Abu Dhabi Records Highest-Ever First-Half Residential Sales: AED 67.8 Billion in H1 2026, Up 178%

Published 2026-08-26

Abu Dhabi recorded its highest-ever first-half residential sales in H1 2026: 15,500 transactions worth AED 67.8 billion, according to the Cavendish Maxwell Abu Dhabi residential market report published on 2026-08-26. The number of deals doubled year on year (+103.6%) and the value grew 2.8 times (+177.9%). Off-plan sales delivered AED 60.3 billion of the total (+249.9%), apartment prices rose 16.4%, villa prices 10.1%, and apartment rents 9.4%. The emirate’s housing stock stood at about 323,600 units at the end of June and is projected to reach nearly 372,000 units by the end of 2028. The one caveat in the report: Q2 sales value fell 22.1% quarter on quarter to AED 29.7 billion, so the second half of 2026 will show whether the pace holds.

Key figures of the Cavendish Maxwell H1 2026 report

The report covers the six months from January to June 2026 and compares them with H1 2025 and with H2 2025. Every headline indicator is up year on year, and most are up against the second half of last year as well.

Source: Cavendish Maxwell, Abu Dhabi residential market report H1 2026, as published by Aletihad on 2026-08-26.

Off-plan accounts for 89% of the value

The record is an off-plan story. Of the 15,500 deals, 12,800 were off-plan purchases, up 173.5% year on year, and they generated AED 60.3 billion, or 89% of the total sales value. The ready segment moved the other way: 2,700 transactions, down 8.5%, for AED 7.5 billion, a modest 4.6% increase in value.

The monthly pattern shows where the surge came from. April alone recorded 3,275 transactions, up 191.9% year on year, followed by 2,010 in May (+46.7%) and 2,079 in June (+38.5%). Q2 as a whole produced AED 29.7 billion, of which AED 26.3 billion was off-plan and AED 3.4 billion ready stock. That is 143.9% more than Q2 2025 but 22.1% less than Q1 2026, which is the moderation the report flags.

Apartments versus villas

Apartments made up 73.7% of all deals: 11,400 transactions, up 119.1%, of which 9,500 were off-plan and 1,900 ready (the ready count fell 5.5%). Apartment prices across the emirate rose 16.4% year on year.

Villas and townhouses recorded 4,100 transactions, up 70%, with 3,300 off-plan and 800 ready units (ready villa sales fell 15.2%). Villa prices rose 10.1%. The villa segment cooled faster in Q2: 1,700 deals, down 28.4% quarter on quarter.

Where the deals happened: Al Reem, Yas and Hudayriyat

Two islands took 63.8% of all apartment sales. Al Reem Island led with 4,471 transactions and 17.3% price growth, followed by Yas Island with 2,807 transactions and 18.3% growth. In the villa segment Al Hudayriyat Island was the clear leader with 1,574 transactions, or 38.7% of the segment, a continuation of the trend described in our article on Hudayriyat Island topping the Abu Dhabi market with AED 19 billion in H1 sales.

Rents: apartments up 9.4%, a temporary freeze in place

Apartment rents rose 9.4% year on year, led by Yas Island (+17.9%), Al Reem Island (+13.1%), Al Reef (+12.1%) and Al Raha Beach (+8.5%). Villa rents grew a more moderate 3.8%. Cavendish Maxwell notes that the temporary rental freeze introduced by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) could limit further rental increases in the near term and give tenants some relief. For companies relocating staff to the capital this is the number to budget against: housing allowances set in 2025 are already 9-18% short in the most popular districts.

Supply pipeline: 372,000 units by the end of 2028

At the end of H1 2026 Abu Dhabi had approximately 323,600 residential units. Around 5,700 units were completed in the first half, a further 10,500 are scheduled for the rest of 2026, about 17,300 in 2027 and 26,000 in 2028. If developers deliver on schedule, the stock will approach 372,000 units by the end of 2028, an increase of roughly 15% in two and a half years. This is the supply that the government’s broader target of 71,000 new homes by 2030 is built on, and it is also the reason the report speaks of a “more measured outlook” for prices.

Q2 moderation: what the analysts are watching

Andrew Laver, Director of Commercial Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell Abu Dhabi, said that residential prices “have shown notable resilience against a backdrop of heightened regional geopolitical uncertainty, with every major district recording year-on-year growth”, while adding that “quarterly growth is already beginning to ease, which is a signal worth watching”. The firm expects off-plan activity to remain the main driver of sales and says the third quarter should clarify whether the Q2 slowdown is a temporary pause or a broader adjustment.

A second data set published the same day points in the same direction. Colliers’ Q2 2026 report puts apartment prices at -3% quarter on quarter (+19% year on year) and villa prices at -1% (+10%), with about 7,200 transactions in the quarter, 8% fewer than in Q1 but 83% more than a year earlier. Colliers also reports that Abu Dhabi Global Market on Al Maryah Island is operating at full occupancy for Grade A office space with an active waiting list, a useful reminder that the residential boom sits on top of a corporate one. The broader context of the year is covered in our piece on Abu Dhabi residential sales passing the full-year 2025 total by mid-August.

What the numbers mean for businesses and investors

• Relocation budgets. Apartment rents are up 9.4% on average and up to 17.9% on Yas Island. Companies moving staff to Abu Dhabi should re-price housing allowances before signing employment contracts.
• Off-plan exposure. With 82.7% of deals off-plan, most buyers are committing to 2027-2028 handovers. Payment plans, escrow arrangements and developer track records matter more than in a ready-stock market.
• Golden Visa threshold. A property purchase of AED 2 million or more qualifies for the 10-year UAE Golden Visa. At current Abu Dhabi prices this covers a wide range of apartments on Al Reem and Yas islands, and the threshold applies to off-plan purchases from approved developers as well.
• Corporate structures. Investors buying several units or planning to let them commercially usually hold property through a UAE company. A mainland or free zone entity also allows the owner to open a corporate bank account and sponsor residence visas.
• Timing. The report itself says Q3 data will show whether the Q2 dip is a pause. Buyers who are not in a hurry have a data point coming in October.

How Atlant Capital can help

Atlant Capital works with founders and investors who are entering the UAE through Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We register companies in the UAE in the free zone or mainland jurisdiction that fits the plan, including structures for holding residential and commercial property. We handle Golden Visa applications for property investors and their families and corporate and personal bank account opening so that purchase funds and rental income move through UAE accounts without delays. If you are weighing an Abu Dhabi purchase against a Dubai one, we will lay out the costs, timelines and visa outcomes side by side before you commit a deposit.

Conclusion

H1 2026 was the strongest first half in Abu Dhabi’s residential history: AED 67.8 billion across 15,500 transactions, driven by off-plan sales on Al Reem, Yas and Hudayriyat islands and supported by double-digit price growth in every major district. The same report is candid about the second quarter, where value fell 22.1% from Q1 and villa deals dropped 28.4%. With about 54,000 units due by the end of 2028, the market is entering a phase where delivery, not launches, will set the tone. For businesses, the practical takeaways are higher housing costs for staff, a Golden Visa route that is well within reach at current prices, and a clear signal to structure any multi-unit purchase properly from the start.

FAQ

How much residential property was sold in Abu Dhabi in the first half of 2026?

According to Cavendish Maxwell, Abu Dhabi recorded 15,500 residential transactions worth AED 67.8 billion in H1 2026. That is 103.6% more deals and 177.9% more value than in H1 2025, and the highest first-half result on record. Off-plan sales accounted for AED 60.3 billion, ready properties for AED 7.5 billion.

Which areas of Abu Dhabi had the most property sales in H1 2026?

Al Reem Island (4,471 apartment deals) and Yas Island (2,807) together took 63.8% of apartment sales. Saadiyat Island followed with 1,207, then Al Hudayriyat Island (611) and Khalifa City (503). In the villa segment Al Hudayriyat Island led with 1,574 transactions, ahead of Zayed City (446), Al Shamkha (248), Yas Island (231) and Ramhan Island (193).

How much did property prices and rents rise in Abu Dhabi in 2026?

Apartment prices rose 16.4% year on year and villa prices 10.1% in H1 2026. The strongest apartment growth was on Yas Island (+18.3%), Al Reem Island (+17.3%) and Al Raha Beach (+17.2%). Apartment rents increased 9.4% on average, with Yas Island up 17.9% and Al Reem up 13.1%; villa rents rose 3.8%. Cavendish Maxwell notes that the temporary rental freeze introduced by ADREC may limit further rental increases in the near term.

How many new homes will be delivered in Abu Dhabi by 2028?

Abu Dhabi had about 323,600 residential units at the end of H1 2026. Approximately 5,700 were completed in the first half, with a further 10,500 due in the rest of 2026, around 17,300 in 2027 and 26,000 in 2028. On that schedule the stock will reach nearly 372,000 units by the end of 2028.