Abu Dhabi Property Sales Pass Full-Year 2025 by Mid-August Despite Regional War

Abu Dhabi residential property sales reached AED 86.3 billion by mid-August 2026, exceeding last year's full-year total of AED 83.2 billion, according to figures from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre assessed by Arabian Gulf Business Insight. Much of the growth came in the first quarter, with sales hitting AED 44.2 billion, more than triple the same period in 2025, before the US-Iran war began on February 28. Including mortgaged deals, sales values reached AED 111 billion by mid-August, slightly behind 2025's full-year figure of AED 118 billion. Total transactions reached around 31,000 by mid-August, against a full 2025 total of roughly 41,000. Marquee projects are feeding demand. Yas Island will be home to a Disney theme park and the Sphere entertainment venue, both under construction, and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum is due to open in December. On Al Maryah Island, developers are expanding the emirate's financial district with new office towers alongside ADGM. Supply has not kept pace, with Abu Dhabi completing just 1,834 apartments and 1,620 villas during the first half of 2026, representing under a fifth of the expected residential pipeline for the full year, according to ValuStrat. An estimated 37,700 new residential units are scheduled for delivery by 2030. Why it matters: Abu Dhabi's property market is on track to set a new annual record despite six months of regional conflict, missile interceptions, and trade disruption. The figures underscore the emirate's appeal as a safe-haven investment destination even under wartime conditions, and reflect the impact of large-scale infrastructure projects and tourism expansion. However, the supply shortfall is pushing prices higher and raising concerns about housing affordability. Abu Dhabi remains moderately more expensive than Dubai, and the market's resilience contrasts sharply with the economic pressures facing Iran and other conflict-affected states.