The UAE property market recorded broad-based expansion across all major emirates during H1 2026, with Abu Dhabi transaction values more than doubling y/y, state media WAM reported.

Abu Dhabi led on growth, with total transaction value reaching approximately AED 117bn in H1 2026, up 112% y/y. Transaction volumes rose by 61.7%

Sales activity accounted for AED 86.1bn across 16,838 transactions, a 163.7% y/y increase, while mortgage transactions totalled AED 26.7bn.

Foreign direct investment into Abu Dhabi property reached AED 13.8bn, up 309% y/y and exceeding the full-year 2025 total, drawn from 116 non-resident investor nationalities. Investment zones attracted around AED 75bn.

Residential unit sales in the emirate totalled AED 70.4bn, with off-plan properties representing 89% of sales value and 82% of transaction volume, according to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre. Resale prices rose 20% for apartments and 12% for villas, while active residential lease contracts numbered approximately 233,000, worth AED 9.3bn, an 8% y/y increase.

Dubai project completions rose 52% by value, as regulatory reform and widening foreign participation deepened the investor base.

Dubai completed 104 projects worth more than AED 111bn, against 75 projects valued at AED 73bn a year earlier. New unit deliveries rose 36% to 24,537, and completed built area grew 23.4% to 1.95mn sqm. Land allocation costs jumped 135% y/y to AED 19.46bn.

Sharjah recorded AED 29.5bn across 59,460 transactions, up 9.3% and 23.7% respectively, attracting investors from 121 nationalities. Ajman logged 6,815 transactions worth over AED 10.8bn, while Ras Al Khaimah recorded approximately AED 2.89bn.

The sector enters H2 2026 with momentum underpinned by off-plan demand and an expanding foreign capital base, though the concentration of Abu Dhabi sales in off-plan product introduces delivery risk that will test developer execution over the coming cycles.