Abu Dhabi Property: AED 171.26bn of Transactions in the First Nine Months of 2026
- Published 10 Nov 2026
- Updated 10 November 2026
- 4 min read
- Data verified on 10 Nov 2026
In short
Abu Dhabi property recorded 38,483 transactions worth AED 171.26 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 76.1% on a year earlier, according to ADREC, the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, on 7 November 2026. Sales value doubled, and foreign investors account for 81% of the value in investment zones.
ADREC, 7 November 2026 Ā· ADREC
AED 171.26bn
Value of Abu Dhabi transactions, January to September 2026, up 76.1% year on year
Source: ADREC, 7 November 2026
38,483
Transactions recorded, up 32.8%
Source: ADREC
AED 119.33bn
Sales value across 23,749 transactions, value up 105%
Source: ADREC
81%
Foreign investors’ share of the value in investment zones, AED 86.11bn
Source: ADREC
Abu Dhabi: residential towers and waterfront at sunset.Illustration: Ā© VALORISIMO
What do ADREC's figures show for the first nine months of 2026?
On 7 November 2026, ADREC published its January to September results: 38,483 transactions worth AED 171.26 billion, against 28,977 transactions worth AED 97.19 billion a year earlier. Value is up 76.1% and volume is up 32.8%.
| Indicator, January to September 2026 | Transactions | Value | Change in value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 38,483 | AED 171.26bn | +76.1% |
| Sales | 23,749 | AED 119.33bn | +105% |
| Mortgages | 14,390 | AED 45.92bn | +30.2% |
| Long leases and musataha | 268 | AED 5.57bn | +52.9% |
Source: ADREC, press release published by the Abu Dhabi Media Office on 7 November 2026.
Sales are the engine: 23,749 transactions, 49.2% more than a year earlier, for AED 119.33 billion against AED 58.20 billion, a value that doubled. Mortgages grew too, but more slowly: 14,390 transactions, up 13.2%, and a value up 30.2%. Gifts rose from a small base, with 76 transactions, while long leases and musataha fell 18.7% in number but gained 52.9% in value. In short, fewer, larger deals sit alongside a much more active sales market. For the previous benchmark, see our analysis of Abu Dhabi’s first half of 2026.
Which Abu Dhabi areas hold the most value?
ADREC ranks districts by transaction value over the nine months:
| Area | Transaction value |
|---|---|
| Al Reem Island | AED 29.86bn |
| Al Hudayriyat Island | AED 28.62bn |
| Al Saadiyat Island | AED 18.69bn |
| Yas Island | AED 13.4bn |
| Zayed City | AED 5.36bn |
Source: ADREC, Abu Dhabi Media Office, 7 November 2026.
Al Reem Island comes first, ahead of Hudayriyat by a narrow margin, which shows that high-value activity is concentrated in a handful of islands. Yas Island and Zayed City follow at a clear distance. For the island in detail, read our guide to investing in Al Reem Island. ADREC also expects six districts, Saadiyat, Reem, Yas, Zayed City, Khalifa City and Hudayriyat, to take 77% of the additional supply through 2030.
What does this cycle mean for an investor?
ADREC reports that foreign investors put AED 86.11 billion into investment zones, up 131% year on year and 81% of the value of those zones. Direct investment by non-resident individuals reached AED 17.22 billion, more than double the AED 8.2 billion for all of 2025. Buyers came from 121 nationalities; the UK, China, Russia, the US, France and Germany led by value.
Our reading, to check against your own plan:
- A market driven by foreign demand: an 81% share makes the market sensitive to the international climate.
- Supply is rising: 54 new projects were registered and ADREC issued 3,677 licences to professionals, up 32%. Compare expected deliveries before buying off-plan, see our Abu Dhabi price data study.
- Concentration: the five areas above account for most of the ranked value, so a purchase outside them deserves its own comparison, including rents and expected deliveries.
- Value is not yield: higher transaction value says nothing about the rental yield of a specific property.
Where can you check the official figures?
The figures in this article come from ADREC’s press release published by the Abu Dhabi Media Office on 7 November 2026, also carried by the official news agency WAM. The period covers January to September 2026, compared with the same period of 2025. The same figures were also covered, as reported by Arabian Business. For the longer view, see our Abu Dhabi area guides.
Watch out
These figures describe past transactions, not future prices or yields. Official data is published in dirhams; this article is not investment, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
*How many property transactions did Abu Dhabi record in the first nine months of 2026?
According to ADREC, Abu Dhabi recorded 38,483 transactions from January to September 2026, worth AED 171.26 billion. Value rose 76.1% and volume rose 32.8% compared with the same period of 2025.
*Which Abu Dhabi area leads by transaction value in 2026?
Al Reem Island leads over the first nine months of 2026 with AED 29.86 billion, ahead of Al Hudayriyat Island at AED 28.62 billion and Al Saadiyat Island at AED 18.69 billion, according to ADREC.
*Can foreigners buy property in Abu Dhabi?
Yes, in Abu Dhabi’s investment zones. ADREC says foreign investors put AED 86.11 billion into them in the first nine months of 2026, or 81% of the value of those zones. Check the rules of the specific zone before you buy.
Figures are indicative as of the date shown: check them with official sources before any decision.
- For information only; this is not tax, legal or financial advice.
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