Abu Dhabi’s property market delivered a remarkable first half of 2026, with new data from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) — the government authority responsible for regulating the emirate’s real estate sector — confirming that transactions reached a total value of AED 117 billion between January and June.
The figure represents a 112% increase compared to the same period in 2025, while the overall number of transactions rose by 61.7%. Together, the numbers reaffirm Abu Dhabi’s growing status as one of the world’s most sought-after real estate investment destinations.
Sales Lead the Way
Property sales were the single biggest driver of activity during the first half of the year. Sales values climbed 163.7% to reach AED 86.1 billion across 16,838 transactions, reflecting genuine, sustained demand from buyers as well as a steadily broadening investor base.
Mortgage transactions also posted strong growth, rising 33.5% to AED 26.7 billion across 8,876 deals. Musataha arrangements and long-term leases contributed a combined total of around AED 4 billion, while gift transactions — property transferred between parties without a sale — reached AED 311.5 million.
Foreign Investment Hits a Record High
Perhaps the standout figure from the report is the scale of foreign direct investment flowing into Abu Dhabi’s property market. FDI reached AED 13.8 billion in the first half of 2026 alone — a 309% increase year-on-year and a figure that already surpasses the total foreign investment recorded across the whole of 2025. It marks the strongest first-half FDI performance the emirate has ever recorded.
The diversity of overseas buyers has also expanded considerably. Non-resident investors in Abu Dhabi’s real estate market now represent 116 nationalities, up from 82 during the same period last year. The United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States, Germany and France were named among the leading sources of foreign capital.
Abu Dhabi’s designated investment zones — areas open to full ownership by investors of any nationality — proved especially popular, attracting AED 75 billion in investment during H1 2026. That’s a 181% increase on the AED 26.7 billion recorded in the same period a year earlier.
A Word From ADREC Leadership
Commenting on the results, Rashed Al Omaira, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, linked the market’s strong performance to investor confidence built well before any transaction takes place. He noted that sound investment decisions begin with a clear understanding of the market, its trends and the regulatory framework behind it — and that ADREC’s focus remains on giving investors clarity and credibility through transparent regulation and reliable, up-to-date market data.
He added that as Abu Dhabi’s real estate market continues to mature, true success will be measured not just by the scale of growth, but by how that growth is achieved — with the regulatory environment staying closely aligned with the emirate’s long-term strategic direction.
Regulatory and Market Developments
Beyond the headline transaction figures, ADREC also reported a number of developments supporting the market’s continued expansion:
- Eight new investment zones were approved during the first half of 2026, bringing the total number of investment zones across the emirate to 50.
- 28 new real estate development projects were registered, marking a 16% increase compared to the same period last year.
- ADREC issued 2,040 new real estate professional licences during H1 2026, a 34% annual increase, bringing the total number of licensed brokers in Abu Dhabi to 3,302.
- Since its launch, the Madhmoun platform has facilitated the issuance of more than 41,200 permits for real estate advertisements — part of ADREC’s continued efforts to strengthen transparency and trust in property marketing across the emirate.
Source: Gulf News – 17 July 2026
