Abu Dhabi property deals reach AED 171 billion in nine months, up 76 per cent

The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre reported on 7 November 2026 that property transactions in the emirate reached AED 171.26 billion across 38,483 deals in the first nine months of 2026, up 76.1 per cent in value and 32.8 per cent in number on the same period of 2025. Sales accounted for AED 119.33 billion and mortgages for AED 45.92 billion, foreign direct investment by non resident individuals more than doubled the whole of 2025, and the United States was among the six largest sources of foreign money. For an investor, the release names the districts where the market is concentrated and shows growth in value far ahead of volume.

The headline figures

The release, published by the Abu Dhabi Media Office on 7 November 2026, compares January to September 2026 with the same months of 2025. Total value rose from AED 97.19 billion to AED 171.26 billion, and the number of transactions from 28,977 to 38,483. Sales rose from AED 58.20 billion across 15,910 deals to AED 119.33 billion across 23,749, up 105 per cent in value and 49.2 per cent in volume. Mortgages rose from AED 35.26 billion across 12,706 transactions to AED 45.92 billion across 14,390, up 30.2 per cent in value and 13.2 per cent in volume.

The remainder was 76 gift transfers worth AED 0.44 billion and 268 musataha and long lease deals worth AED 5.57 billion. Khaleej Times and WAM, as carried by Emirates 24|7, reported the same figures on 7 November 2026, and none differs from the release.

Set against the centre's first half release of 17 July 2026, which put transactions at AED 117 billion, the nine month total implies about AED 54 billion in the third quarter alone. That is arithmetic on the two releases, not a published quarterly figure.

Where the money went

Al Reem Island recorded the highest transaction value at AED 29.86 billion, followed by Al Hudayriyat Island at AED 28.62 billion, Saadiyat Island at AED 18.69 billion, Yas Island at AED 13.4 billion and Zayed City at AED 5.36 billion. The centre projects that six districts, Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Yas Island, Zayed City, Khalifa City and Al Hudayriyat Island, will account for 77 per cent of incremental supply through 2030.

Foreign investment in the investment zones, the areas where non UAE nationals may own, rose 131 per cent to AED 86.11 billion, or 81 per cent of total investment value in those zones. Foreign direct investment by non resident individuals reached AED 17.22 billion, against AED 8.2 billion for the whole of 2025. Buyers came from 121 nationalities, led by value by the United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States, France and Germany. The first half release of 17 July 2026 had counted 116 nationalities and AED 13.8 billion of FDI, so the third quarter added five nationalities and about AED 3.4 billion.

The centre also registered 54 new development projects and issued 3,677 licences to real estate professionals, up 32 per cent. Rashed Al Omaira, its Director General, said, per Khaleej Times: "Buyers expect projects to be delivered, businesses need space to grow."

What the consultancies say about prices

The release is a transaction count, not a price index. ValuStrat's third quarter 2026 review, reported by Arabian Business on 30 October 2026, put Abu Dhabi apartment values up 24 per cent in a year and the off plan average at AED 2,061 per square foot, with Al Reem Island apartments up 22.1 per cent. CBRE's review of the same quarter, reported on 4 November 2026, put apartments up 13 per cent, and Dubai residential prices down about 1 per cent with rents down 7 per cent. The National reported on 29 October 2026 that Savills counted 6,085 residential transactions in the quarter, down 7 per cent in a year, with value up 32 per cent to AED 21.5 billion, and that a rent freeze has applied to tenancies since 2 June 2026.

The same release ranked Abu Dhabi the most improved market in JLL's 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index, up from 41st in 2024 to 33rd with a score of 2.42, moving it into the Transparent tier and second in the Middle East and North Africa.

What it means for investors

First, value is running ahead of volume. Sales value doubled while the number of sales rose by half, and Savills found fewer third quarter deals at higher values. That describes a market led by launches of more expensive homes, so a buyer will be comparing off plan prices more often than ready ones. Our guide to buying property in Abu Dhabi as a foreigner covers the zones, fees and the freeze.

Second, the five districts are not alike. Al Reem is an apartment island beside ADGM; Al Hudayriyat is a new villa and golf district; Saadiyat is a cultural district with branded towers; Yas is a leisure island with villas and canals. Castilion Estates lists Hudayriyat Golf Estates by Modon from AED 4.25 million on a 40/60 plan with handover scheduled for September 2030, and Sei Saadiyat by Aldar from AED 2.95 million on a 50/50 plan with handover scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2030, both as verified on 3 November 2026.

Third, financing is more than a quarter of the market by value. The 14,390 mortgage transactions worth AED 45.92 billion show that lenders are active, and a non resident buyer can borrow from UAE banks on their own terms, usually with a larger deposit than a resident. We quote no rate that a bank has not published with a date.

Fourth, for a buyer in the United States, Canada or Latin America, the dirham is pegged at AED 3.6725 to the US dollar, so AED 4.25 million is about USD 1.16 million and AED 2.95 million about USD 803,000, with no currency risk against the dollar, and US buyers were already among the six largest foreign sources by value in the period. Freddie Mac put the US 30 year fixed rate at 7.18 per cent on 5 November 2026. Our guide for investors from the Americas covers the reporting questions to raise with an adviser at home; we do not forecast prices or returns.

What to watch

Watch for the Real Estate Centre's full year 2026 release, for whether sales volume catches up with sales value, for the fourth quarter consultancy indices, and for any announcement ending the rent freeze. Castilion Estates presents projects on Al Reem, Al Hudayriyat, Saadiyat and Yas islands; ask us for current availability before relying on a launch price.