Reviewed and updated: 3 October 2026. This update uses ADREC’s H1 2026 release dated 18 August 2026. The original publication date is retained.
Abu Dhabi’s property market deserves a clear reading before an individual property decision. Transaction activity, the split between ready and off-plan sales, leasing demand and future supply each describe a different part of the market.
ADREC’s H1 2026 report records AED 70.4 billion in residential unit sales. Off-plan homes accounted for 89% of residential sales value. The report also records 233,000 active residential lease contracts and approximately 409,000 residential units across the emirate.
These are emirate-wide figures. They do not establish the value, achievable rent or future performance of a particular home. A useful comparison should focus on similar properties in the same location, with attention to size, condition, completion status and the timing of each transaction.
For a ready home, compare the physical property, recurring charges and current occupation. For an off-plan purchase, review the project, payment schedule and expected delivery alongside your own timing and funding requirements.
Portavia can help you define the areas and property types worth reviewing, then build a more focused brief around your budget and intended use.
Source: Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, H1 2026 Market Report, released 18 August 2026. Read ADREC’s H1 2026 release
Put the figures in context
Start with your intended use and timeframe. Compare homes with the same property type, area measurement and completion status. Record the date and source of asking prices, and separate them from completed transaction evidence.
Share your Abu Dhabi property requirements to discuss the areas, property types and information relevant to your plans.
Al Reem Island towers beside mangroves and a canal, Abu Dhabi. Photograph: janith devinda. Image source · Unsplash License. Community context, not an available unit.
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