Abu Dhabi Real Estate Transactions Reach AED117 Billion in H1 2026 as Foreign Direct Investment Grows 309%

• Foreign direct investment reached AED13.8 billion, exceeding the total recorded during the full year 2025, with non-resident investors from 116 nationalities active in the market.
• Total transaction value rose 112% year-on-year, according to ADREC's verified official market data, with transaction volume up 61.7%
• Eight new investment zones approved during the period, bringing the total across Abu Dhabi to 50 and expanding opportunities for local and international investors.

Abu Dhabi, 17 July 2026 – The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC), the custodian and regulator of Abu Dhabi's real estate sector, announced that total real estate transactions in the emirate reached AED117 billion during the first half of 2026. According to ADREC's verified official market data, transaction value increased by 112% and transaction volume rose by 61.7% compared with the same period last year.

Sales transactions accounted for AED86.1 billion across 16,838 transactions during the first half of 2026, representing a 163.7% increase in value compared with the same period last year. Mortgage transactions reached AED26.7 billion through 8,876 transactions, increasing by over 33% in value. Musataha and long lease transactions totalled AED4 billion, while gift transactions reached AED311.5 million.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) reached AED13.8 billion during the first half of 2026, increasing by 309% compared with the same period last year. The value recorded during the first six months of the year exceeded the total foreign direct investment recorded during the full year of 2025.

Non-resident investors from 116 nationalities invested in Abu Dhabi's real estate market during the first half of 2026, compared with 82 nationalities during the same period last year. The United Kingdom, China, the Russian Federation, the United States, Germany and France ranked among the leading sources of foreign direct investment. Abu Dhabi's investment zones, which are open to ownership by investors of all nationalities, attracted total investment of AED75 billion during the first half of 2026, an increase of 181% compared with AED26.7 billion in the same period last year.

“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. Our focus at ADREC is to provide that visibility from the outset through transparent regulation and reliable, up-to-date data, giving investors a stronger basis on which to assess opportunities and make long-term decisions, said Rashed Al Omaira, Director General of ADREC. “As Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector evolves, what matters is not only how much it grows, but how it grows. This requires a regulatory environment that responds to changing needs while supporting the sector’s long-term direction.”

During the first half of 2026, ADREC approved eight new investment zones, bringing the total number of investment zones across Abu Dhabi to 50. The Centre also registered 28 new real estate projects, representing a 16% increase compared with the same period last year, creating new opportunities for local and international investors across the emirate.

ADREC issued 2,040 licences for real estate professionals during the first half of the year, a 34% increase compared with the same period last year. The total number of licensed real estate brokers in the emirate reached 3,302.The Centre continued to advance initiatives that support a more transparent and data-driven real estate market. Since its launch, Madhmoun has facilitated the issuance of more than 41,200 regulated real estate advertising permits, helping improve the quality of market information and giving investors greater confidence in the listings they rely on.