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Emirates News Agency reported that combined apartment and villa sales across the UAE totalled AED 84.4 billion in the first six months of 2026, a 173.9 percent increase on the same period last year, while the number of transactions climbed 103 percent to 16,585 according to figures compiled by the ADXinteract platform. Dubai recorded sales exceeding AED 286 billion during the period, the second-highest first-half total after 2025’s AED 326.6 billion, with new project launches surpassing AED 275 billion to register the largest volume for any half-year. The performance reflected sustained economic expansion, supportive government policies and continued inflows of international capital that have underpinned the sector for several years.
A CBRE assessment released in April 2026 pointed to the sector’s strong underlying economic foundations and forecast a GDP rebound by 2027 that should further support real-estate activity. Knight Frank data separately placed Dubai at the top of global wealth-migration rankings while identifying the UAE as the fastest-growing destination worldwide for ultra-high-net-worth individuals. These inflows have coincided with population growth and infrastructure development that have expanded both residential and commercial demand across the main emirates.
W Capital Real Estate Broker figures cited by the agency showed that Dubai’s new-project launches in the first half set a record for the period, indicating developer confidence in continued absorption rates. Abu Dhabi’s market has exhibited similar resilience with transaction volumes and values advancing steadily through the same period, although at a lower absolute scale than its neighbour. The combined national totals underscore how investor appetite has remained elevated despite global economic uncertainties that have slowed activity in other regional markets.
Farhad Azizi, chairman of Azizi Developments, said the performance reinforces the UAE’s position as a key economic driver with a mature and resilient real-estate market and that positive momentum should continue through the remainder of the year. Hussein Salem of Ohana Development noted that the sector has entered a mature stage characterised by record transactions and more balanced growth between end-users and investors. Thomas Wan of Refine added that the market has demonstrated resilience with a clear focus on quality product that meets evolving buyer requirements.
Syed Mahrooz of Albagh Group described the first-half performance as strong and said participants are guided by a long-term vision that emphasises sustainable development across residential, commercial and mixed-use segments. A separate PwC Middle East review of GCC real-estate trends placed the UAE among the bloc’s most active reform environments, citing streamlined regulations and digital transaction platforms as factors that have lowered barriers for both domestic and foreign participants. The agency noted that these structural improvements have helped maintain transaction velocity even as average prices in prime districts have risen.
Historical Central Statistical Bureau data for the UAE show that annual transaction values have expanded in each of the past three full years, establishing a baseline against which the 2026 first-half surge can be measured. Industry executives expect the second half to build on current levels provided global liquidity conditions remain supportive and domestic economic diversification initiatives continue to attract new residents and businesses. The latest half-year aggregates therefore represent not only a short-term spike but also the latest data point in a multi-year expansion cycle.
