The International Real Estate and Investment Show (IREIS) 2026 opened in Abu Dhabi as property transactions reached Dhs171.26 billion in the first nine months of the year, up 76.1% year-on-year.
Abu Dhabi’s real estate market recorded 38,483 transactions worth Dhs171.26 billion between January and September 2026, according to the latest figures from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC).
The total represents a 76.1% increase in transaction value and a 32.8% rise in transaction volume compared with the same period in 2025, when the market recorded 28,977 transactions worth Dhs97.19 billion.
The figures were announced alongside IREIS 2026, which brings property developers, investors, brokers and industry professionals together at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
Property sales drive market growth
Property sales accounted for the largest share of the increase, with 23,749 transactions valued at Dhs119.33 billion during the first nine months of 2026.
This represented a 105% increase in sales value and a 49.2% rise in transaction volume compared with the same period last year, when sales totalled Dhs58.20 billion across 15,910 transactions.
Mortgage activity also recorded growth. ADREC reported 14,390 mortgage transactions worth Dhs45.92 billion, representing increases of 30.2% in value and 13.2% in volume compared with the first nine months of 2025.
Foreign property investment rises 131%
International investors continued to play a growing role in Abu Dhabi’s property market.
Foreign investment in the emirate’s investment zones increased by 131% year-on-year to Dhs86.11 billion during the first nine months of 2026, accounting for 81% of the total investment value in those zones.
Foreign direct investment by non-resident individuals in Abu Dhabi’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 investment, with the UK, China, Russia, the United States, France and Germany among the leading sources by investment value.
Abu Dhabi registers new projects and property professionals
Alongside the increase in transactions, Abu Dhabi continued to expand its real estate development and professional infrastructure.
ADREC registered 54 new real estate development projects during the first nine months of 2026 and issued 3,677 licences for real estate professionals, a 32% increase compared with the same period last year.
The centre also introduced the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Broker Transformation Course, a mandatory licensing programme replacing the previous broker course.
The programme aims to strengthen brokers’ regulatory knowledge, advisory skills and professional conduct.
ADREC Director General Rashed Al Omaira 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. Our responsibility at ADREC is to make sure the rules governing the market reflect those expectations, from how property is sold to how developments are managed after handover.”
IREIS 2026 brings developers and investors to Abu Dhabi
The three-day International Real Estate and Investment Show (IREIS) 2026 is taking place at ADNEC from November 10 to 12.
Organisers expect more than 4,000 property buyers, investors, real estate brokers, developers, asset managers and trade visitors to attend.
The exhibition showcases residential, commercial and mixed-use property opportunities across Abu Dhabi and other UAE destinations, including Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.
The event was inaugurated on November 10 by Amer Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Vertix Holdings, and Khalifa Al Qubaisi, Chief Commercial Officer of ADNEC Centre.
Alongside the exhibition, a conference is bringing together government representatives, developers, financial institutions and industry experts to discuss real estate investment, foreign direct investment, sustainable infrastructure, fractional ownership, property technology and UAE-Europe investment opportunities.
Arun Bose, Director of IREIS, said: “The participation by leading UAE developers reflects their growing confidence in Abu Dhabi emirate and IREIS as the best platform to showcase their properties to more than 4,000 buyers and investors who are coming from different parts of the world.
“All major property developers are expanding their project portfolio in Abu Dhabi emirate where property sector is growing at an exponential rate, as announced by the ADREC. There is no better exhibition and conference than IREIS to showcase projects in Abu Dhabi emirate.”
Abu Dhabi improves global real estate transparency ranking
Abu Dhabi has also improved its position in JLL’s 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index.
The emirate climbed eight places, moving from 41st in 2024 to 33rd globally in 2026, with a score of 2.42. It recorded the largest improvement among the markets assessed and moved from the semi-transparent to the transparent category.
Abu Dhabi ranked second in the MENA region.
The combination of increased property transactions, international investment and improvements to the regulatory framework highlights the emirate’s expanding position in the regional real estate market.
