The United Arab Emirates real estate sector is surging through 2026, fueled by an influx of international capital and maturing regulations.
While regional tensions have fluctuated, the market has demonstrated remarkable resilience, anchored by consistent demand and a widening base of global investors. The sector’s growth is further supported by the diversification of real estate products and projects, which continue to bolster the national economy’s sustainable diversification efforts.
Abu Dhabi Leads with Record-Breaking Transactions
In Abu Dhabi, property transactions reached 171.26 billion dirhams during the first nine months of 2026, marking a 76.1 percent increase in value compared to the 97.19 billion dirhams recorded during the same period in 2025, according to data from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre.
The volume of transactions also climbed by 32.8 percent, totaling 38,483 individual deals. The number of licensed real estate professionals in the emirate reached 3,677, a 32 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Foreign investment in the emirate’s designated investment zones hit 86.11 billion dirhams, a 131 percent year-on-year increase, accounting for 81 percent of total investment value in those areas. Non-resident individual investments reached 17.22 billion dirhams, more than doubling the 8.2 billion dirhams recorded for the entirety of 2025, as reported by Sky News Arabia.
This growth coincides with Abu Dhabi’s rising profile on the global stage. The emirate climbed eight spots to reach 33rd globally in the 2026 Real Estate Transparency Index, published by JLL.
Dubai Property Transactions Approach 625 Billion Dirhams
Dubai’s real estate market maintains its status as a primary engine for the national economy. The Dubai Land Department reported that property transactions neared 625 billion dirhams during the first ten months of 2026, with 181,866 transactions recorded.
Sales accounted for 411.98 billion dirhams of this activity, while mortgage transactions contributed 164 billion dirhams and gifts amounted to 49 billion dirhams. Furthermore, 104 projects were completed in the first half of 2026, representing an investment value exceeding 111 billion dirhams, a significant rise from the 75 projects worth 73 billion dirhams recorded during the same period in 2025.
Sharjah also saw steady expansion, with a total cash trading volume of 46.8 billion dirhams in the first nine months of 2026, a 5.6 percent increase over the 44.3 billion dirhams recorded in the previous year. The emirate’s appeal remains broad, attracting investors from 130 different nationalities, with 9,891 new investors joining the market.
The total number of executed transactions rose to 91,560, a growth of 14 percent compared to the same period last year. Sales accounted for 24,749 transactions worth 35 billion dirhams, while mortgage transactions reached 10.2 billion dirhams across 3,839 deals.
IREIS 2026 Exhibition Reflects Growing Developer Confidence
The “IREIS 2026” exhibition at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) served as a flashpoint for this sector growth, drawing more than 4,000 developers, investors, and brokers. According to Aaron Bose, director of the IREIS exhibition, the participation of top developers reflects growing confidence in Abu Dhabi and the event as a platform for showcasing projects to a global audience.
“The UAE market has shown great resilience in the face of regional tensions, with prices holding steady despite a period of market anticipation,” said Wesley Thompson, Head of ESG for the Middle East and North Africa at Knight Frank, in comments provided to 24.ae.
Thompson added that the clarity of government policy and the continuity of development plans provide investors with a high degree of certainty. He suggested that improving conditions in the coming weeks would likely support price increases.
Innovation in urban planning also took center stage at the exhibition. De Sousa Holdings unveiled a 25-year master plan for a futuristic city in the UAE, designed with an architectural layout inspired by the traditional Arabic coffee pot, the dallah.
“The project is based on the concept of ‘profit from happiness,’ by linking economic returns to quality of life,” said Edgar Gerson, founder and president of De Sousa Holdings, in an interview with Emarat Al Youm. Gerson said that the master plan, which utilizes AI for traffic and resource management, includes a 5-star hotel shaped like a dallah featuring seven cups to symbolize the seven emirates of the UAE.
Market Selectivity in the Third Quarter
While the overall figures show expansion, the market is becoming more nuanced. A report by Crompton Partners said that while residential property values in Abu Dhabi rose by 31 percent in the third quarter of 2026, buyers have become increasingly selective regarding location and product quality. In some sub-markets, such as Saadiyat Beach Residences, transaction volumes were concentrated in specific projects, highlighting a trend where performance is increasingly tied to individual assets rather than broad neighborhood trends.
The report also identified price growth in Sun Sky Gate (22.5 percent), City of Lights (20.6 percent), Marina Square (13.5 percent), and Shams Reem Island (11.5 percent). Meanwhile, Al Reef recorded 125 deals worth 215 million dirhams, with its apartments rising 15.2 percent and villas seeing growth between 17.6 and 30.4 percent. Saadiyat Island remained the most expensive market in the report, generating 308.1 million dirhams from 112 transactions.
Other emirates continue to contribute to the national total. In Ras Al Khaimah, property disposals reached approximately 2.89 billion dirhams during the first half of 2026, split between 1.353 billion dirhams in sales, 1.160 billion dirhams in mortgages, and 380 million dirhams in property transfers.
