Abu Dhabi's residential real estate sector closed 2025 with a record-breaking AED 73.2 billion ($20 billion) in sales, according to new data from real estate advisory firm Cavendish Maxwell. The UAE capital recorded 22,400 residential property transactions during the year — a 55% surge year-on-year — reflecting strong demand from both investors and homebuyers.
The figures underline the continued growth of the Abu Dhabi property market, supported by rising investor confidence, new residential launches, and robust demand across key districts of the emirate.
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Off-plan properties dominate Abu Dhabi's real estate market
One of the main drivers behind the record performance of the Abu Dhabi real estate market in 2025 was the dominance of off-plan property sales.
Off-plan deals accounted for 71 percent of all transactions, with approximately 15,900 sales recorded during the year — a significant increase of 68 percent compared with 9,400 transactions in 2024.
Ready property sales also grew strongly, rising by 31 percent year-on-year, demonstrating healthy activity across both segments of the market.
Industry experts say the strong performance of both off-plan and ready properties indicates a balanced and sustainable property market that continues to attract domestic and international buyers.
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Abu Dhabi property prices continue to rise
Residential property prices across Abu Dhabi experienced strong growth throughout 2025.
Average apartment prices increased by more than 15 percent, accelerating from a 10.9 percent rise recorded in 2024. Meanwhile, villa prices climbed by around 12.2 percent.
Several key areas saw particularly strong price growth:
- Yas Island recorded the highest increase in apartment prices at 18 percent - Al Reem Island followed closely with a 17 percent increase
For villas, Yas Island and Saadiyat Island experienced price increases of 17 percent and 13 percent respectively.
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Rental prices climb across the emirate
Rental prices also rose across many residential districts in Abu Dhabi during 2025.
Average apartment rents climbed 12.5 percent year-on-year, with some areas recording significantly higher growth.
Yas Island saw the sharpest rise in rental prices, with apartment rents increasing by 23 percent. Other areas such as Al Reef and Al Reem Island recorded rental growth of around 15 percent, while Al Raha Beach saw a more moderate increase of 10 percent.
Villa rents rose more gradually, with an average increase of 5.5 percent across the emirate.
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Apartments dominate Abu Dhabi property transactions
Apartments accounted for the majority of property deals in 2025, representing 66 percent of all transactions.
A total of 14,800 apartment sales were recorded during the year, marking a 58 percent increase compared with 2024.
Off-plan apartments made up the largest share with 10,100 transactions, while the ready apartment market grew nearly 36 percent to reach 4,700 deals.
Villas and townhouses also experienced strong growth, with approximately 7,600 sales recorded in 2025 — an increase of nearly 50 percent compared with the previous year.
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Key property hotspots in Abu Dhabi
Several districts emerged as leading locations for residential property sales in 2025.
Al Reem Island remained the most active area for apartment transactions, recording around 5,100 deals — a 75 percent increase compared with 2024.
Other popular locations included:
- Yas Island with around 1,000 apartment transactions - Fahid Island, which emerged as a new property hotspot with 725 sales - Saadiyat Island, known for its luxury developments
Together, these four areas accounted for more than 75 percent of all apartment transactions across the emirate.
For villas and townhouses, top-performing locations included Al Bahyah, Al Hidayriyyat, Yas Island, Al Reem Island and Zayed City, which collectively represented more than 48 percent of all villa and townhouse sales.
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Aldar leads developer sales in Abu Dhabi
Among developers, Aldar Properties maintained its position as the leading real estate developer in Abu Dhabi for the second consecutive year.
The company completed 5,300 property sales, capturing a market share of just over 32 percent.
Other developers also saw significant growth. Modon recorded one of the largest increases, expanding from 485 sales in 2024 to 2,700 transactions in 2025, securing a market share of nearly 17 percent.
Meanwhile, Reportage Properties more than tripled its transaction volume, while Bloom Holding and Radiant Real Estate also maintained notable shares in the market.
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Strong development pipeline ahead for Abu Dhabi real estate
Abu Dhabi's residential supply continues to expand as new projects are delivered across the emirate.
Around 7,000 new homes were completed in 2025, bringing the total housing stock in Abu Dhabi to approximately 315,000 units.
Looking ahead, the development pipeline remains substantial:
- 15,900 homes expected in 2026 - 16,800 homes scheduled for completion in 2027 - 22,300 units planned for delivery in 2028
If completed as planned, this would increase the total housing supply to around 371,800 units by the end of 2028.
Analysts note that actual delivery numbers could be slightly lower based on previous construction timelines. Experts believe that a controlled pace of new supply could help maintain property price stability while supporting continued growth in the Abu Dhabi real estate market.
