UAE Property Markets Record Strong Growth, Driven by Investment and Development Activity
Abu Dhabi recorded AED171.26 billion in transactions during the first nine months of 2026, while Dubai approached AED625 billion over ten months amid sustained sales, project delivery and international demand.
RIYADH, November 14, Saudi Arabia Breaking News - The UAE real estate sector continued to deliver strong performance in 2026, supported by expanding investment demand, increased development activity and a broad international investor base.
Property data from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah point to sustained activity across sales, mortgages, development projects and other forms of real estate investment.
Regulatory and legislative improvements have also strengthened the competitiveness of the country’s property markets, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a destination for international capital and long-term investment.
The performance across the emirates reflects the resilience and diversity of local markets, with residential, commercial and investment products serving buyers from a growing range of countries.
Real estate continues to support the UAE’s economic-diversification strategy by attracting foreign capital, stimulating construction and development, and creating opportunities across financial, professional and property-related services.
Abu Dhabi Transactions Reach AED171.26 Billion
Abu Dhabi recorded AED171.26 billion in real estate transactions during the first nine months of 2026, according to data from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre.
The total was generated through 38,483 transactions and represented annual growth of 76.1 percent in value and 32.8 percent in transaction volume.
Sales transactions reached AED119.33 billion through 23,749 transactions, marking a 105 percent increase in value compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
Mortgage transactions totalled AED45.92 billion.
Foreign investment in Abu Dhabi’s designated investment zones rose by 131 percent year-on-year to AED86.11 billion. International investors accounted for 81 percent of the total investment value recorded in those areas.
Investment by non-resident individuals reached AED17.22 billion during the first nine months of 2026. This was more than double the AED8.2 billion registered during the whole of 2025.
The figures demonstrate the growing international reach of Abu Dhabi’s property market and the increasing role of overseas capital in its development.
Development activity also expanded during the reporting period. ADREC registered 54 new real estate projects, adding to the range of residential, commercial and mixed-use opportunities available to investors.
The number of licensed real estate professionals increased by 32 percent to 3,677, reflecting the wider expansion of the sector and its supporting services.
Dubai Transactions Approach AED625 Billion
Dubai recorded almost AED625 billion in real estate transactions during the first ten months of 2026, according to Dubai Land Department data.
The total was generated through 181,866 transactions across sales, mortgages and property gifts.
Property sales accounted for approximately AED411.98 billion, while mortgage transactions reached around AED164 billion. Property gifts contributed a further AED49 billion.
The distribution of activity across transaction categories reflects the scale and maturity of Dubai’s real estate market, which continues to attract local buyers, international investors and institutional capital.
Development activity also accelerated. During the first half of 2026, 104 real estate projects with a combined investment value exceeding AED111 billion were completed in the emirate.
This compared with 75 completed projects valued at AED73 billion during the first half of 2025.
The annual increase represented 29 additional completed developments and more than AED38 billion in additional project value.
Dubai’s performance continues to be supported by a wide range of property offerings, large-scale development programmes and a regulatory environment designed to facilitate investment and market transparency.
Sharjah Attracts Investors From 130 Nationalities
Sharjah recorded AED46.8 billion in monetary real estate transactions during the first nine months of 2026.
The result represented growth of 5.6 percent from AED44.3 billion during the corresponding period of 2025.
Transaction volume increased more rapidly, rising by 14 percent to 91,560 transactions.
Investors from 130 nationalities participated in Sharjah’s property market, demonstrating the emirate’s ability to attract a geographically diverse investor base.
A total of 46,125 properties were traded across different investment categories, while 9,891 investors entered the market for the first time.
Sales activity reached AED35 billion through 24,749 transactions.
Mortgage transactions totalled approximately AED10.2 billion across 3,839 transactions, indicating continued demand for property financing and a broad range of investment products.
The figures highlight Sharjah’s position as an increasingly accessible and diversified property market within the UAE, supported by new investors and growing transaction volumes.
Ajman Records AED1.95 Billion in October Transactions
Ajman registered 1,140 real estate transactions with a combined value of AED1.95 billion during October 2026.
Property trading accounted for AED1.22 billion across 900 transactions.
The emirate also recorded 139 mortgage transactions with a total value of AED373 million during the month.
The figures indicate continued activity across different transaction categories and sustained demand for Ajman’s property offerings.
Its market provides a distinct range of opportunities within the wider UAE real estate landscape, including residential and investment products positioned at different price levels.
Ras Al Khaimah Market Reaches AED2.89 Billion
Ras Al Khaimah recorded approximately AED2.89 billion in real estate transactions during the first half of 2026.
Sales transactions reached AED1.353 billion through 1,274 transactions.
Mortgage activity totalled AED1.160 billion across 463 transactions, while property waivers contributed approximately AED380 million through 348 transactions.
The balance between sales, mortgages and property transfers reflects continued activity across multiple areas of the emirate’s real estate market.
Ras Al Khaimah has continued to expand its property offering alongside the development of its tourism, hospitality and investment sectors, creating additional opportunities for both domestic and international buyers.
International Capital Supports Market Expansion
The latest figures demonstrate that property-sector growth is extending across the UAE rather than being concentrated in a single market.
Abu Dhabi recorded substantial increases in transaction value and foreign investment, while Dubai maintained exceptional transaction and development volumes.
Sharjah expanded its investor base and transaction count, and the markets in Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah continued to generate activity across sales, mortgages and property transfers.
The combination of regulatory development, new project delivery and international demand is strengthening the role of real estate within the UAE economy.
A growing selection of property products across the emirates also allows individual and institutional investors to pursue different strategies, investment values and risk profiles within one national market.
Continued development activity and a broader investor base are expected to remain central to the sector’s contribution to investment flows, construction activity and sustainable economic diversification.
