Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre Reports 160.7% Growth in Q1 2026

The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) has reported a 160.7% growth in transactions to AED 66 billion in Q1 2026. This is the highest quarterly performance on record, driven by sales and purchases totalling AED 50.97 billion. Foreign direct investment saw a 423% growth, reaching AED 8.27 billion from investors representing 99 nationalities.

Update note

Who should read this

Real estate investors and developers should immediately review this report to understand the market trends and opportunities.

Directly affected

real estate investorsdevelopersmortgage providers

Key facts

Total transactions reached AED 66 billion across 13,518 transactions in Q1 2026
Sales and purchases totalled AED 50.97 billion, representing a 228.6% increase
Mortgage transactions reached AED 15.03 billion, representing a 53.4% increase
16 new projects were registered in Q1 2026
Hudayriyat Island emerged as the top-performing area with AED 11.97 billion in transactions

What this means for you

This growth in transactions and foreign direct investment reflects a strong and confident real estate market in Abu Dhabi, with opportunities for investors and developers.

Directly affected: real estate investors, developers, mortgage providers

Action items

Review the ADREC report to understand market trends and opportunities
Assess investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi's real estate market
Consider registering new projects in Abu Dhabi's growing development pipeline

Litigation impact

This growth in transactions and foreign direct investment may impact pending or future litigation related to real estate disputes, and parties should seek legal advice to understand their rights and obligations.

Source

ADREC — Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre
https://adrec.gov.ae/en/news/press-release1-abudhabi
Original-source date: — · Captured: 2026-05-26T10:22+00:00Z

Verified against ADREC — Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre · 26 May 2026

Show full English translation / verbatim source text

Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre reports 160.7% growth in transactions to AED 66 billion in Q1 2026, the highest quarterly performance on record. Total transactions reached AED 66 billion across 13,518 transactions. Sales and purchases drove the majority of activity, totalling AED 50.97 billion (up 228.6%), while mortgage transactions reached AED 15.03 billion (up 53.4%). Development activity continued to expand, with 16 new projects registered. Hudayriyat Island emerged as the top-performing area with AED 11.97 billion in transactions, followed by Reem Island (AED 9.45 billion) and Saadiyat Island (AED 8.8 billion). Strong demand continues to outpace supply, emphasising the market strength. Foreign direct investment saw growth of 423%, reaching AED 8.27 billion from investors representing 99 nationalities, equivalent to the total FDI recorded throughout all of 2025.

This update is generated from a public regulator publication and reviewed under the firm's automated editorial quality gate. General information only — it does not constitute legal advice. For advice on a specific matter, please contact us. Last updated: 26 May 2026.

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre Reports 160.7% Growth in Q1 2026” change?

The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) has reported a 160.7% growth in transactions to AED 66 billion in Q1 2026. This is the highest quarterly performance on record, driven by sales and purchases totalling AED 50.97 billion. Foreign direct investment saw a 423% growth, reaching AED 8.27 billion from investors representing 99 nationalities.

Who is affected by this update?

real estate investors, developers, mortgage providers

What should affected businesses do now?

Review the ADREC report to understand market trends and opportunities. Assess investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi's real estate market. Consider registering new projects in Abu Dhabi's growing development pipeline.

How can Noura Lawyers help?

Our partners advise on exactly this kind of regulatory change — brief us in three minutes via the contact page for a same business-day partner response.