Abu Dhabi Residential Sales Nearly Triple to AED 70.4 Billion

The latest figures come from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) H1 2026 Real Estate Market Report, which tracks registered transactions, supply, demand, price movements and investment activity across the emirate.

Off-Plan Properties Drive Sales

Off-plan properties were the main driver of residential sales during the first six months of the year. Transactions for properties still under construction represented 89% of residential sales value and 82% of total deals.

The concentration of activity in the off-plan segment reflects strong demand for newly launched developments and continued investor interest in Abu Dhabi’s expanding residential communities. The market was also highly concentrated among major developers, with the top 10 developers accounting for AED 51 billion, or 90% of off-plan primary sales.

The strong performance suggests that buyers remain willing to commit capital to developments before completion, supported by Abu Dhabi’s growing pipeline of residential projects and expanding investment zones.

Property Prices Continue to Rise

The increase in transaction values has been accompanied by substantial price growth in the residential market.

Repeat-sale prices for apartments increased 20% year-on-year, while villa prices rose 12% during H1 2026. The gains indicate that demand is continuing to place upward pressure on property values, particularly in sought-after communities.

Investment zones remain particularly important to the market. These areas represented more than 22% of Abu Dhabi’s total residential stock, with approximately 72,000 units. Al Reem Island had the largest stock among these zones, followed by Al Raha, Yas Island and Saadiyat Island.

Foreign Buyers Remain a Major Force

International demand is another important factor behind Abu Dhabi’s residential market performance.

Resident expatriates and non-resident foreign buyers together accounted for 70% of residential sales value during the first half of 2026. At the same time, Emirati buyers significantly increased their activity, committing AED 21 billion compared with AED 8.9 billion in H1 2025.

The combination of domestic and international demand is helping broaden Abu Dhabi’s property market and reduce its dependence on a single buyer segment.

Hudayriyat Island Leads Major Locations

Hudayriyat Island emerged as the leading location by residential sales value during the first half of the year, recording AED 19 billion, equivalent to 27% of total residential sales value.

Saadiyat Island followed with AED 13.3 billion, while Al Reem Island and Al Maryah Island together recorded AED 10.5 billion. Yas Island generated another AED 7.3 billion in residential sales.

The results highlight the growing importance of Abu Dhabi’s master-planned communities and investment destinations, particularly for buyers seeking new residential developments.

Rental Market Also Shows Growth

Abu Dhabi’s rental market continued to expand alongside property sales. The emirate recorded approximately 233,000 active residential lease contracts during H1 2026, with total lease values reaching AED 9.3 billion, an 8% increase from the previous year.

Lease contract volumes increased by 2%, while residential supply reached approximately 409,000 units. The emirate’s residential stock has grown at an average annual rate of 2.9% since 2022.

The rental market provides an additional indicator of sustained housing demand, particularly as Abu Dhabi continues to attract residents, businesses and international investors.

More Homes Expected by 2030

The strong sales performance comes as Abu Dhabi prepares for further expansion of its residential supply.

Around 71,000 additional residential units are projected to be delivered by 2030, with annual deliveries expected to peak at approximately 21,800 units in 2028. Six key districts, including Saadiyat Island, Reem Island, Yas Island, Zayed City, Khalifa City and Hudayriyat Island, are expected to account for 77% of the projected additional supply.

The increase in future supply could help accommodate continued population growth while providing buyers with a broader selection of new homes.

Abu Dhabi’s residential market entered the second half of 2026 with strong sales momentum, rising property prices and substantial interest from both domestic and international buyers. The near-tripling of residential sales value compared with H1 2025, combined with the dominance of off-plan transactions and the sizeable development pipeline, points to continued expansion across the emirate’s property sector.