During the initial half of 2026, the UAE real estate market showed robust performance, bolstered by increasing investment interest, heightened development efforts, and a varied investor demographic, based on data published by real estate officials.
The sector commenced the latter half of the year with a robust base of domestic and global demand, varied real estate offerings, and an expanding portfolio of upcoming projects, according to reports.
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Increasing foreign investment and the diverse array of nationalities engaging in the market further demonstrated ongoing trust in the UAE's capacity to draw in long-term capital. Data released by real estate officials revealed robust activity levels in various emirates from January to the end of June 2026.
In Abu Dhabi, the overall value of real estate deals hit approximately AED117 billion in the first half, representing a 112 percent increase compared to the same timeframe in 2025, with the transaction count rising by 61.7 percent. Sales transactions dominated the activity, totaling AED86.1 billion across 16,838 transactions, an increase of 163.7 percent, whereas mortgage transactions reached AED26.7 billion.
In Abu Dhabi, foreign direct investment in real estate hit approximately AED13.8 billion in the first half of 2026, marking a 309 percent rise and surpassing the total amount documented for all of 2025. The count of nationalities among non-resident foreign investors increased to 116, and investment zones drew approximately AED75 billion.
The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre's report for the first half of the year indicates that residential unit sales totaled AED70.4 billion, with off-plan properties representing 89 percent of the sales value and 82 percent of the overall number of transactions. Prices for apartments increased by 20 percent, while villas saw a rise of 12 percent.
The count of active residential lease agreements hit approximately 233,000, with a total worth of AED9.3 billion, reflecting an eight percent increase compared to the previous year.
In the first half of 2026, Dubai's real estate market finished 104 projects with an investment totaling over AED111 billion, in contrast to 75 projects valued at AED73 billion in the same period of 2025, indicating a 38.7 percent increase in project count and a 52 percent rise in value. The count of new real estate units increased to 24,537, marking a rise of over 36 percent. The construction space finished and prepared for handover increased by over 23.4 percent to 1.95 million square metres, up from 1.58 million square metres in the same timeframe last year.
The expense for land designated for projects surged over 135 percent to AED19.46 billion, in contrast to AED8.27 billion during the same timeframe in 2025. The land designated for finished projects has more than doubled to approximately one million square metres, increasing from 484,000 square metres in the first half of the previous year.
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The robust performance underscores the strength of Dubai's real estate market and its significance as a vital component of the emirate's sustainable economic diversification efforts.
The data also emphasizes its status as a safe, growth-focused location for investors globally.
In Sharjah, property deals totaled approximately AED29.5 billion in the first half of 2026, reflecting a 9.3 percent rise, with the total transactions increasing by 23.7 percent to 59,460.
Residential properties represented the majority of sales transactions, totaling 13,501 deals, and mortgage transactions amounted to AED7.6 billion.
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The real estate market in Sharjah drew investors from 121 different nationalities. UAE citizens invested approximately AED14.9 billion, Arab investors about AED5 billion, and other nationalities roughly AED8.2 billion. During the same timeframe, eleven new real estate developments were recorded.
Ajman's property market witnessed 6,815 transactions totaling over AED10.8 billion, which included AED7.64 billion in trading transactions and AED1.88 billion in mortgage dealings, indicating ongoing diversification of activities and growing investment prospects in the emirate.