Abu Dhabi real estate transactions reach $48 billion in first nine months of 2026 as residential sales climb

Abu Dhabi recorded AED175.7 billion, equivalent to 48 billion dollars, in real estate transactions during the first nine months of 2026, according to data published October 18 by IndexBox citing the emirate's Land Department. Residential sales accounted for AED95.8 billion of the total, with Hudayriyat Island recording AED19 billion, representing 27 percent of residential sales value, followed by Saadiyat Island at AED13.3 billion, Al Reem Island and Al Maryah Island at AED10.5 billion, and Yas Island at AED7.3 billion. The figures were released ahead of the International Real Estate and Investment Show 2026, scheduled to return to Abu Dhabi next month.

In contrast, Dubai's property market saw transaction value fall 47 percent year-over-year to 92.9 billion dirhams in the third quarter of 2026, with transaction volume dropping 33 percent to 37,487, according to Dubai Land Department data reported by The Morning Context on October 14. Residential capital values in Dubai have fallen 10.3 percent according to ValuStrat's October price index, marking a sharp shift from the emirate's record 2025 performance.

The divergence between the two emirates reflects Abu Dhabi's tighter supply and continued infrastructure investment versus Dubai's delivery of approximately 100,000 units forecast for 2026, raising oversupply concerns in mid-market segments. The constraint for both markets is whether demand can absorb elevated supply pipelines and whether ongoing regional conflict continues to dampen transaction velocity, particularly in Dubai's more liquid and price-sensitive segments.

Sources

IndexBox, Abu Dhabi Real Estate Transactions Hit AED175.7 Billion in First Nine Months of 2026, published October 18, 2026, indexbox.io The Morning Context, Dubai real estate: 'it's a buyer's market now', published October 14, 2026, themorningcontext.com Arabian Business, Dubai real estate sector recorded $3.7bn of transactions last week, including $14.6m Palm Jumeirah apartment, published October 18, 2026, arabianbusiness.com Property Finder / The Week, Dubai vs Abu Dhabi: Where were the most expensive properties sold in 2026?, published October 4, 2026, theweek.in