Abu Dhabi recorded AED171.26 billion in real estate transactions in the first nine months of 2026, up 76.1% from the comparison period a year earlier, according to figures released by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) on Nov. 7. The number of transactions climbed 32.8% to 38,483. (ADREC figures)
Sales led the increase, reaching AED119.33 billion across 23,749 transactions. Their value more than doubled from a year earlier, rising 105%, while the number of sales transactions increased 49.2%. Mortgage activity totaled AED45.92 billion across 14,390 transactions, up 30.2% in value and 13.2% in volume. (ADREC figures)
Foreign investment in Abu Dhabi’s investment zones rose 131% year on year to AED86.11 billion during the nine-month period, accounting for 81% of investment value in those zones. ADREC said non-resident individuals’ foreign direct investment in Abu Dhabi real estate reached AED17.22 billion through September, versus AED8.2 billion for all of 2025. (ADREC figures)
Al Reem Island had the highest transaction value at AED29.86 billion, followed by Al Hudayriyat Island at AED28.62 billion and Al Saadiyat Island at AED18.69 billion. ADREC projects that six districts, including those three, will account for 77% of incremental real estate supply through 2030. (ADREC figures)
Rashed Al Omaira, Director General of ADREC, said buyers expect projects to be delivered and “businesses need space to grow,” adding that the centre’s role includes overseeing rules for property sales and development management after handover. (ADREC figures)
The nine-month transaction value exceeded the AED142 billion ADREC reported for all of 2025. However, the comparison base in ADREC’s latest release differs from its earlier 2025 report: the new release lists AED97.19 billion and 28,977 transactions for the first nine months of 2025, while the earlier release gave AED94 billion and 29,400 transactions. The releases do not explain the discrepancy. (ADREC 2025 results; ADREC 2026 nine-month figures)
