Abu Dhabi's real estate market recorded its strongest quarter on record in Q1 2026, with transactions reaching AED 66 billion across 13,518 deals – a 160.7% increase in value year-on-year, according to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre.
Sales and purchases led the surge, climbing 228.6% to AED 50.97 billion, while mortgage activity rose 53.4% to AED 15.03 billion. Hudayriyat Island topped transaction activity at AED 11.97 billion, followed by Reem Island at AED 9.45 billion and Saadiyat Island at AED 8.8 billion.
Foreign direct investment rose 423% to AED 8.27 billion – matching the full-year total for 2025 – with investors from 99 nationalities participating, up from 68 a year earlier. Sixteen new projects were registered during the quarter, a 60% increase, with residential supply projected to expand by more than 10,000 units in 2026.
Gulf Economist Staff Writer