7 November 2026
Abu Dhabi recorded 38,483 real estate transactions worth AED 171.26 billion in January-September 2026, up 76.1% in value and 32.8% in number compared with the same period of 2025. The figures were released by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) on 7 November 2026. Sales drove the growth: AED 119.33 billion, more than double the previous year. Non-resident individual buyers invested AED 17.22 billion, already more than twice the AED 8.2 billion recorded for the whole of 2025.
The headline numbers for January-September 2026
A year earlier, in the first nine months of 2025, the emirate registered 28,977 transactions worth AED 97.19 billion. ADREC reports growth in value across every transaction category it publishes. The four categories add up exactly to the total: 38,483 transactions and AED 171.26 billion.
| Category | Transactions, 9M 2026 | Value, 9M 2026 | Change in number | Change in value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 23,749 | AED 119.33 billion | +49.2% | +105% |
| Mortgages | 14,390 | AED 45.92 billion | +13.2% | +30.2% |
| Musataha and long lease | 268 | AED 5.57 billion | -18.7% | +52.9% |
| Gifts | 76 | AED 0.44 billion | +145% | +389% |
| Total | 38,483 | AED 171.26 billion | +32.8% | +76.1% |
For comparison, in January-September 2025 sales stood at 15,910 transactions worth AED 58.20 billion, and mortgages at 12,706 transactions worth AED 35.26 billion. Musataha and long-lease deals fell in number but rose in value, which means a higher average deal size in that segment.
Nine months of 2026 already above the full year 2025
According to ADREC’s year-end release of February 2026, the whole of 2025 brought AED 142 billion from 42,814 transactions. The nine-month total for 2026 is already about AED 29 billion higher in value, although the number of transactions (38,483) is still below the 2025 full-year count.
- Sales: AED 119.33 billion in nine months of 2026 against AED 99.4 billion for the full year 2025.
- Mortgages: AED 45.92 billion in nine months of 2026 against AED 42.7 billion for the full year 2025.
- Non-resident individual buyers: AED 17.22 billion in nine months of 2026 against AED 8.2 billion for the full year 2025.
The third quarter on its own can be estimated by subtracting the first-half figures ADREC published in July 2026: AED 117 billion in total and AED 86.1 billion of sales from 16,838 transactions. By our calculation, July-September 2026 added about AED 54 billion in total value and about AED 33.2 billion of sales from 6,911 sale transactions. The first-half total was published in rounded form, so the quarterly figure is approximate. We covered the first half in detail in our article on the record first-half residential sales in Abu Dhabi.
Where the money went: the top districts
Island communities dominate the ranking by transaction value for the nine months:
- Al Reem Island: AED 29.86 billion.
- Al Hudayriyat Island: AED 28.62 billion.
- Al Saadiyat Island: AED 18.69 billion.
- Yas Island: AED 13.4 billion.
- Zayed City: AED 5.36 billion.
Together the top five account for AED 95.93 billion, more than half of the emirate’s total. ADREC also expects six districts to account for 77% of incremental real estate supply through 2030: Al Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Yas Island, Zayed City, Khalifa City and Al Hudayriyat Island.
Foreign buyers and investment zones
Investment zones are the areas of Abu Dhabi open to property ownership by investors of all nationalities. In January-September 2026 foreign investment in these zones rose by 131% year on year to AED 86.11 billion, which is 81% of total investment value within the zones. In July ADREC reported that eight new investment zones had been approved in the first half of 2026, bringing the total to 50.
Foreign direct investment by non-resident individuals reached AED 17.22 billion. In the first half of 2026 this figure was AED 13.8 billion, so the third quarter added about AED 3.4 billion by our calculation. Buyers came from 121 nationalities, up from 116 in the first half. The leading sources by investment value were the UK, China, Russia, the US, France and Germany.
Regulation: new projects, more licensed brokers
Over the nine months ADREC registered 54 new real estate development projects and issued 3,677 licences for real estate professionals, 32% more than a year earlier. The centre also introduced the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Broker Transformation Course, a mandatory licensing curriculum that replaces the previous broker course.
In JLL’s 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index, Abu Dhabi was named the world’s most improved market. The emirate climbed from 41st place in 2024 to 33rd in 2026 with a score of 2.42, moved from the Semi-Transparent to the Transparent tier and ranked second in the MENA region.
Rashed Al Omaira, Director General of ADREC, said that the centre’s responsibility is “to make sure the rules governing the market reflect those expectations, from how property is sold to how developments are managed after handover.”
What this means for buyers and business owners
The data describes the market, it does not change the rules. For a foreign buyer the practical questions stay the same: whether the unit is inside an investment zone, whether the project is registered, how the purchase is financed and how the money gets into the UAE. Mortgages remain a large part of the market: 14,390 mortgage transactions worth AED 45.92 billion in nine months. How residents and non-residents qualify for a home loan is explained in our guide to mortgages in the UAE for residents and non-residents.
A checklist before buying property in Abu Dhabi:
- Confirm that the property is located in an investment zone if you are a foreign buyer.
- Check that the developer and the project are registered with ADREC.
- Work only with a broker who holds a valid ADREC licence.
- Get mortgage pre-approval before paying a booking deposit if you plan to finance the purchase.
- Plan in advance how funds will be transferred and which UAE bank account will receive rental income.
- Decide whether the property is held personally or through a company before signing the sale agreement.
How Atlant Capital can help
Investors who plan to buy or manage property in Abu Dhabi through a company can use our company setup service to choose between mainland and free zone and register the entity. We also support corporate and personal bank account opening in the UAE and help property owners assess residence options under the UAE Golden Visa.
Conclusion
In nine months of 2026 Abu Dhabi has already exceeded its full-year 2025 transaction value: AED 171.26 billion against AED 142 billion. Sales doubled to AED 119.33 billion, non-resident individual buyers invested AED 17.22 billion from 121 nationalities, and five island and suburban districts took more than half of the total value.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office, ADREC H1 2026 results, ADREC 2025 results.
FAQ
How much real estate was transacted in Abu Dhabi in the first nine months of 2026?
According to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, the emirate recorded 38,483 real estate transactions worth AED 171.26 billion in January-September 2026. That is 76.1% more in value and 32.8% more in number than in the same period of 2025, when 28,977 transactions worth AED 97.19 billion were registered.
How much did foreign buyers invest in Abu Dhabi property in 2026?
Non-resident individual buyers invested AED 17.22 billion in Abu Dhabi real estate in January-September 2026, more than double the AED 8.2 billion recorded for the full year 2025. They came from 121 nationalities, led by the UK, China, Russia, the US, France and Germany. Foreign investment in the investment zones reached AED 86.11 billion, 81% of total investment value in those zones.
Which Abu Dhabi areas had the highest transaction value in 2026?
In January-September 2026 Al Reem Island led with AED 29.86 billion, followed by Al Hudayriyat Island with AED 28.62 billion, Al Saadiyat Island with AED 18.69 billion, Yas Island with AED 13.4 billion and Zayed City with AED 5.36 billion. Together these five districts account for more than half of the emirate’s total transaction value.
Can foreigners buy property in Abu Dhabi?
Yes, in investment zones, which are open to property ownership by investors of all nationalities. According to ADREC, eight new investment zones were approved in the first half of 2026, bringing the total to 50. Before buying, check that the unit is inside an investment zone and that the project is registered with ADREC.
