If you're wondering where property values are rising in Abu Dhabi—and where buyers are stepping back—Q1 2025 has a few surprises in store.

Crompton Partners’ latest report reveals a noticeable shift in buyer behaviour this quarter, with premium communities seeing bigger jumps in price per square meter but a good broad-based recovery with only a few communities left behind. The trends suggest that demand is increasingly spread across the Emirate although the premium segment of the market still see the lion’s share of investment.

Let’s cover the highlights of Abu Dhabi’s key locations:

1.      Saadiyat Island:

Topping the charts this quarter is Mamsha on Saadiyat Island, with prices skyrocketing by 69% compared to Q1 last year. At 55,714 AED per sqm, it’s now officially the most expensive location in Abu Dhabi.

And it wasn’t just a one-off sale driving that number—buyers are clearly ready to pay a premium for beachfront living in low-supply communities. With limited inventory and sustained demand, Hidd Al Saadiyat (up 47%) and Saadiyat Beach Villas (up 10%) have set new price benchmarks for Saadiyat.

2.      Yas Island:

While Saadiyat’s gains came from a handful of high-ticket sales, Yas Island stood out for balancing strong volumes with rising prices. Areas like Noya, Water’s Edge, and Ansam all saw double-digit price increases and consistent transactions.

Noya, in particular, posted 65 transactions in Q1 2025 with an impressive 31% jump in price per sqm—showing just how attractive mid-range villa communities are to today’s buyers.

What’s interesting here is Yas Island’s diversity. Waterfront apartments, gated villa communities, and golf-view residences are all seeing demand. That’s not common across other areas—and it’s part of what’s fuelling its resilience.

3.      Al Reem Island:

With over 360 secondary sales, Al Reem Island had the highest transaction volume of any area in Q1—but not every sub-community performed the same.

Shams (excluding Gate, Sun and Sky) led in activity with 139 deals, but prices actually dipped slightly by -0.39%. Marina Square, on the other hand, saw a 10% rise in prices despite fewer transactions. The same was true of Sun, Sky and Gate Towers. This kind of fragmentation shows us that investors are getting more selective—prioritizing views, layouts, and building reputations over general location names.

Reem remains a high-turnover area. But as newer, higher-spec buildings enter the market elsewhere, buyers may start favouring communities with clearer long-term upside.

Not every area followed the upward trend:

Some areas showed signs of a slowdown—or even a drop in prices. Al Reef Villas 2 recorded a slight 2% dip in price per square meter. However, the number of transactions increased due to a bulk purchase, indicating that investor activity is still present—but more focused on securing quantity rather than chasing higher prices. Meanwhile, in Al Raha, certain segments such as Al Muneera and Al Zeina saw marginal price corrections, suggesting that demand in premium waterfront units may be stabilizing after previous highs. Despite this, transaction levels held steady, reflecting continued interest—just with a more selective and value-driven approach.

This blog gives you just a quick overview. For a deeper look, download the full report—it includes detailed area breakdowns, charts on yearly turnover rates, price changes, and average prices per square meter, all in one place. Thinking of investing, selling, or buying?
Call us on 800-2732 or email enquiries@cromptonpartners.com for a free, personalized consultation with one of our experts.