Abu Dhabi Off-Plan Resales Surge 56% In Q2 As Buyers Target Projects Nearing Handover
The latest market data reports from Crompton Partners reveal that Abu Dhabi’s residential property market saw a marked shift in activity during the second quarter of 2026. The city’s off-plan (property bought before it is completed) secondary transactions rose by approximately 56 percent from Q1 as buyers increasingly targeted specific projects approaching completion.
The company’s latest Q2 2026 Off-Plan Secondary Market Report recorded 883 transactions across 25,422 active off-plan units, compared with 567 transactions in Q1.
Yas Island – Abu Dhabi’s entertainment, leisure and residential hub – remained the centre of off-plan secondary activity, accounting for 366 transactions; more than 40 percent of the total recorded during the quarter. Yas Island Apartments generated 245 transactions, while North Yas recorded a further 121.
Yas Island’s Gardenia district was the single busiest project, with 156 transactions during Q2, while some of the strongest turnover rates were recorded in developments approaching or moving towards handover. Sustainable City led the market with an annual turnover rate of 18.8 percent, followed by Yas Golf Collection at 17.9 percent, Reem Eleven at 16.1 percent and Manarat Living 1 at 15.4 percent.
Ben Crompton, Managing Partner of Crompton Partners, said: “The most interesting change this quarter is a distinct acceleration in the off-plan secondary market. Buyers are becoming much more specific about what they want, and we are seeing particularly strong liquidity in well-priced projects where completion is visible and buyers can see clearly what they are purchasing.”
“This is increasingly a project-by-project market, rather than one where an investor can simply choose an area and expect everything within it to perform in the same way. Handover timing, product, price point and the depth of the resale market all matter.”
“At the same time, the built market is giving us another important signal. Transaction numbers have moderated from the first quarter, but prices across many established communities are still showing substantial annual gains. That tells us demand has not disappeared. It is becoming more selective.”
Meanwhile, across the six key areas covered by Crompton Partners’ latest Secondary Market Transaction Report, some 483 properties changed hands for a combined AED 1.25 billion during Q2 2026.
High-rise residential and commercial zone, Reem Island, remained the most active established residential market, recording 223 transactions worth AED 399.3 million, accounting for almost half of all the transactions covered in the report.
Price growth on Reem was also broad-based. Average prices per square metre increased year on year by 33.6 percent at Sun Sky Gate, 27.1 percent in Najmat, 25.7 percent at Marina Square, 20.2 percent in City of Lights and 19.8 percent across Shams Reem Island.
Al Reef district also emerged as one of the quarter’s strongest performers, with 108 transactions worth AED 183.7 million. Al Reef Villas 2 recorded a 59.3 percent annual increase in average prices and the fastest annualised turnover rate in the built market report, at 12.56 percent. Al Reef Apartments rose 40.2 percent year on year.
On Yas Island, Yas Acres recorded a 57.6 percent annual increase in average prices, while Water’s Edge rose 32 percent and Noya 29.2 percent.
The capital city’s cultural, luxury and beachfront destination, Saadiyat Island, continued to stand apart from the wider market in terms of transaction values.
Just 13 transactions generated a massive AED 273.6 million during Q2, with HIDD alone accounting for AED 205.5 million across six sales.
Mamsha remained the highest-priced community tracked by Crompton Partners at AED 57,365 per sqm, while Saadiyat Beach Villas recorded the largest year-on-year price increase in the report, at 83.9 percent, although Ben Crompton cautions that percentage changes in very low-volume communities should be treated carefully.
Ben Crompton added: “Abu Dhabi is now demonstrating several different property markets operating at the same time. Reem remains the liquidity engine of the established apartment market, while Saadiyat continues to command exceptional values at the premium end. Al Reef is showing very strong price and transaction momentum, and Yas is dominating off-plan secondary activity.”
“For buyers and investors, the lesson is that broad market averages are becoming less useful. The important questions are increasingly about the individual community and project: how much stock is actually trading, who is buying it, how close it is to completion and are prices being supported by genuine liquidity?”
The off-plan data also points to growing activity beyond Abu Dhabi’s traditional island communities. The Abu Dhabi outskirts recorded 235 transactions during Q2, led by Al Reeman with 148 sales and Bloom Living with 80, highlighting continued demand for family-oriented communities at more accessible price points.
Saadiyat’s off-plan market is also developing as projects move closer to delivery. Saadiyat Cultural District recorded 97 secondary transactions during the quarter, while Saadiyat South recorded 139.
Crompton Partners publishes its market reports quarterly to give buyers, investors, sellers and landlords a uniquely detailed view of Abu Dhabi property performance at community and project level, including transaction activity, pricing, turnover and resale liquidity.
Crompton Partners’ Q2 2026 Off-Plan Secondary Market Report is available to download here: https://cromptonpartners.com/resources/cromptons-q2-2026-off-plan-secondary-market-report
While its Q2 2026 Abu Dhabi Secondary Market Report can be downloaded here: https://cromptonpartners.com/resources/cromptons-q2-2026-abu-dhabi-secondary-market-report
