Abu Dhabi’s real estate market had a strong start to 2026. The sector recorded property transactions worth 117 billion dirhams, or about $31.9 billion, during the first six months of the year. That marked a 112 percent rise compared with the same period in 2025.
The latest figures show that the market is growing at a fast pace. Strong demand, rising foreign investment, and new property projects all helped push activity higher. Officials also said new policies have made the market more open and attractive for investors from around the world.
Property transaction activity also increased sharply during the first half of the year. The total number of deals climbed by 61.7 percent compared with the same period last year. This growth reflects steady demand across different parts of the property market.
Foreign investment played a major role in the market’s expansion. Foreign direct investment reached 13.8 billion dirhams during the first half of 2026. That was a jump of 309 percent from the same period last year. The figure also exceeded the total foreign investment recorded during all of 2025.
The strong rise in overseas investment highlights Abu Dhabi’s growing position as a trusted property market. Government efforts to improve transparency, expand foreign ownership rules, and support private business have helped attract more international buyers.
Officials said investors want clear market information before making decisions. They believe reliable data and simple rules help buyers understand market trends and reduce uncertainty. A stable legal system also supports long-term confidence in the property sector.
The market also became more international during the first half of the year. Investors from 116 different countries completed property investments. During the same period last year, buyers came from 82 countries.
The largest group of foreign investors came from the United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States, Germany, and France. Their continued interest shows that Abu Dhabi remains attractive to buyers from many major global markets.
Investment zones also performed well. These areas allow buyers from every nationality to own property. During the first half of 2026, these zones attracted 75 billion dirhams in transactions. That represented an increase of 181 percent compared with the same period in 2025.
Property sales remained the biggest driver of market growth. Sales transactions reached 86.1 billion dirhams through 16,838 completed deals. The total value of sales increased by 163.7 percent compared with last year.
Mortgage activity also remained strong. Mortgage transactions reached 26.7 billion dirhams through 8,876 deals during the first six months of the year. The value of mortgage activity rose by 33.5 percent year over year.
Other types of property transactions also added to the total market value. Musataha agreements and long-term lease transactions reached 4 billion dirhams. Gift transactions added another 311.5 million dirhams during the same period.
The supply of new developments continued to expand. Officials approved eight new investment zones during the first half of the year. This brought the total number of investment zones across Abu Dhabi to 50.
The property market also welcomed 28 new real estate projects. That represented a 16 percent increase compared with the same period in 2025. The additional projects are expected to create more opportunities for both local and international investors.
The number of licensed real estate professionals also continued to grow. During the first half of 2026, authorities issued 2,040 new licenses for people working in the property sector. That marked a 34 percent increase from one year earlier.
The total number of licensed real estate brokers in Abu Dhabi has now reached 3,302. A larger professional workforce is expected to support rising market demand while improving services for buyers and sellers.
Officials also continued efforts to improve transparency across the property market. A regulated advertising system has already issued more than 41,200 approved real estate advertising permits since it was introduced. The system aims to improve the quality of property listings and provide investors with more reliable market information.
The strong performance during the first half of 2026 suggests Abu Dhabi’s property sector remains on a positive path. Higher investment, growing international participation, expanding development projects, and stronger market oversight continue to strengthen confidence in the emirate’s real estate market while creating new opportunities for future growth.
