UAE Real Estate Sector Records Exceptional First-Half Growth Powered by Surge in Foreign Capital and High-Value Project Deliveries

ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates real estate sector maintained exceptional operational and financial momentum throughout the first half of 2026, driven by unprecedented domestic and international investment demand, a rapidly diversifying global buyer demographic, disciplined master-development delivery, and progressive regulatory safeguards. Comprehensive data published by federal and local real estate authorities confirms that the market entered the second half of the year anchored by robust structural fundamentals, competitive rental yields, and strong cross-border capital inflows. In the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi recorded an extraordinary leap in total market activity. Total real estate transactions across the emirate reached approximately AED 117 billion between January and the end of June 2026, marking a dramatic 112 percent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2025, while total transaction volumes rose by 61.7 percent. Sales transactions spearheaded this expansion, reaching AED 86.1 billion across 16,838 deals - a 163.7 percent surge - while mortgage transactions accounted for AED 26.7 billion. A standout highlight of Abu Dhabi’s performance was the unprecedented acceleration of foreign capital. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Abu Dhabi real estate reached AED 13.8 billion during the six-month period, reflecting an extraordinary 309 percent increase and eclipsing the total foreign investment recorded for the entirety of 2025. According to the Abu Dhabi…