What do the official numbers say about Abu Dhabi property?
The figures people ask about most, in one place. Each one comes from an official source, with the period it covers.
Abu Dhabi recorded Dh117 billion of property deals in the first half of 2026, up 112% on a year earlier, after a record Dh142 billion in 2025. 1, 3 Resale prices rose 20% for apartments and 12% for villas in the year to June 2026, and most new money went into homes not yet built. 2 Every figure below links to the official source and says which period it covers.
How much property is selling?
All registered property deals in the emirate, sales and mortgages together:
What do homes sell for, by area?
Average and highest sale prices per square metre in the first half of 2026, from registered sales. "Villas" includes townhouses. 2
| Area | Apartments, average | Apartments, top | Villas, average | Villas, top |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saadiyat Island | Dh42,000 | Dh142,000 | Dh23,000 | Dh100,000 |
| Yas Island | Dh25,000 | Dh104,000 | Dh18,000 | Dh53,000 |
| Hudayriyat Island | Dh24,000 | Dh33,000 | Dh15,000 | Dh36,000 |
| Al Raha | Dh21,000 | Dh39,000 | Dh12,000 | Dh12,000 |
| Al Reem Island | Dh18,000 | Dh38,000 | Dh14,000 | Dh16,000 |
| Khalifa City | Dh14,000 | Dh25,000 | Dh12,000 | Dh26,000 |
| Al Reef | Dh11,000 | Dh20,000 | Dh12,000 | Dh17,000 |
One square metre is about 10.8 square feet, so Dh18,000 per square metre is about Dh1,670 per square foot.
Are prices and rents rising?
Yes, in the year to June 2026: 2
Resale prices
Up 20% for apartments and 12% for villas and townhouses, from repeat sales of ready homes.
New-lease rents
Up 17% for apartments and 9% for villas, and 21% and 16% in the investment zones where foreigners can buy.
Rent per square metre
Most Al Reem towers let for Dh1,200 to Dh1,400 a year, Yas developments for Dh700 to Dh1,500, and Saadiyat for Dh800 to Dh1,900.
Renewals
Since 3 June 2026, landlords can't raise the rent when a lease is renewed; the permitted increase is 0% until further notice. 7
How much is being built?
About 409,000 homes stood in the emirate in mid-2026, with around 71,000 more due by 2030. The most, about 21,800, are due in 2028. 2
What does it cost to buy?
| Cost | How much |
|---|---|
| Registration (transfer) fee | 2% of the price or the official valuation, whichever is higher 8, 10 |
| DARI e-services fee | Dh875 per sale 9 |
| Agency commission, if you use an agent | 2% of the price, capped at Dh500,000, plus VAT 11 |
| Mortgage registration | 0.1% of the loan, 10 plus a Dh450 DARI e-service fee 9 |
| Golden Visa threshold | Dh2 million of your own money in property 12 |
Our cost calculator adds these up for any price.
Can you use these numbers?
Yes, please do.
Cite the official source
Each figure links to the body that published it. Quote them, not us.
Link here for the round-up
This page is updated when ADREC publishes new figures, about twice a year, and the date at the top changes when it is.
Check the period
Every figure says which months it covers. Sales totals and price changes move fast.
What's the catch?
Read these before you sign anything.
Totals include mortgages.
The headline value counts registered mortgages as well as sales, so it isn't the same as what buyers spent.
Averages hide a wide range.
ADREC notes the highest prices in most areas are two to four times the average, so a single building can be far from these numbers. 2
Official figures come twice a year.
ADREC publishes its detailed report every six months, so the newest month is never here yet.
Rules change.
Fees and lending limits are correct as of November 2026. Check before you commit.
Sources
- ADREC: Abu Dhabi real estate transactions reach AED117 billion in H1 2026 (July 2026)
- ADREC: Abu Dhabi Real Estate Market Report H1 2026, sales and lease prices by district, price indices and supply (August 2026)
- ADREC: 2025 real estate performance numbers, a record AED 142 billion in transactions (press release, 2026)
- Abu Dhabi Media Office: ADREC records AED96.2bn in real estate transactions in 2024 (January 2025)
- WAM: ADREC reports AED87.1 billion in real estate transactions in 2023
- Department of Municipalities and Transport: Abu Dhabi records AED 77.6 billion in real estate transactions in 2022 (March 2023)
- ADREC: Temporary update to the annual rental cap increase in Abu Dhabi (June 2026)
- DARI (ADREC): Sell property, how the transfer fee is worked out
- DARI: Registration of sale and purchase of land and real estate (fees)
- ADREC: Executive Council Resolution No. 49 of 2018, municipal service fees (fee schedule)
- Abu Dhabi Official Gazette: Resolution No. 183 of 2017, broker commission and developer fees (via DARI)
- Abu Dhabi Residents Office: Abu Dhabi Golden Visa for investors
- UAE Central Bank Rulebook: Regulations Regarding Mortgage Loans, Article 3, Important Ratios (in force, accessed November 2026)
- UAE Central Bank Rulebook: Resolution No. 96/2019 amending the fee caps in Appendix 2 of the Bank Loans Regulations (home loan early settlement)
What should you read next?
Three guides that follow on from this one.
See all guides
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