Abu Dhabi’s property market has already moved more value in eight months than in the whole of 2025: AED 155 billion between January and August, compared with AED 142 billion last year. The headline is significant, but the pace behind it tells a more useful story about how the market got there.
AED 66 billion in Q1, then a steady AED 17 to 19 billion a month
The first quarter was the peak, at roughly AED 22 billion a month. Since then, activity has remained elevated, averaging around AED 17 billion a month in the second quarter and approximately AED 19 billion across July and August.
The buyer base has broadened too. Foreign buyers accounted for 70% of residential unit sales value in H1 2026, while non-resident investors from 116 nationalities were active in the market, up from 82 a year earlier.
What this means for the market
The monthly breakdown provides more context than the annual headline alone. Rather than one quarter accounting for the year’s performance, transaction value continued to accumulate at a substantial level after Q1.
Nada Osman, Director of betterhomes Abu Dhabi, said: “Record figures can make buyers feel they have missed their opportunity, but the monthly numbers tell a different story. Activity has remained consistent throughout the year, giving buyers the confidence to make informed decisions without feeling rushed.”
A market growing into its scale
The significance is not only that Abu Dhabi has surpassed last year’s transaction value, but how activity has been distributed through the year. At the same time, participation has broadened across Emiratis, resident expatriates and non-resident foreign buyers.
ADREC described H1 2026 as reflecting a “broadening and maturing market”, with residential unit sales reaching AED 70.4 billion.
