UAE Real Estate Market Posts Strong Growth Across Emirates in H1 2026

DUBAI,UAE: The UAE real estate market recorded broad-based growth during the first half of 2026, with Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah reporting higher transaction activity, investment inflows and development volumes.

Continued demand from both domestic and international investors, an expanding pipeline of new projects and further development of the country’s regulatory framework supported activity during the six months to the end of June.

The growing diversity of foreign investors participating across UAE property markets also pointed to sustained international demand for real estate assets in the country.

Abu Dhabi transactions reach USD 31.86 billion

Abu Dhabi recorded approximately USD 31.86 billion (AED117 billion) in real estate transactions during the first half of 2026, representing an increase of 112 percent compared with the same period in 2025. Transaction volumes rose by 61.7 percent.

Sales accounted for the largest share of activity, reaching USD 23.44 billion (AED86.1 billion) across 16,838 transactions, an increase of 163.7 percent. Mortgage transactions totaled USD 7.27 billion (AED26.7 billion).

Foreign direct investment into Abu Dhabi real estate reached approximately USD 3.76 billion (AED13.8 billion) during the first six months of the year, rising 309 percent and surpassing the amount recorded during the whole of 2025.

Non-resident foreign investors represented 116 nationalities, while investment zones attracted approximately USD 20.42 billion (AED75 billion).

According to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre’s first-half report, residential unit sales totaled USD 19.17 billion (AED70.4 billion). Off-plan properties accounted for 89 percent of residential sales value and 82 percent of transaction volumes.

Resale apartment prices increased by 20 percent, while villa prices rose by 12 percent.

Abu Dhabi also recorded around 233,000 active residential tenancy contracts with a combined value of USD 2.53 billion (AED9.3 billion), representing an eight percent year-on-year increase.

Dubai completes 104 projects worth more than USD 30 billion

Dubai completed 104 real estate projects during the first half of 2026 with a combined investment value exceeding USD 30.22 billion (AED111 billion).

That compares with 75 projects valued at USD 19.88 billion (AED73 billion) during the same period of 2025, representing growth of 38.7 percent in the number of completed projects and 52 percent in investment value.

The number of new real estate units increased by more than 36 percent to 24,537.

Completed and ready-for-handover construction space reached 1.95 million square metres, up more than 23.4 percent from 1.58 million square metres in the first half of 2025.

The value of land allocated to projects increased by more than 135 percent to USD 5.30 billion (AED19.46 billion), compared with USD 2.25 billion (AED8.27 billion) a year earlier.

Land allocated to completed projects also more than doubled in area, reaching approximately one million square metres compared with 484,000 square metres during the corresponding period of 2025.

The results underline the continued expansion of Dubai’s property development pipeline and the role of real estate within the emirate’s wider economic diversification strategy.

Sharjah attracts investors from 121 nationalities

Sharjah recorded approximately USD 8.03 billion (AED29.5 billion) in real estate transactions during the first half of 2026, an increase of 9.3 percent.

The number of transactions rose 23.7 percent to 59,460.

Residential properties accounted for the largest share of sales activity, with 13,501 transactions, while mortgage transactions reached USD 2.07 billion (AED7.6 billion).

Investors from 121 nationalities participated in Sharjah’s property market during the period.

UAE nationals invested approximately USD 4.06 billion (AED14.9 billion), while Arab investors accounted for around USD 1.36 billion (AED5 billion) and investors from other nationalities contributed approximately USD 2.23 billion (AED8.2 billion).

Eleven new real estate projects were also registered during the first six months of the year.

Ajman records USD 2.94 billion in transactions

Ajman recorded 6,815 real estate transactions worth more than USD 2.94 billion (AED10.8 billion) during the first half of 2026.

Trading transactions accounted for USD 2.08 billion (AED7.64 billion), while mortgage transactions totaled USD 511.9 million (AED1.88 billion).

The figures reflected continued diversification of property activity and a broader range of investment opportunities across the emirate.

Ras Al Khaimah transactions approach USD 787 million

Ras Al Khaimah recorded approximately USD 786.9 million (AED2.89 billion) in real estate transactions between January and June.

Sales totaled approximately USD 368.4 million (AED1.353 billion) across 1,274 transactions, while 463 mortgage transactions were valued at around USD 315.9 million (AED1.160 billion).

Property transfers accounted for a further approximately USD 103.5 million (AED380 million).

Taken together, the first-half figures show continued activity across the UAE’s major property markets, supported by development growth, foreign investment and sustained demand across residential and investment assets.