UAE property deals surge as Abu Dhabi investment triples in H1 2026

Real estate transactions across the UAE surged during the first half of 2026, with Abu Dhabi recording a 112 percent increase in deal value to reach AED117 billion. The growth was driven by a sharp rise in foreign direct investment and a massive shift toward off-plan residential sales, according to data released by regional real estate authorities on Friday, 28 August. Abu Dhabi investment triples Abu Dhabi’s property market saw foreign direct investment jump 309 percent to AED13.8 billion between January and June 2026, already surpassing the total figure recorded for the entirety of 2025. The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre reported that non-resident investors from 116 different nationalities entered the market during this period. Residential sales accounted for AED70.4 billion of the total, with off-plan properties dominating the sector, representing 89 percent of all sales by value. Resale prices for apartments rose by 20 percent, while villa prices increased by 12 percent. Dubai completion rates climb In Dubai, the sector completed 104 projects valued at more than AED111 billion, a 52 percent increase in value compared to the first half of 2025. Data shows that 24,537 new units were added to the market, while the total area of completed construction space grew by 23.4 percent to 1.95 million square metres. A significant indicator of future supply was the 135 percent jump in the cost of land allocated to new projects, which reached AED19.46 billion. Sharjah and Northern…