29 September 2026
Abu Dhabi approved 43.6 million square metres of gross floor area (GFA) in development projects and master plans in the first half of 2026, 40% more than in the same period of 2025. The approvals were issued by the Urban Planning and Permits Centre (UPPC) of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), which announced the figures on 28 September 2026 and called them record results. The net increase was 12.46 million square metres. From January to June the department also issued 4,730 new building permits, up 0.9%, and the number of development-related infrastructure services rose 31.5% to 22,035.
Key figures for the first half of 2026
| Indicator | H1 2026 | Change vs H1 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Approved gross floor area in projects and master plans | 43.6 million sq m | +40%, a net increase of 12.46 million sq m |
| New building permits | 4,730 | +0.9% |
| Development-related infrastructure services | 22,035 | +31.5%, or 5,280 more services |
| Technical site inspection requests completed | 54,852 | +9.9%, or 4,922 more requests |
| Survey transactions and field visits completed within 24 hours | 15,375 of 18,777 | Nearly 82% of the total |
| New engineers registered and licensed | 4,574 | 10,280 engineers registered with DMT in total |
| Transactions in the first BIM rollout phase | 119 | New system |
What 43.6 million square metres of GFA means
Gross floor area measures the total floor space of buildings across all their floors. According to DMT, the 43.6 million square metres represent approved development capacity within master plans and projects, not buildings completed in the first half of the year. The department describes this capacity as a clear foundation for planning future requirements in housing, public amenities, transport and infrastructure, and for supporting balanced urban growth across the different regions of the emirate.
Based on the reported net increase, approved GFA in the first half of 2025 was about 31.1 million square metres. DMT has not published a breakdown of the 2026 figure by region, project or use, so the release does not show how much of the new capacity is residential, commercial or industrial.
“These record results confirm Abu Dhabi’s capacity to absorb its urban growth within an integrated planning framework,” said Eng. Abdulla Mohamed Al Blooshi, Director General of the Urban Planning and Permits Centre at DMT. “We do not measure success by the volume of approved space alone, but by our ability to align this growth with Abu Dhabi’s urban plan, quality-of-life priorities, and the carrying capacity of transport and infrastructure.”
Building permits, BIM and engineers
The number of new building permits barely changed: 4,730 in the first half of 2026, up 0.9% year on year, while approved floor area grew 40%. In the same period DMT started the initial rollout phase of a Building Information Modeling (BIM) system, which covered 119 transactions. The department says the step is aimed at raising the quality of engineering reviews and improving coordination among entities, developers and consultants.
As part of regulating the engineering profession, DMT registered and licensed 4,574 new engineers in six months. This brought the total number of engineers registered and licensed with the department to 10,280.
Infrastructure services and site inspections
Development-related infrastructure services reached 22,035, an increase of 5,280 services or 31.5% compared with the first half of 2025. They include approvals of utility line corridors, residential connections, parking facilities, pedestrian sidewalks, building entrances and road projects, as well as No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
In field work, DMT completed 15,375 of 18,777 survey transactions and field visits within 24 hours, nearly 82% of the total. It also completed 54,852 requests for technical site inspections, 4,922 more than a year earlier, which supports oversight of compliance with safety, quality and engineering requirements.
DMT links the results to the integration of roles at the Urban Planning and Permits Centre across strategic planning, development activation, permitting, regulation of the built environment, oversight and digital transformation. The department says it measures performance not only by the volume of transactions, but also by the impact of planning on district completion, service quality, execution speed and the appeal of the urban environment for living and investment.
The same half year in Abu Dhabi real estate
The planning figures cover the same six months as record residential sales. In August we reported that Abu Dhabi residential sales reached AED 67.8 billion in the first half of 2026, according to Cavendish Maxwell, with off-plan deals making up most of the value. The DMT release itself does not link the two sets of figures.
What it means for companies in the UAE
The release does not introduce a new procedure, fee or deadline. Its relevance is practical for companies that work in construction, engineering, real estate and related services in Abu Dhabi.
- Approved capacity comes before construction. 43.6 million square metres of GFA in projects and master plans is the base for future building work, but the release does not give start dates or timelines for individual projects.
- Engineering is a regulated profession in Abu Dhabi. DMT registers and licenses engineers, and 4,574 were added in the first half of the year. If your company brings engineers to the emirate, check with DMT how registration applies to their roles and plan it together with their work permits and residence visas.
- Design reviews are going digital. The first phase of the BIM system covered 119 transactions. Developers and consultants that submit designs in Abu Dhabi should check with DMT whether BIM applies to their submissions.
- The licence decides where you can work. A free zone company generally operates inside its zone and abroad, while contracting and services for clients across the emirate usually call for a mainland licence. Our guide to mainland and free zone companies in the UAE explains the choice.
Checklist for companies planning construction or real estate work in Abu Dhabi
- Make sure your trade licence covers the activities you need, such as building contracting, engineering consultancy, real estate development or brokerage.
- Choose between a mainland and a free zone licence based on where your clients and projects are.
- Plan work permits and residence visas for engineers, site managers and office staff early, and check the visa quota linked to your licence and premises.
- Check whether your engineers need to be registered and licensed with DMT for their roles.
- Open a corporate bank account before the first contract, since payments from developers, contractors and suppliers go through it.
How Atlant Capital can help
We do not design buildings or obtain building permits. We set up and maintain the business side of companies that work in construction, engineering and real estate in the UAE.
- Company formation on the mainland or in a free zone, with licence activities matched to your projects.
- Work visas and residency for engineers, managers and their families.
- Corporate bank account opening for new and existing companies.
If you are buying property in Abu Dhabi rather than building it, our guide to mortgages in the UAE for residents and non-residents explains how financing works.
The bottom line
The Urban Planning and Permits Centre of the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport approved 43.6 million square metres of gross floor area in projects and master plans in the first half of 2026, 40% and 12.46 million square metres more than a year earlier. In the same period it issued 4,730 new building permits, provided 22,035 infrastructure services and registered 4,574 new engineers. The figures were announced on 28 September 2026. They describe approved development capacity rather than completed buildings, and they do not change any procedure or fee for businesses.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office.
FAQ
How much floor area did Abu Dhabi approve in the first half of 2026?
The Urban Planning and Permits Centre of the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) approved 43.6 million square metres of gross floor area in development projects and master plans from January to June 2026. That is 40% more than in the first half of 2025, a net increase of 12.46 million square metres. DMT announced the figures on 28 September 2026 and called them record results.
How many building permits did Abu Dhabi issue in H1 2026?
DMT issued 4,730 new building permits in the first half of 2026, up 0.9% year on year. In the same period the first rollout phase of its Building Information Modeling (BIM) system covered 119 transactions, and development-related infrastructure services rose 31.5% to 22,035.
Does approved gross floor area mean the buildings are already built?
No. According to DMT, the 43.6 million square metres represent approved development capacity within master plans and projects. This capacity is the basis for planning future housing, public amenities, transport and infrastructure, and the release does not give construction timelines for individual projects.
Who approves development projects and building permits in Abu Dhabi?
Planning approvals and building permits in Abu Dhabi fall under the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). Its Urban Planning and Permits Centre covers strategic planning, development activation, permitting, regulation of the built environment, oversight and digital transformation. The centre is headed by Director General Eng. Abdulla Mohamed Al Blooshi.
