The Upsides · Market
Off-plan is not a niche of the Abu Dhabi market. In Q2 2026 it was the market: 84% of every residential sale in the emirate was an off-plan transaction. This page covers the transaction data, pricing, financing split, and the developer launches driving the volume.
| Metric | Q2 2026 figure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Off-plan transactions | 6,061 | +156% annually by volume, -4.0% quarterly |
| Share of all residential sales | 84% | Highest-share segment |
| Average off-plan price | AED 22,647 per sqm | +21.2% annually |
| Average ticket size | AED 4.4 million | +25.9% annually |
| Ready transactions (comparison) | Volume down 28.3% annually | -19% quarterly |
Ready-market volumes fell 28.3% year on year while off-plan volumes rose 156%. That divergence tells you where buyer conviction sits: in new launches with developer payment plans, not the resale market. The rising average ticket size, up 25.9% annually to AED 4.4 million, reflects developers' continued focus on high-end waterfront and branded residences rather than volume affordable product.
Financing data points the same direction. Abu Dhabi recorded 3,873 mortgage transactions in Q2 2026 against 1,661 cash purchases of ready property, with mortgage transaction value at AED 11.6 billion versus AED 8.9 billion in cash. With the US Federal Reserve holding rates at 3.5% to 3.75% through June 2026, financed buying has remained active alongside developer post-handover payment plans on off-plan releases.
Q2 2026 volume was fed by major new supply announcements. Aldar launched Yas Point, an AED 6 billion waterfront development on Yas Island with 1,600 branded residences, a five-star resort, and retail and leisure across 600,000 sqm. Sobha Realty entered Abu Dhabi with Sobha City in Al Bahia, an AED 40 billion development planned for 4,000 apartments, 2,500 villas, and 80 mansions, with a first phase targeted for late 2029. And on Saadiyat Island, Aldar's AED 100 billion Marsa Al Saadiyat master plan, launched 22 July 2026, opens its first residential sales in H2 2026 as the island's final development phase.
The Upsides briefs buyers on Aldar's active releases. See the full list of Abu Dhabi off-plan projects, the Marsa Al Saadiyat master plan, and The Canopies at Yas Point.
Questions
84% in Q2 2026, with 6,061 off-plan homes sold in the quarter.
Yes. Off-plan transaction volume rose 156% year on year in Q2 2026, while ready-market volume fell 28.3% over the same period.
AED 22,647 per sqm in Q2 2026, with an average transaction size of AED 4.4 million.
Recent launches include Aldar's Marsa Al Saadiyat on Saadiyat Island (AED 100 billion master plan) and Yas Point on Yas Island (AED 6 billion, 1,600 branded residences), plus Sobha City in Al Bahia (AED 40 billion).
Market data: ValuStrat Abu Dhabi Real Estate Review, Q2 2026.
Hot launch
Aldar Properties launched its landmark waterfront master plan on Saadiyat Island on 22 July 2026. Priority registration is open ahead of first residential sales expected in H2 2026. Its first villa release, Talay, is now revealed.
Hot launch · Saadiyat Island · July 2026
Beaches, marina neighbourhoods, and the closing chapter of the Saadiyat Island masterplan sit behind this release. Layouts, unit sizes, prices, and payment plans have not yet been released by Aldar. Register now so The Upsides can send release notices when chapters go live.
General information only, not investment advice. Prices, availability, specifications and charges are subject to change. The Upsides is a trading name of a licensed Abu Dhabi real estate brokerage holding authorised agency agreements with the respective developers for the projects referenced on this site (including Aldar Properties and Eagle Hills). This is not an official Aldar Properties PJSC or Eagle Hills website. Confirm details with us and licensed advisors before you commit. Forward-looking statements are subject to official confirmation by the relevant developer.
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