Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes
Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector recorded Dhs54bn ($14.7bn) worth of transactions in H1 2025, up 42 per cent from a year earlier, according to the inaugural market report from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC).
The report, released on Tuesday, said residential sales reached Dhs25bn, a 38 per cent year-on-year increase, marking a new semi-annual record.
Demand growth of around 6 per cent across the emirate continued to outpace supply growth of 2.6 per cent, underscoring opportunities for further development.
Residential inventory in the emirate stood at about 400,000 units at mid-year.
Apartment prices rose 14 per cent year-on-year in Q2 2025, while villa and townhouse prices climbed 11 per cent.
Future supply is projected to rise by 4.6 per cent through 2028, adding 45,000 to 55,000 units.
Abu Dhabi setting new records in sales volume and value, says ADREC DG
“Abu Dhabi’s real estate market continues to demonstrate its strength, setting new records in both sales value and volume,” said Engineer Rashed Al Omaira, acting director general of ADREC. “This inaugural report is a new benchmark for transparency and gives our stakeholders the clarity and information they need to invest with confidence.”
High-value master planned communities were a key driver of activity, with the top 10 developments contributing about half of total residential unit sales in H1.
Al Hudayriat Island led with Dhs2.4bn in sales, followed by luxury and mixed-use projects including Bal Ghaiylam, Mamsha Gardens and Saadiyat Lagoons.
Rental demand also grew, with lease values rising 6 per cent year-on-year to Dhs8.2bn in H1.
Apartment rents have increased 21 per cent over the past two years, while villa and townhouse rents are up 7 per cent.
Cash remained the dominant payment method, accounting for 81 per cent of total sales.
The analysis was produced using ADREC’s proprietary AI tools, designed to cleanse and enrich national datasets for more accurate market insights.
Established in 2023 under the Department of Municipalities and Transport, ADREC serves as the custodian and regulator of Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector, with a mandate to enhance transparency and efficiency in the market.
