Ten Projects Accounted for 43% of Abu Dhabi Residential Sales Value in H1 2026

Abu Dhabi recorded AED 70.4 billion in residential unit sales in H1 2026, compared with AED 25.3 billion during the same period last year.

The growth was substantial, but sales were also highly concentrated.

According to ADREC, just ten projects accounted for approximately AED 30 billion in residential sales value, representing 43% of the market.

The concentration was even higher within primary off-plan sales, where the ten leading developers accounted for AED 51 billion, or 90% of total primary off-plan sales value.

More than 70% of sales value came from four locations

Four locations accounted for the majority of residential sales value during H1:

Together, these locations represented just over 70% of Abu Dhabi’s residential sales value.

Hudayriyat Island alone accounted for approximately 27% of the market.

This does not mean other areas performed poorly. It shows that a significant share of buyer activity and capital was concentrated within a relatively small number of communities and projects.

For buyers and investors, individual project performance remains more relevant than the emirate-wide average. Location, purchase price, unit type, future supply and resale demand can vary considerably from one development to another.

Off-plan dominated H1 activity

Off-plan property represented 89% of residential sales value and 82% of residential transactions during H1.

The ready-property market accounted for a much smaller share, with 61% of ready purchases completed in cash.

This distinction is important when looking at overall market growth.

Large primary launches can add hundreds of transactions and billions of dirhams in sales value within a relatively short period. Strong sales across several phases of a major development can therefore have a significant effect on Abu Dhabi’s overall transaction figures.

Those figures do not necessarily reflect the performance of older apartments, completed villas or properties in communities with fewer new launches.

The same applies when comparing transaction growth with property price growth.

Residential sales value increased by approximately 178% year-on-year, while ADREC’s repeat-sales data recorded annual price growth of around 20% for apartments and 12% for villas.

These figures measure different parts of the market. Total sales value measures the amount of property transacted, while repeat-sales data provides a clearer indication of how the value of comparable existing properties has changed.

Future supply is also concentrated

ADREC expects approximately 71,000 additional residential units to be delivered by 2030, with annual completions expected to peak at around 21,800 units in 2028.

A large share of that pipeline is concentrated among a limited number of developers and locations.

Nine major developers account for 76% of the development-project pipeline, while six districts are expected to represent 77% of projected additional supply through 2030:

Saadiyat, Reem, Yas, Zayed City, Khalifa City and Hudayriyat.

This future supply should be considered when assessing an off-plan purchase.

A development may be selling strongly today, but buyers should also consider how many competing units could enter the market around handover.

Where several projects or phases complete within the same period, investors may be competing with other landlords, newer properties and, in some cases, remaining developer inventory when they come to rent or resell.

Future supply does not automatically mean weaker prices. It does, however, need to be included in the investment calculation.

What buyers should assess

The H1 data gives a useful picture of where transaction activity is concentrated, but it should not be used to assess every Abu Dhabi property in the same way.

Before purchasing, buyers should consider:

the number of units and future phases planned within the project;

upcoming supply in the surrounding community;

actual resale prices achieved for comparable completed units;

expected rental demand;

and the level of competing stock likely to be available around handover.

Abu Dhabi recorded an exceptionally strong first half of 2026.

At the same time, 43% of residential sales value came from ten projects, 90% of primary off-plan sales came through ten developers, and more than 70% of residential sales value was concentrated across four locations.

For buyers and investors, project selection remains critical.

A strong Abu Dhabi property market does not mean every property will perform in the same way.

Source: Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, Abu Dhabi Real Estate Market Report H1 2026.