Abu Dhabi Residential Rental Market Records AED 9.3 Billion in Lease Value

Abu Dhabi's residential rental market demonstrated continued demand during the first half of 2026, supported by population growth, housing requirements and activity across established residential communities.

According to ADREC's H1 2026 Real Estate Market Report, the emirate recorded approximately 233,000 active residential lease contracts, representing a combined lease value of AED 9.3 billion.

Total lease values increased by 8% year-on-year, while the number of active contracts rose by 2%.

The report also highlighted changes in rental pricing, with new-lease prices increasing by 17% for apartments and 9% for villas. Within designated investment zones, new-lease prices increased by 21% for apartments and 16% for villas.

These figures reflect pricing trends in newly agreed leases rather than automatic increases for existing tenants, whose renewals remain subject to applicable rental regulations.

Looking ahead, Abu Dhabi's residential housing supply is projected to expand by approximately 71,000 units by 2030, with deliveries expected to peak in 2028.

For landlords and property investors, these trends highlight the importance of monitoring rental demand, location performance and future supply when evaluating long-term investment opportunities.