Al Reem Island and Al Hudayriyat Island recorded Abu Dhabi’s highest property transaction values in the first nine months of 2026, as total real estate deals across the emirate reached Dhs171.26 billion.
Al Reem Island recorded the highest transaction value at Dhs29.86 billion, closely followed by Al Hudayriyat Island at Dhs28.62 billion.
Al Saadiyat Island ranked third with Dhs18.69 billion in transactions, followed by Yas Island at Dhs13.4 billion and Zayed City at Dhs5.36 billion.
These areas are also expected to play a major role in Abu Dhabi’s future property supply. Six districts – Al Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Yas Island, Zayed City, Khalifa City and Al Hudayriyat Island – are projected to account for 77% of incremental real estate supply through 2030.
Abu Dhabi property transactions
Abu Dhabi recorded 38,483 real estate transactions worth Dhs171.26 billion between January and September 2026, according to figures released by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC).
The total value increased by 76.1% compared with the same period in 2025, when the emirate recorded 28,977 transactions worth Dhs97.19 billion.
Sales accounted for the largest share of activity, with 23,749 transactions valued at Dhs119.33 billion. This represented a 105% increase in sales value and a 49.2% rise in transaction volume year-on-year.
Mortgage activity also increased, reaching 14,390 transactions worth Dhs45.92 billion. This represented a 30.2% rise in value compared with Dhs35.26 billion during the first nine months of 2025.
Foreign investment in Abu Dhabi property rises 131%
International investment also recorded significant growth, with foreign investment in Abu Dhabi’s investment zones reaching Dhs86.11 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 131% year-on-year.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) by non-resident individuals in the emirate’s real estate sector reached Dhs17.22 billion during the same period, more than double the Dhs8.2 billion recorded for the whole of 2025.
Investors from 121 nationalities contributed to the FDI total, with the United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States, France and Germany among the leading sources by investment value.
54 new real estate projects registered
Abu Dhabi continued to expand its property development pipeline, with ADREC registering 54 new real estate development projects during the first nine months of 2026.
The Centre also issued 3,677 licences for real estate professionals, a 32% increase compared with the same period last year.
In addition, ADREC introduced the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Broker Transformation Course, a mandatory licensing programme replacing the previous broker course. It is designed to strengthen brokers’ regulatory knowledge, advisory skills and professional conduct.
Abu Dhabi advances in global property transparency ranking
Abu Dhabi climbed eight places in JLL’s 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index, moving from 41st in 2024 to 33rd globally in 2026, with a score of 2.42.
The emirate moved from the Semi-Transparent category to the Transparent tier and ranked second in the MENA region.
Commenting on the figures, Rashed Al Omaira, Director-General of ADREC, said: “The scale of investment shows how many people and businesses are making a long-term commitment to Abu Dhabi. That commitment extends well beyond the transaction itself. Buyers expect projects to be delivered, businesses need space to grow, and residents want communities that work well over time.”
He added that ADREC’s responsibility is to make sure the rules governing the market reflect those expectations, from how property is sold to how developments are managed after handover.
