Abu Dhabi:The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) has released its real estate transaction data for the first nine months of 2026, revealing a significant increase in transaction values across all reported categories. The total transaction value soared to AED171.26 billion, a 76.1% rise compared to the same period in 2025, which had a total transaction value of AED97.19 billion.
According to Abu Dhabi Media Office, sales were the primary driver of this growth, with 23,749 transactions amounting to AED119.33 billion, reflecting a 105% increase in value and a 49.2% increase in transaction volume from the previous year. Mortgage activity also showed positive trends, with 14,390 transactions valued at AED45.92 billion, marking a 13.2% rise in transaction volume and a 30.2% increase in value compared to the same period in 2025.
At a district level, Al Reem Island led with the highest transaction value at AED29.86 billion, followed by Al Hudayriyat Island at AED28.62 billion, Al Saadiyat Island at AED18.69 billion, Yas Island at AED13.4 billion, and Zayed City at AED5.36 billion. Projections indicate that six districts, including Al Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Yas Island, Zayed City, Khalifa City, and Al Hudayriyat Island, are expected to account for 77% of incremental real estate supply through 2030.
Foreign investment in Abu Dhabi's investment zones surged by 131% year-on-year to AED86.11 billion, accounting for 81% of total investment value. Foreign direct investment by non-resident individuals in the real estate sector reached AED17.22 billion, more than doubling from AED8.2 billion in 2025, with investors from 121 nationalities contributing, led by the UK, China, Russia, the US, France, and Germany.
Other transaction categories also saw growth, with gift transactions increasing by 145% in number and their total value rising by 389% to AED0.44 billion. Musataha and long-lease transactions reached 268 deals valued at AED5.57 billion, reflecting a 52.9% increase in value despite a decrease in transaction volume.
ADREC continues to enhance the regulatory framework, registering 54 new real estate development projects and issuing 3,677 licences for real estate professionals, a 32% increase from the previous year. The introduction of the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Broker Transformation Course aims to improve brokers' regulatory knowledge and professional conduct.
Abu Dhabi was recognized as the world's most improved market in JLL's 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index, advancing from 41st in 2024 to 33rd globally in 2026, and ranking second in the MENA region. The complete real estate transaction figures for the first nine months of 2026 are available for review.
