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Abu Dhabi's residential market is heading into its most active supply period in years.
The emirate currently has around 409,000 residential units, with another 71,000 projected by 2030, according to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre's market report for the first half of 2026.
Deliveries are expected to peak at around 21,800 units in 2028. Six districts will drive 77% of that incremental supply: Al Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Yas Island, Zayed City, Khalifa City and Al Hudayriyat Island.
Sales Break Records, Off-Plan Dominates
The sales picture in H1 2026 is striking. Residential unit sales across the emirate reached Dh70.4 billion, up sharply from Dh25.3 billion in H1 2025. Off-plan property accounted for the bulk of that activity:
- Off-plan share of residential sales value: 89%
- Off-plan share of transactions: 82%
- Ten leading developers: 90% of off-plan primary sales, totalling Dh51 billion
- Ten projects alone: 43% of total residential unit sales, totalling Dh30 billion
Hudayriyat Island led all locations with Dh19 billion in residential sales, representing 27% of total value.
Saadiyat Island followed at Dh13.3 billion, with Al Reem Island and Al Maryah Island recording Dh10.5 billion and Yas Island contributing Dh7.3 billion.
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Rents Keep Rising, Leases Stay Active
Abu Dhabi recorded 233,000 active residential lease contracts in H1 2026, with total lease values reaching Dh9.3 billion, up 8% year on year. New-lease prices continued to climb:
- Apartments: up 17% overall, up 21% in investment zones
- Villas: up 9% overall, up 16% in investment zones
- Rental units: 69% of all occupied units in Abu Dhabi Region
Investment Zones Pull in More Capital
Investment zones accounted for more than 22% of total residential stock in H1 2026, with approximately 72,000 units.
Al Reem Island leads with 27,500 units, followed by Al Raha, Yas Island and Al Saadiyat Island.
Repeat sales prices rose 20% year on year for apartments and 12% for villas. Emirati buyers committed Dh21 billion to residential property in the period, compared with Dh8.9 billion a year earlier.
Resident expatriates and non-resident foreign buyers together accounted for 70% of residential sales value.
Cash remained a major feature of the ready-property market, with 61% of purchases completed without financing.
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Offices and Retail Holding Tight
Beyond residential, Abu Dhabi's commercial property market remains under sustained occupier pressure. Office supply reached 3.4 million sqm, with occupancy at 95% across both overall and prime Grade A segments.
New-lease prices for offices rose 13%. Retail gross leasable area reached 3.85 million sqm, with occupancy in the mid-nineties and new-lease prices up 9%.
Rashed Al Omaira, Director General of ADREC, said the first half of 2026 reflects a resilient market supported by sustained demand, clear regulations and transparent data, with a balanced approach to supply and demand underpinning the results across every asset class.
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