Abu Dhabi, UAE – The performance of the real estate sector in the UAE during the first quarter of 2026 showed record activity and indications of the confidence of local and foreign investors in the stability of the local market. And its ability to adapt to variables to ensure continued growth and achieve meaningful gains in the medium and long term.
Real estate markets in the UAE witnessed remarkable growth during the first three months of 2026. Official data issued by the competent authorities in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman confirmed the country’s position as an attractive global destination for real estate investments.
Dubai
In Dubai, the Department of Lands and Properties showed continued strong activity in the real estate market with 718,160 real estate transactions recorded. Including 60,303 actions, a growth of 6% compared to the same period in 2025.
The total value of transactions rose to 252 billion dirhams, achieving a 31% increase. The number of investments recorded 57,744, an increase of 7% over the previous year, and a value of 173 billion dirhams. The investor base also witnessed a significant expansion to reach 48,448 investors. An increase of 8%, including 29,312 new investors, an increase of 14% compared to the first quarter of 2025.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi recorded the highest quarterly performance in the emirate’s history, with real estate transactions growing by 160.7%. The total value reached 66 billion dirhams, compared to 25.31 billion dirhams during the same period of the previous year.
More than 13,518 transactions were executed, compared to 6,896 transactions during the first quarter of 2025. This reflects the accelerating pace of growth and the consolidation of Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional and global investment center.
Sharjah
The volume of real estate trading in the Emirate of Sharjah during the first quarter of 2026 reached “18.5 billion dirhams”. Compared to AED 13.2 billion during the same period in 2025, a growth rate of 40.7%.
The Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department revealed that the total number of real estate transactions executed during the same period rose to 29,235 transactions. With a growth rate of 18.9% compared to the previous year.
The department noted a significant increase in the diversity of nationalities investing in the real estate sector. The number of investing nationalities reached 113, compared to 97 nationalities in 2025.
Investments by UAE citizens constituted about 9 billion dirhams of total cash circulation, amounting to 10,099 properties. The value of investments by GCC citizens, Arab citizens, and citizens of other countries amounted to approximately 9.5 billion dirhams, representing 19,136 properties.
Ajman
In Ajman, the value of real estate transactions during the first quarter amounted to 6.22 billion dirhams through 3,890 real estate transactions. An increase of 12% compared to the same period last year. The trading volume reached 4.24 billion dirhams through 3,128 trading transactions.
This accelerated performance across the UAE reflects market flexibility and the sector’s ability to overcome regional changes, supported by the vision of a wise leadership and a balanced economic approach that enhances confidence and stability across various economic sectors.
In the same context, the continued pace of launching new projects and the continuation of construction work without interruption embodied the dynamism of the real estate markets in the Emirates.
The first quarter of 2026 witnessed the launch of many residential and commercial projects at an accelerated pace, such as the “Golf Valley” project of “Emaar Properties”, which includes 262 diverse residential units, while “National Real Estate” announced the launch of a new commercial tower in Barsha Heights worth 500 million dirhams.
