The UAE real estate sector/ record performance during 2026 consolidates the confidence of local and international investors

Abu Dhabi, April 20 / WAM / The performance of the real estate sector in the UAE during the first quarter of 2026 showed record activity, and indicators of the confidence of local and foreign investors in the stability of the local market and its ability to adapt to changes in a way that ensures continued growth and achieves meaningful gains in the medium and long term.

The real estate markets in the UAE witnessed remarkable growth during the first three months of the year 2026, as 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.

In Dubai, the Land Department showed continued strong activity in the real estate market with 718,160 real estate transactions recorded, including 60,303 transactions, a growth of 6% compared to the same period in 2025.

The total value of transactions rose to 252 billion dirhams, achieving an increase of 31%, while the number of investments recorded 57,744 investments, an increase of 7% over the previous year, with a value of 173 billion dirhams. The investor base also witnessed a noticeable 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 recorded the highest quarterly performance in the history of the emirate, with real estate transactions growing by 160.7%, bringing the total value to 66 billion dirhams, compared to 25.31 billion dirhams during the same period of the previous year, according to data from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Center (ADREC).

More than 13,518 transactions were carried out, compared to 6,896 transactions during the first quarter of 2025, which reflects the acceleration of the pace of growth and the consolidation of Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional and global investment center.

The volume of real estate transactions in the Emirate of Sharjah during the first quarter of 2026 amounted to “18.5 billion dirhams,” compared to 13.2 billion dirhams during the same period in 2025, with a growth rate of 40.7%.

The Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department revealed that the total number of real estate transactions carried out during the same period increased to 29,235 transactions, with a growth rate of 18.9% compared to the previous year.

The department noted the noticeable increase in the diversity of nationalities investing in the real estate sector, as the number of nationalities investing reached 113 nationalities, compared to 97 nationalities during the year 2025.

The investments of UAE citizens of the total cash circulation amounted to about 9 billion dirhams, representing 10,099 properties, while the value of investments of citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Arab citizens, and citizens of other countries amounted to about 9.5 billion dirhams, representing 19,136 properties.

As for 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, while the trading volume reached 4.24 billion dirhams through 3,128 trading transactions.

This accelerating performance in the entire UAE reflects the flexibility of the market and the sector’s ability to overcome regional changes, supported by the vision of the wise leadership and a balanced economic approach that enhances confidence and stability in various economic sectors.

In the same context, the continued pace of launching new projects and the continuation of construction work without interruption embody 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 “Gulf Valley” project by “Emaar Properties”, which includes 262 various residential units, while “National Properties” announced the launch of a new commercial tower in Barsha Heights worth 500 million dirhams.

In turn, Aldar Properties Group launched last February the “Baccarat Residences Saadiyat” residential project, and “Modon” launched the “Tara Park” project on Reem Island, while Ohana Real Estate Development Company indicated the strong demand for the “Manchester City Yas Residences” project, which achieved strong sales that reached about 6 billion dirhams within 72 hours.

In parallel, housing projects for citizens in the UAE achieved an ideal start during the first quarter of 2026, as the Emirate of Abu Dhabi announced the disbursement of a housing benefits package to citizens in the emirate, with a total value of 4.21 billion dirhams, from which 2,652 male and female citizens benefited.

The benefits package announced by Abu Dhabi varied between housing loans and grants of ready-made housing, in addition to grants of residential lands.

For its part, the Emirate of Dubai has allocated 4,631 residential plots of land to citizens, worth 5.3 billion dirhams, extending over an area of ​​more than 71 million square feet in the areas of Al Ayyas, Latifa City, and Mushrif, as part of the housing packages for citizens in the Emirate of Dubai.

In Sharjah, the Executive Council of the Emirate of Sharjah approved the first batch of 2026 beneficiaries of residential and investment lands, amounting to 1,200 beneficiaries, distributed across all cities and regions of the Emirate of Sharjah. The number of beneficiaries of residential lands reached 490, while the number of beneficiaries of investment lands reached 710 beneficiaries.

During the first quarter of this year, the Sheikh Zayed Housing Program issued 759 housing approvals with a total value exceeding 616 million dirhams, distributed among decisions on housing grants and benefits, and housing loans and financing in partnership with national banks, in addition to loan decisions for government housing within residential complexes.

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