Abu Dhabi Off-Plan Resales Surge 56% in Q2 2026 - Crompton Partners

ABU DHABI, UAE: Abu Dhabi’s off-plan secondary property market recorded a sharp increase in activity during the second quarter of 2026, with resales rising approximately 56% from Q1 as buyers increasingly focused on projects approaching completion, according to new data from Crompton Partners.

The company’s Q2 2026 Off-Plan Secondary Market Report recorded 883 transactions across 25,422 active off-plan units, compared with 567 transactions in Q1.

The increase comes as buyer behaviour becomes more selective across the capital, with individual project fundamentals, handover timelines, pricing and resale liquidity playing a greater role in purchasing decisions.

Yas Island Leads Off-Plan Resale Activity

Yas Island remained the centre of Abu Dhabi’s off-plan secondary market, accounting for 366 transactions, or more than 40% of the quarterly total.

Yas Island Apartments generated 245 transactions, while North Yas recorded a further 121.

Gardenia on Yas Island was the single busiest project during the quarter, recording 156 transactions.

Some of the strongest turnover rates were also concentrated in developments approaching or moving towards handover. Sustainable City recorded an annual turnover rate of 18.8%, followed by Yas Golf Collection at 17.9%, Reem Eleven at 16.1% and Manarat Living 1 at 15.4%.

Ben Crompton, Managing Partner of Crompton Partners, said: “The most interesting change this quarter is a distinct acceleration in the off-plan secondary market. Buyers are becoming much more specific about what they want, and we are seeing particularly strong liquidity in well-priced projects where completion is visible and buyers can see clearly what they are purchasing.”

“This is increasingly a project-by-project market, rather than one where an investor can simply choose an area and expect everything within it to perform in the same way. Handover timing, product, price point and the depth of the resale market all matter.”

“At the same time, the built market is giving us another important signal. Transaction numbers have moderated from the first quarter, but prices across many established communities are still showing substantial annual gains. That tells us demand has not disappeared. It is becoming more selective.”

Established Market Records $340 Million in Q2 Sales

Across the six key areas covered by Crompton Partners’ Secondary Market Transaction Report, 483 properties changed hands for a combined $340.3 million (AED1.25 billion) during Q2 2026.

Reem Island remained the most active established residential market, recording 223 transactions worth $108.7 million (AED399.3 million) and accounting for almost half of all transactions included in the report.

Price growth across Reem Island was broad-based. Average prices per square metre increased year-on-year by 33.6% at Sun Sky Gate, 27.1% in Najmat, 25.7% at Marina Square, 20.2% in City of Lights and 19.8% across Shams Reem Island.

Al Reef and Yas Record Strong Price Growth

Al Reef also emerged as one of the strongest-performing areas during the quarter, with 108 transactions worth $50 million (AED183.7 million).

Al Reef Villas 2 recorded a 59.3% annual increase in average prices and the fastest annualised turnover rate in the built market report at 12.56%. Al Reef Apartments recorded annual price growth of 40.2%.

Yas Island also registered substantial annual price increases in several established communities. Average prices at Yas Acres rose 57.6%, while Water’s Edge increased 32% and Noya gained 29.2%.

Saadiyat Maintains Premium Position

Saadiyat Island continued to distinguish itself through significantly higher transaction values.

Just 13 transactions generated $74.5 million (AED273.6 million) during Q2, with HIDD alone accounting for $56 million (AED205.5 million) across six sales.

Mamsha remained the highest-priced community tracked by Crompton Partners at $15,620 (AED57,365) per sqm.

Saadiyat Beach Villas recorded the largest year-on-year price increase in the report at 83.9%, although Crompton cautioned that percentage movements in communities with very low transaction volumes should be treated carefully.

Ben Crompton added: “Abu Dhabi is now demonstrating several different property markets operating at the same time. Reem remains the liquidity engine of the established apartment market, while Saadiyat continues to command exceptional values at the premium end. Al Reef is showing very strong price and transaction momentum, and Yas is dominating off-plan secondary activity.”

“For buyers and investors, the lesson is that broad market averages are becoming less useful. The important questions are increasingly about the individual community and project: how much stock is actually trading, who is buying it, how close it is to completion and are prices being supported by genuine liquidity?”

Activity Expands Beyond Abu Dhabi’s Islands

Off-plan secondary activity is also extending beyond Abu Dhabi’s traditional island communities.

The Abu Dhabi outskirts recorded 235 transactions during Q2, led by Al Reeman with 148 sales and Bloom Living with 80, indicating continued activity in family-oriented communities at more accessible price points.

Saadiyat’s off-plan secondary market is also developing as projects move closer to delivery. Saadiyat Cultural District recorded 97 secondary transactions during the quarter, while Saadiyat South registered 139.

The Q2 data points to an increasingly differentiated Abu Dhabi residential market, where established communities continue to record price growth while off-plan resale activity becomes concentrated around projects offering stronger liquidity, clearer pricing and greater visibility on completion.