Abu Dhabi Approves 75 Million Sqm of Development in 2025, Up 137 Percent

Abu Dhabi, UAE: Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has approved nearly 807 million sq. ft. (75 million square metres) of gross floor area for development across the emirate in 2025, representing a 137 percent year-on-year increase and highlighting the capital’s accelerating growth as a global investment and development destination.

According to the department, the scale of the approved development is equivalent to building the entire developed capacity of Yas Island seven times over, underscoring the pace of expansion taking place across Abu Dhabi’s residential, commercial, tourism, and industrial sectors.

This milestone reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing momentum as a world destination for investment and development. Through forward-looking approaches and streamlined regulatory processes, we are enabling diverse mixed-use districts that strengthen economic diversification, attract international talent and enhance quality of life across the emirate,

said His Excellency Eng Abdulla Mohamed Al Blooshi, Director General of the Urban Planning & Permits Centre at DMT.

Nearly 190,000 Residential Units Approved

Residential development represented the largest share of approved projects in 2025, with plans for nearly 190,000 housing units across new and existing neighbourhoods throughout the emirate.

The approved pipeline includes more than 158,000 market units and approximately 30,000 homes designated for UAE Nationals, forming part of Abu Dhabi’s broader housing strategy.

These residential communities are expected to be supported by a comprehensive range of amenities, including schools, healthcare facilities, community majlis, retail centres, and lifestyle destinations, designed to enhance liveability across the capital.

Industrial, Technology and Tourism Projects Expanding

Beyond residential development, industrial and technology-related projects also emerged as significant contributors to the emirate’s growth pipeline.

New approvals include projects across industrial zones, data centres, and advanced manufacturing facilities, supporting Abu Dhabi’s ambition to strengthen its digital economy, logistics infrastructure, and technology-driven industries.

The hospitality and tourism sector also recorded strong development activity, with projects delivering nearly 5,000 additional hotel keys approved across multiple destinations.

These developments will be complemented by new waterfront attractions, beaches, and cultural experiences, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a global tourism destination.

To support the surge in development activity, DMT has implemented measures to significantly reduce approval timelines for major projects.

The department reduced the approval cycle for master developers by 60 days, enabling faster project delivery while maintaining regulatory oversight and compliance standards.

“The reduction in evaluation timelines demonstrates our commitment to enabling rapid and high-quality construction across Abu Dhabi. By balancing efficiency with strong regulatory oversight, we are ensuring that the emirate’s urban landscape evolves to meet market demand while maintaining the highest standards,” said Mansour Saleh Al Harbi, Acting Executive Director for Activation and Development Control Sector at DMT.

AI Platform Transforming Permitting Process

A key factor supporting the increased volume of approvals has been the launch of BINAA, the region’s first AI-driven building permit platform, introduced in June 2025.

Since its rollout, the platform has reduced the average time required to issue residential villa permits by 57 percent, while also decreasing permit resubmissions by 53 percent through automated technical review processes.

In total, more than 11,000 building permits were issued across Abu Dhabi in 2025, representing a 15 percent increase compared with the previous year.

To further support the evolving development landscape, the department has also conducted training and upskilling workshops for more than 7,000 consultants and contractors, helping industry professionals adapt to updated regulatory requirements and digital permitting processes.

DMT plans to further expand the capabilities of the BINAA platform, while encouraging broader adoption of digital and AI-enabled permit submissions across the real estate sector.

These initiatives are expected to streamline the development process for investors, developers, consultants, and contractors, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the region’s most competitive and innovation-driven real estate markets.