Dubai, UAE – The UAE real estate sector continued its strong performance during the first half of 2026. Supported by growing investment demand, expanding development activity, and a diversified investor base. In addition to the continued development of regulatory and legislative frameworks that have enhanced the attractiveness of the country’s real estate markets.
The UAE real estate sector entered the second half of this year based on a strong base of local and international demand, the diversity of real estate products, and the growth of new projects. The increase in foreign investment and the expansion of the base of participating nationalities reflected continued confidence in the UAE market. And its ability to attract long-term capital.
Data announced by real estate agencies showed strong levels of real estate activity in a number of the country’s emirates during the period from January to the end of June 2026.
Dubai
During the first half of 2026, Dubai’s real estate sector witnessed the completion of 104 real estate projects with a total investment value exceeding AED 111 billion. Compared to 75 projects worth AED 73 billion during the corresponding period in 2025, with a growth of 38.7% in the number of projects and 52% in their value.
The number of new real estate units also increased to 24,537 thousand units. An increase of more than 36%. The completed and ready-to-deliver construction areas achieved a growth rate exceeding 23.4%. To reach 1.95 million square meters, compared to 1.58 million square meters during the same period last year.
The cost of land allocated for projects jumped by more than 135% to reach 19.46 billion dirhams. Compared to 8.27 billion dirhams during the corresponding period in 2025. The area of land allocated for completed projects has doubled to approximately one million square meters, compared to 484,000 square meters during the first half of last year.
This performance consolidates the strength of Dubai’s real estate sector, and its importance is a fundamental pillar in the emirate’s sustainable economic diversification process. These figures also confirm the sector’s position as a safe and attractive destination for investors from all over the world.
Abu Dhabi
The total value of real estate transactions during the first half of the year amounted to approximately 117 billion dirhams. With a growth of 112% compared to the same period in 2025, the number of transactions increased by 61.7%.
Sales transactions led real estate activity with a value of 86.1 billion dirhams through 16,838 transactions, a growth of 163.7%. While mortgage transactions amounted to 26.7 billion dirhams.
Foreign direct investment in Abu Dhabi real estate amounted to approximately AED 13.8 billion during the first six months of 2026. An increase of 309%, exceeding the total achieved during the whole of 2025.
The number of nationalities of non-resident foreign investors also increased to 116. While investment zones attracted about 75 billion dirhams in investments.
The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Center report for the first half of this year indicated that the value of residential unit sales amounted to 70.4 billion dirhams. While real estate on the map accounted for 89% of the sales value and 82% of the total number of deals.
Resale prices increased by 20% for apartments and 12% for villas, while the number of valid residential leases reached approximately 233,000. The total value of lease contracts reached AED 9.3 billion, an annual increase of 8%.
Sharjah
The value of real estate transactions amounted to about 29.5 billion dirhams during the first half of 2026, a growth of 9.3%. The number of transactions increased to 59,460, an increase of 23.7%.
Residential properties accounted for the largest share of sales transactions, recording 13,501 transactions. The value of mortgage transactions amounted to 7.6 billion dirhams.
The real estate sector in Sharjah attracted investors from 121 nationalities, and citizens’ investments amounted to about 14.9 billion dirhams. While Arab investments recorded about five billion dirhams, investments by other nationalities amounted to about 8.2 billion dirhams.
11 new real estate projects were also registered during the same period.
Ajman
In turn, the real estate sector in Ajman recorded 6,815 real estate transactions worth more than 10.8 billion dirhams. Of these, 7.64 billion dirhams are the value of trading transactions and 1.88 billion dirhams are mortgage transactions. Reflecting the continued diversity of real estate activity and the expansion of investment opportunities in the emirate.
Ras Al Khaimah
The value of real estate transactions during the period from January to June amounted to approximately 2.89 billion dirhams. It was distributed between AED 1.353 billion for sales through 1,274 transactions, and AED 1.160 billion for mortgages through 463 transactions. In addition to about 380 million dirhams for real estate concessions.
