Abu Dhabi’s property market recorded Dhs 155 billion in transactions from January to August 2026, already exceeding the full-year 2025 total.
Abu Dhabi property market keeps strong momentum
Abu Dhabi’s property market has moved more transaction value in the first eight months of 2026 than it did throughout 2025, with activity continuing at high levels beyond the strong first quarter.
Transaction value reached Dhs 155 billion between January and August, compared with Dhs 142 billion for the whole of 2025.
The figures point to sustained activity rather than growth being concentrated entirely in the opening months of the year.
Property activity remains steady after Q1
The first quarter recorded around Dhs 66 billion in transactions, equivalent to roughly Dhs 22 billion a month.
Activity remained substantial in the months that followed, averaging about Dhs 17 billion a month during Q2 and approximately Dhs 19 billion across July and August.
For buyers and sellers, the pattern suggests that the market has maintained significant transaction activity throughout the year rather than relying solely on a strong start.
Foreign buyers expand their presence
The buyer base has also widened. Foreign buyers accounted for 70% of the value of residential unit sales during the first half of 2026.
Non-resident investors from 116 nationalities participated in the market, compared with 82 nationalities a year earlier.
The broader international participation adds another dimension to Abu Dhabi’s property market as demand comes from both UAE-based buyers and overseas investors.
Residential sales reach Dhs 70.4 billion
Residential property has been a major part of the market’s performance.
The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) said residential unit sales reached Dhs 70.4 billion in the first half of 2026, describing the period as reflecting a “broadening and maturing market.”
Nada Osman, Director of betterhomes Abu Dhabi, said: “Record figures can make buyers feel they have missed their opportunity, but the monthly numbers tell a different story. Activity has remained consistent throughout the year, giving buyers the confidence to make informed decisions without feeling rushed.”
The latest figures show Abu Dhabi’s property market entering the final months of 2026 with transaction activity already above the full-year level recorded in 2025.
