Abu Dhabi’s real estate market recorded transactions worth Dh171.26 billion in the first nine months of 2026, a 76.1 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, according to figures released by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (Adrec) on Saturday.
The regulator recorded 38,483 transactions between January and September, up 32.8 per cent from 28,977 deals worth Dh97.19 billion during the corresponding period of 2025. Transaction values increased across all reported categories.
Property sales accounted for the largest share of activity, with 23,749 transactions valued at Dh119.33 billion. This represented a 105 per cent increase in value and a 49.2 per cent rise in volume compared with the 15,910 sales worth Dh58.20 billion recorded a year earlier.
Mortgage activity also expanded, reaching 14,390 transactions worth Dh45.92 billion. The value increased by 30.2 per cent, while the number of deals rose 13.2 per cent from 12,706 transactions totalling Dh35.26 billion in the first nine months of 2025.
Foreign investment more than doubles
Foreign investment in Abu Dhabi’s designated investment zones climbed 131 per cent year-on-year to Dh86.11 billion, representing 81 per cent of total investment value in those areas.
Foreign direct investment from non-resident individuals reached Dh17.22 billion during the nine-month period, more than twice the Dh8.2 billion recorded for the whole of 2025.
Investors from 121 nationalities participated in the market. The United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States, France and Germany were the leading sources of investment by value.
Rashed Al Omaira, director general of Adrec, said the figures reflected growing long-term commitments from individuals and businesses.
He said the regulator would focus on ensuring market rules supported buyer confidence, reliable project delivery and the effective management of developments after handover.
Islands dominate transaction values
Al Reem Island recorded the highest transaction value at Dh29.86 billion, followed by Al Hudayriyat Island with Dh28.62 billion. Al Saadiyat Island generated Dh18.69 billion, Yas Island recorded Dh13.4 billion and Zayed City reached Dh5.36 billion.
Six districts are expected to account for 77 per cent of additional real estate supply through 2030. They are Al Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Yas Island, Zayed City, Khalifa City and Al Hudayriyat Island.
Other property activity also increased. Gift transactions rose 145 per cent in number to 76, while their value climbed 389 per cent to Dh440 million.
Musataha and long-lease agreements totalled 268 transactions worth Dh5.57 billion. Their combined value increased 52.9 per cent, despite an 18.7 per cent decline in transaction volume.
Adrec also registered 54 new real estate development projects during the period and issued 3,677 licences to property professionals, up 32 per cent from the same period in 2025.
