Sales Happened
Al Hidayriyyat Island was the top-performing district by sales value in H1 2026, followed by Al Saadiyat Island, ADGM (Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands combined) and Yas Island.
Five of the ten largest individual projects in H1 2026 are located on Al Hidayriyyat Island: Al Naseem, Nawayef East, Nawayef West, Bashayer Residences and Bashayer Villas. Together, they account for more than AED 16 billion in sales.
This concentration of large transactions helped Al Hidayriyyat overtake Al Saadiyat Island and become Abu Dhabi's top-performing district in H1 2026.
Abu Dhabi's outdoor and adventure island, known for its beaches, cycling and running trails.
Browse Listings in Al Hidayriyyat IslandAl Saadiyat Island has some of Abu Dhabi's highest residential prices. One Saadiyat apartments averaged around AED 97,000 per square metre, while Four Seasons Private Residences villas averaged around AED 93,000 per square metre.
Demand at the upper end of the market remained strong in H1 2026. The Row Saadiyat and Four Seasons Private Residences each recorded AED 3.2 billion in sales, placing both among the ten largest projects of the half.
Home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat's cultural and beachfront district.
Browse Listings in Al Saadiyat IslandSales across ADGM more than doubled year over year in H1 2026. The area also forms part of Abu Dhabi's main market for completed apartments.
Three-quarters of ready-apartment sales volume came from ADGM, Al Raha and Al Saadiyat Island combined. This makes ADGM's growth distinct from Al Hidayriyyat Island, where the increase was driven largely by off-plan sales.
A waterfront residential island and part of ADGM, Abu Dhabi's financial free zone.
Browse Listings in Al Reem IslandYas Island is one of six districts that ADREC expects to account for much of Abu Dhabi's new residential supply through 2030. Around 11,800 additional units are projected for the island.
Yas Riva Residences also ranked among the ten largest individual projects by sales in H1 2026.
Abu Dhabi's entertainment island, home to Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari World and Yas Mall.
Browse Listings in Yas IslandFour smaller districts also stood out in H1 2026, together accounting for AED 10.1 billion in sales:
| District | Sales Value H1 2026 | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ramhan Island | AED 2.9B | 4% |
| Fahid Island | AED 2.9B | 4% |
| Ghadeer Al Tayr | AED 2.4B | 3% |
| Zayed City | AED 1.9B | 3% |
These are newer districts with no published H1 2025 comparison.
Sales and Lease Prices, Year-Over-Year to Q2 2026
Apartment sales prices rose 20% year-over-year and villa sales prices rose 12%, per ADREC's repeat sales index. New apartment lease prices rose 17% across all zones (21% in investment zones); new villa lease prices rose 9% across all zones (16% in investment zones).
| Metric | YoY Change | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment sales price | +20% | Abu Dhabi Region |
| Villa / townhouse sales price | +12% | Abu Dhabi Region |
| Apartment new lease price | +17% | All zones |
| Apartment new lease price | +21% | Investment zones only |
| Villa new lease price | +9% | All zones |
| Villa new lease price | +16% | Investment zones only |
| Cumulative villa price growth since Q1 2020 | +72% | Abu Dhabi Region |
Price growth has been concentrated at the upper end of the market. Apartment sales in the highest price band, above AED 28,000 per sqm, grew 3.3 times year over year and now account for 46% of total apartment sales value, the fastest-growing segment.
The 20% increase in the overall price index therefore reflects a significant shift towards higher-priced apartments, alongside changes in prices across the wider market.
Total Lease Value Reached AED 9.3 Billion
Residential lease value across Abu Dhabi Emirate reached AED 9.3 billion in H1 2026, up 8% year-over-year, on 233,000 active lease contracts (up 2%). Abu Dhabi Region accounted for 92% of lease value. Apartments made up 74% of lease value and villas/townhouses 26%.
ADREC's rental-increase freeze took effect on 2 June 2026, capping renewal increases at 0% and holding re-let units at their preceding contract value; ADGM communities (Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands) are excluded. In June, the first month under the freeze, new-lease price growth eased to +0.5% for apartments, with villas flat.
Top 10 Developers — ~90% of Off-Plan Primary Sales
The top 10 developers generated ~AED 51 billion, around 90% of off-plan primary residential sales in H1 2026. Modon led at AED 20.6 billion, followed by Aldar at AED 15.0 billion.
| Rank | Developer | Off-Plan Sales Value H1 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modon | AED 20.6B |
| 2 | Aldar | AED 15.0B |
| 3 | Al Ain | AED 3.4B |
| 4 | Imkan | AED 3.0B |
| 5 | Eagle Hills | AED 2.9B |
| 6 | Bloom | AED 1.6B |
| 7 | SAAS Properties | AED 1.5B |
| 8 | ORA | AED 1.5B |
| 9 | Lead Development | AED 1.3B |
| 10 | Radiant Real Estate | AED 1.0B |
Top 10 = ~90% (~AED 51B) of off-plan primary residential sales.
Nearly all of this activity is concentrated in the off-plan market. ADREC requires developers to hold buyer payments in supervised escrow accounts, with funds released as verified construction milestones are reached. Ten developers account for 90% of off-plan sales, making escrow safeguards particularly important given how highly concentrated this activity is among a small group of developers.
The 10 largest individual projects accounted for AED 30 billion, 43% of total residential unit sales value. Five of them are on Al Hidayriyyat Island, all developed by Modon.
| Project | District | Type | Sales Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Naseem | Al Hidayriyyat | Villas | AED 4.3B |
| Nawayef West | Al Hidayriyyat | Villas / townhouses | AED 4.2B |
| Nawayef East | Al Hidayriyyat | Apartments / villas | AED 4.1B |
| The Row Saadiyat | Al Saadiyat | Apartments | AED 3.2B |
| Four Seasons Private Residences | Al Saadiyat | Branded residences | AED 3.2B |
| Ramhan Island | Ramhan Island | Mixed | AED 2.9B |
| Yas Riva Residences | Yas Island | Apartments | AED 2.2B |
| SHA Residences | Ghadeer Al Tayr | Wellness residences | AED 2.0B |
| Bashayer Residences | Al Hidayriyyat | Apartments | AED 2.0B |
| Bashayer Villas | Al Hidayriyyat | Villas | AED 2.0B |