Buyers from 116 countries invested across the emirate
Abu Dhabi’s property market has enjoyed a record-breaking start to 2026, with real estate transactions soaring to AED117 billion in just the first six months of the year.
New figures released by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) reveal the emirate’s property sector has enjoyed a remarkable start to the year, with the total value of transactions soaring 112 per cent compared with the same period in 2025.
The number of transactions also climbed by almost 62 per cent, highlighting continued confidence from buyers and investors.
One of the biggest success stories has been international investment.
Foreign direct investment into Abu Dhabi’s real estate market reached AED13.8 billion in the first half of the year, a huge 309 per cent increase year-on-year.
Even more impressively, that figure has already exceeded the total amount of foreign investment recorded during the whole of 2025.
Investors from 116 different countries purchased property in Abu Dhabi during the first six months of the year, up from 82 nationalities last year.
Buyers from the UK, China, Russia, the United States, Germany and France were among the biggest contributors, underlining Abu Dhabi’s growing appeal on the global stage.
Sales made up the largest share of activity, with 16,838 transactions worth AED86.1 billion, representing a 163.7 per cent increase in value compared with the same period last year.
Mortgage activity also remained strong, accounting for AED26.7 billion across 8,876 transactions, while musataha and long-term lease agreements contributed AED4 billion.
The capital is also creating more opportunities for investors.
During the first half of the year, ADREC approved eight new investment zones, bringing the total across Abu Dhabi to 50.
These designated areas allow investors of all nationalities to own property and attracted AED75 billion in investment, almost triple the amount recorded during the same period in 2025.
The development pipeline is growing too, with 28 new real estate projects registered in the first half of 2026, a 16 per cent increase year-on-year.
Rashed Al Omaira, Director General of ADREC, said the focus is not simply on growing the market but ensuring it develops in a sustainable and transparent way.
“Investment decisions begin long before a transaction takes place,” he said. “They begin with a clear understanding of the market, its direction and the rules that govern it.”
He added that providing reliable data and transparent regulation gives investors greater confidence and supports the long-term growth of Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector.
The industry itself is continuing to expand, with ADREC issuing 2,040 licences for real estate professionals during the first half of the year, taking the total number of licensed brokers in the emirate to 3,302.
Meanwhile, ADREC’s Madhmoun platform, which regulates property advertising, has now issued more than 41,200 advertising permits, helping improve transparency and ensuring buyers have access to more reliable property listings.
With record investment, expanding ownership opportunities and a growing pipeline of developments, Abu Dhabi’s property market is shaping up for another landmark year.
