Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre highlights strong demand, growth through 2030

The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC), the custodian and regulator of Abu Dhabi's real estate sector, has released the latest Real Estate Market Report 2025 providing comprehensive analysis of supply and demand dynamics, pricing behaviour, investment patterns, and forward-looking projections that define the emirate’s evolving real estate landscape.

The report represents the latest iteration in a bi-annual series of comprehensive market analyses, positioning Abu Dhabi as a regional leader in data-driven decision making in real estate.

ADREC’s flagship report serves as the definitive source for transparent real estate insights, featuring market values reaching historic highs driven by sustained economic growth, robust population expansion of 7.5 per cent in 2024, and foreign investor confidence.

The report encompasses detailed supply and demand analytics, transaction performance metrics, geographic distribution patterns, and forward-looking projections through 2030.

"The report demonstrates Abu Dhabi's position as a global real estate destination of choice, with a sector defined not only by growth, but by stability, transparency, and long-term confidence," said Rashed Al Omaira, Director-General of ADREC. " The data confirms that demand fundamentals remain strong, supply expansion is disciplined, and price movement is occurring in an orderly and sustainable manner. These dynamics reflect the strength of Abu Dhabi’s economic foundation and the effectiveness of a regulatory framework designed to safeguard investors while enabling responsible development."

He added, "As we look towards 2030, continued planning discipline, advanced digital infrastructure, and strengthened governance will remain central to shaping a resilient real estate ecosystem that supports Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global destination to live, invest, and thrive.”

The 2025 transaction performance establishes new benchmarks for market activity, with total real estate values hitting Dhs142 billion, representing a remarkable 44 per cent acceleration from 2024 levels.

Real estate sales dominated market activity, accounting for a record-high Dhs93 billion and representing 66 per cent of total transacted value, signalling exceptional market health and transaction robustness.

Residential unit sales emerged as the primary growth driver, expanding from approximately Dhs19 billion in 2022 to Dhs76 billion in 2025, representing a fourfold increase driven by off-plan sales growth and master-planned community development.

The market's international appeal is demonstrated through foreign investment patterns, with resident expatriates and non-resident foreign investors driving 62 per cent of the total 2025 residential sales value. Top 10 developers capture 91 per cent of residential off-plan primary sales value, totalling Dhs50 billion, while the top 10 projects contributed 32 per cent of total sales at Dhs24 billion.

Abu Dhabi's real estate market establishes fundamental strength through sustained demand-supply imbalances across all sectors. The emirate's residential inventory reached 401,000 units in 2025, with occupied units growing at 6.6 per cent annually compared to supply growth of 2.8 per cent since 2022, creating conditions for accelerated price appreciation.

Apartment prices recorded their sharpest annual increase in recent years, with sale prices rising 19 per cent and new lease prices climbing 16 per cent between 2024 and 2025.

Villa performance mirrored this strength, with sales prices increasing 13 percent and rental yields demonstrating robust 14 per cent growth in investment zones. The market's structural health is evidenced by rental units comprising 71 per cent of total occupied units, driving strong rental yields across the emirate.

Future supply projections indicate continued momentum, with residential stock expected to grow 2.9 per cent annually through 2030, supported by 43,000 new units anticipated from investment zones where 98 per cent of new apartments will be delivered.

Abu Dhabi's commercial sectors demonstrate exceptional performance, with retail and office markets reaching multi-year occupancy highs driven by economic expansion and constrained supply growth. The retail sector achieved a total supply of 3.8 million square metres by 2025, with street retail and community malls forming the market backbone at 44 percent of total gross leasable area.

Overall retail occupancy surged to 94 per cent in 2025, reaching a five-year peak supported by demand growth outpacing 2.3 per cent annual supply increases, resulting in new lease prices accelerating 8 percent year-over-year.

Office market performance proved equally robust, with total supply reaching 3.4 million square metres and occupancy maintaining structural strength above 96 per cent.

Supply growth of less than 2 per cent compared to 2024, combined with 9 per cent job growth and 6.4 per cent expansion in professional roles, drove new office lease prices up 11 per cent in 2025.

 Yas Island emerged as the leading office destination, driving 20 percent of new supply between 2022 and 2025, highlighting geographic diversification within the emirate's commercial landscape.

ADREC's technological advancement of digital real estate services, including virtual transaction capabilities, enhanced analytical tools, and expanded market transparency, aligned with the Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025–2027.

Robust data methodologies, including price-range validation, transaction filtering, and geographic stratification, ensure analytical accuracy and support informed decision-making across the sector.

WAM