Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi’s real estate market reached an all-time high in the third quarter of 2025, recording one of its strongest performances to date with sales transactions and values hitting new peaks.
According to Property Finder’s Q3 Market Watch Digest for the year 2025, total sales in the capital surged 76% year-on-year to 7,154 deals, while the total value of transactions more than doubled to Dh25.3 billion, reflecting a 110% increase compared with the same period last year.
The researchers behind the report attributed this growth to the emirate’s structural market reforms, improved liquidity, and a sustained focus on long-term, master-planned communities that align with Abu Dhabi’s 2030 urban diversification and sustainability vision.
These projects have helped attract both domestic and international investors seeking stability and value growth, cementing the capital’s position as one of the region’s most resilient real estate markets.
Residential properties continued to dominate overall activity, accounting for 96% of all transactions. In total, 6,883 residential sales were recorded in the third quarter with a combined value of Dh23.3 billion, marking a 107% annual increase.
Property Finder said the results reflected both investor confidence and end-user demand, driven by a combination of sustainable planning and new community developments that are reshaping the capital’s housing landscape.
The off-plan segment was the standout performer, making up nearly three-quarters of Abu Dhabi’s total transactions in Q3. Off-plan sales accounted for 73% of all deals and 68% of total value, reaching Dh17.3 billion - a remarkable 136 per cent year-on-year rise. Nearly all of this at 99% came from residential projects, confirming a clear buyer preference for newly launched developments.
Two major destinations were pivotal to this off-plan boom: Fahid Island by Aldar Properties and Al Hudayriyat Island by Modon. These two projects together represented around 30% of all off-plan residential transaction value in the quarter, underscoring the growing appetite for large-scale, master-planned communities.
In terms of property types, off-plan apartments saw an extraordinary 276% increase in transaction value and a 198% rise in sales volume, indicating growing confidence in vertical, high-density developments.
Off-plan villas and duplexes also saw strong momentum, with villa values rising 68% and duplexes registering a record 424% increase in value and 255% in volume – evidence of rising interest in mid-luxury hybrid homes.
The ready or secondary market also showed impressive resilience and growth. Total ready property transactions were valued at Dh8 billion, up 71% year-on-year, across 1,940 deals. Within this segment, residential ready sales reached Dh6.1 billion, reflecting a 56% jump in value and a 15% increase in transaction numbers compared with the same quarter last year. Analysts noted that the steady absorption of ready properties demonstrated strong end-user demand despite the persistence of higher mortgage rates.
Among the leading communities, Al Reem Island and Al Raha Beach topped activity levels thanks to their abundant, move-in-ready apartment stock. Al Reef continued to attract mid-income, family-oriented buyers, while Saadiyat Island’s luxury villa market lifted overall averages through high-value transactions.
Cherif Sleiman, Chief Revenue Officer at Property Finder, said the record-breaking performance underscored the capital’s growing maturity and long-term investment appeal. “Abu Dhabi is setting new benchmarks with sustainable, master-planned communities that are clearly resonating with buyers,” he said.
The report also offered a comparative snapshot of Dubai’s performance, where the property market similarly achieved record highs. Dubai recorded 59,044 transactions in Q3 2025, a 17% year-on-year increase, with total sales value rising 19% to Dh169 billion.
