The UAE’s real estate sector continued to record strong transaction activity and investment growth in 2026, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai leading market expansion as foreign investment and development activity increased across the country.
Abu Dhabi recorded real estate transactions worth AED171.26 billion ($46.63 billion) during the first nine months of 2026, a 76.1 percent increase in value from the same period last year.
The emirate registered 38,483 transactions, up 32.8 percent year-on-year, according to data from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC).
Foreign investment in designated investment zones increased 131 percent to AED86.11 billion ($23.44 billion), accounting for 81 percent of total investment value in those areas.
Investment by non-resident individuals reached AED17.22 billion ($4.69 billion) during the first nine months, more than double the AED8.2 billion recorded during the whole of 2025.
Sales transactions increased 105 percent in value to AED119.33 billion ($32.49 billion), covering 23,749 transactions, while mortgage transactions reached AED45.92 billion ($12.50 billion).
ADREC registered 54 new real estate development projects during the period. The number of licensed real estate professionals reached 3,677, an increase of 32 percent year-on-year.
Dubai transactions approach $170 billion
Dubai’s real estate market recorded transactions approaching AED625 billion ($170.18 billion) during the first 10 months of 2026, across 181,866 transactions, according to Dubai Land Department data.
Property sales reached approximately AED411.98 billion ($112.17 billion), while mortgage transactions totaled around AED164 billion ($44.66 billion). Property gifts accounted for approximately AED49 billion ($13.34 billion).
Development activity also expanded. Dubai completed 104 real estate projects during the first half of 2026, with a combined investment value exceeding AED111 billion ($30.25 billion).
This compared with 75 completed projects worth AED73 billion ($19.88 billion) during the corresponding period in 2025.
The market’s performance reflected continued activity across different property categories, supported by domestic and international investment demand and an expanding range of development opportunities.
Sharjah attracts investors from 130 nationalities
Sharjah recorded real estate transactions worth AED46.8 billion ($12.75 billion) during the first nine months of 2026, compared with AED44.3 billion ($12.06 billion) in the same period last year, an increase of 5.6 percent.
The number of transactions rose 14 percent to 91,560.
The emirate attracted investors from 130 nationalities, with 46,125 properties traded across different investment categories. It also recorded 9,891 new investors during the period.
Sales transactions totaled 24,749, with a combined value of AED35 billion ($9.53 billion). Mortgage transactions reached approximately AED10.2 billion ($2.78 billion) across 3,839 transactions.
Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah record activity
In Ajman, the real estate sector recorded 1,140 transactions worth AED1.95 billion ($531 million) in October.
Property trading accounted for AED1.22 billion ($332 million) across 900 transactions, while 139 mortgage transactions were valued at AED373 million ($102 million).
Ras Al Khaimah recorded real estate transactions worth approximately AED2.89 billion ($787 million) during the first half of 2026.
The total comprised sales worth AED1.353 billion ($368 million) across 1,274 transactions, mortgages valued at AED1.16 billion ($316 million) across 463 transactions, and property waivers worth approximately AED380 million ($103 million) across 348 transactions.
The figures highlight continued property market activity across the UAE’s emirates, with transaction values, investor participation and development projects expanding across several markets.
