ع
The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre announced that total real estate transactions reached Dh117 billion in the first half of 2026, a 112 percent rise in value and 61.7 percent increase in volume compared with the prior year. Sales transactions accounted for Dh86.1 billion across 16,838 deals, a 163.7 percent jump in value according to the centre. Mortgages totalled Dh26.7 billion from 8,876 transactions, up 33.5 percent, while Musataha and long-term lease agreements added Dh4 billion and gifts contributed Dh311.5 million.
ADREC figures show foreign direct investment in real estate climbed to Dh13.8 billion, a 309 percent surge that surpassed the entire 2025 full-year total for such inflows. Non-resident investors from 116 nationalities participated in the market during the period, compared with 82 nationalities a year earlier. Buyers from the United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States, Germany and France led foreign activity, the centre reported.
Transactions within designated investment zones amounted to Dh75 billion, an 181 percent increase year on year according to ADREC data. The centre approved eight new investment zones in the first half, lifting the total to 50. It registered 28 new real estate projects, a 16 percent rise, and issued 2,040 broker licenses, up 34 percent to bring the total number of registered brokers to 3,302.
The Madhmoun digital platform issued more than 41,200 permits during the six-month period, ADREC said. Earlier reports from the centre placed first-half 2025 transaction value at Dh54 billion, providing a baseline for the latest growth across sales, mortgages and related activities. The 2025 full-year total stood at Dh142 billion according to the authority’s annual market report.
Rashed Al Omaira, director general of the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, said in the announcement, “Investment decisions begin long before a transaction takes place. They begin with a clear understanding of the market, its direction and the rules that govern it.” Al Omaira added that the centre focuses on transparent regulation and reliable data to support long-term investor decisions. He noted that sustainable sector growth depends on a responsive regulatory environment aligned with evolving needs.
The latest half-year performance builds on momentum from 2025, when residential sales rose sharply as the market attracted broader international participation. ADREC continues to publish regular market reports that detail pricing trends, transaction volumes and investor profiles across residential, commercial and investment segments. Such disclosures have supported confidence among both local and overseas buyers seeking exposure to Abu Dhabi’s expanding property landscape.
