Abu Dhabi’s property market — like Dubai’s — is still holding its ground despite the regional conflict. “We […] so far have observed a market that is pausing to take stock, not one that is under structural pressure,” Cavendish Maxwell’s Director of Business Development and Client Relations Zacky Sajjad tells EnterpriseAM UAE.

Abu Dhabi’s market fundamentals remain resilient, he said, with sellers holding their ground, and demand from end users and long-term investors continuing to support activity.

By the numbers: The emirate clocked AED 66 bn in real estate transactions in 1Q 2026, according to data from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Center, holding firm despite regional tensions. That’s up 160.7% y-o-y and 38.1% q-o-q, according to a press release (pdf).

Sales alone jumped to AED 49.1 bn, more than triple the AED 15.4 bn recorded a year earlier, while mortgages also rose to AED 15 bn, up 47.1%.

Even with everything that took place since late February, March’s data was roughly similar to January in terms of transaction volume, Sajjad tells us. But the standout month was February, he added, citing strong FDI and off-plan activity around hotspots like Hudayriyat Island. FDI reached AED 8.3 bn during the quarter.

Primary sales accounted for about 75% of activity versus 25% in the secondary market, broadly looking in line with the year's split, Head of Research at CBRE MENA Matthew Green tells EnterpriseAM UAE. The secondary market stayed firm on pricing, Sajjad added.

Off-plan transactions also accounted for more than 80% of the total, Sajjad said, adding that mid-market apartments are still driving market activity, even as luxury sales grab attention.

Residential units dominated the market, with AED 54.1 bn in transactions and AED 44 bn in sales, up 223.5% y-o-y.

Meanwhile, commercial real estate slightly cooled on a quarterly basis, with AED 476.4 mn in sales, down from a record 4Q that saw AED 1.4 bn in sales. On a y-o-y basis, however, the sector showed significant improvement, with sales nearly doubling.

IN CONTEXT- Abu Dhabi closed a record-breaking 2025 with AED 142 bn in total transactions — a 44% y-o-y jump that was helped in large by a surge in FDI (accounting for around AED 8.2 bn). By hitting AED 66 bn in the first three months of 2026, the market has already transacted nearly 46% of last year’s total value in just one quarter.

The leasing market is also showing signs of stability: The repeat lease price index recorded a 16% y-o-y increase, underscoring “continued demand from end users and investors,” the press release said.

Like Dubai, expect a cooldown ahead…

Activity will likely ease in April and May as transaction timelines lengthen and investors take a more cautious, wait-and-see approach, Green said.

Rising construction costs and logistical challenges could also lead to delays on some projects, depending on sourcing conditions, he added. But the largest developers are still signaling continuity, Sajjad said.

The supply-demand balance is still in place. Around 10k units are expected to be delivered in 2026, with a similar volume slated for 2027, before a more significant ramp-up in 2028-2029, Green said.

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