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Apartment prices in Abu Dhabi average AED 12,700 per square metre across the 7 areas covered here, up 6.0 per cent over the year, with annual rent averaging AED 800 per square metre. That city average conceals more than it shows: Khalifa City sits at the bottom of the range and Saadiyat Island at the top, a spread of roughly 2.3 times for the same unit type, which is why an area figure is the only usable one for a purchase decision. Gross rental yields run from 5.5 to 7.5 per cent, and they move inversely to price: the cheapest areas yield most, because rents compress less than capital values. 5 of the 7 areas are freehold, which for a foreign buyer in United Arab Emirates is the condition that comes before any price comparison. Figures are the June 2026 snapshot and are stated per square metre rather than per unit.

Disclaimer: All prices shown are market estimates based on published data sources. They do not represent official valuations or guaranteed transaction prices. This is not investment advice.

Abu Dhabi Property Price Trend

Estimated average property price per square metre trend for Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi Average Price per sqm (AED)

8 0809 34010 60011 86013 12020202021202220232024202520268 5009 00010 00010 80011 30012 00012 700

Estimated averages across all tracked areas. Not an official index. Data as of June 2026.

Abu Dhabi Areas Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of all tracked areas in Abu Dhabi.

Area Price/sqm (Buy) Price/sqm (Rent/yr) Gross Yield YoY Change
Saadiyat Island AED 18 000
(~€4 500)
AED 990
(~€248)
5.5% 8.0%
Corniche Area AED 15 000
(~€3 750)
AED 825
(~€206)
5.5% 6.0%
Yas Island AED 14 000
(~€3 500)
AED 910
(~€228)
6.5% 7.0%
Al Raha Beach AED 13 000
(~€3 250)
AED 780
(~€195)
6.0% 5.0%
Al Reem Island AED 12 000
(~€3 000)
AED 840
(~€210)
7.0% 6.0%
Masdar City AED 11 000
(~€2 750)
AED 770
(~€193)
7.0% 5.0%
Khalifa City AED 8 000
(~€2 000)
AED 600
(~€150)
7.5% 4.0%

All prices are estimates based on published data as of June 2026. Read full disclaimer.

About Abu Dhabi Real Estate

Abu Dhabi, the UAE's capital and largest emirate by area, offers a more measured property market compared to Dubai. The emirate expanded freehold rights for foreigners in 2019, opening investment zones across the island and surrounding developments. Abu Dhabi's market tends to exhibit lower volatility than Dubai's, with more gradual price movements.

Key residential areas include Al Reem Island (the most active investment zone for apartments), Saadiyat Island (luxury cultural district), Yas Island (entertainment-focused living), and Al Raha Beach. The emirate's economy is more diversified than often perceived, with growing technology, tourism, and financial services sectors complementing the traditional oil and gas base.

Property prices in Abu Dhabi generally sit below equivalent Dubai locations, offering potentially better value for residents who work in the capital. The 2% transfer fee (compared to Dubai's 4%) also reduces transaction costs.

Related Pages

Sources

Price estimates for Abu Dhabi are compiled from government transaction registries (where available), asking prices on major portals, and published reports from JLL, Knight Frank, CBRE, and ValuStrat. Rental data is based on listed rental prices and market reports.

Data as of June 2026. All prices are estimates, not official valuations. Read full disclaimer.

How to read the Abu Dhabi table

The figures above run from 18,000 per square metre in Saadiyat Island down to 8,000 in Khalifa City, and the first thing to do with that range is to stop using the average. No property is available at the city mean; every property is available in one of these areas, and the step between two adjacent rows is the comparison a buyer can act on. The table mixes waterfront, mixed-use and suburban areas, and a price per square metre only transfers between areas of the same type, so rows should be compared within a type before across it. 5 of the 7 areas are freehold, which for a foreign buyer decides which rows are even available: a leasehold row at an attractive price is not a cheaper version of a freehold one. Yields move against prices down the table, as they do in most urban markets, so the cheapest rows show the best gross return and the trade being made there is tenant depth and resale liquidity. Each figure carries the date it was collected, and the sources behind it are named on the area page it links to.

Abu Dhabi: frequently asked questions

What is the average property price in Abu Dhabi?

Across the neighbourhoods we track, property in Abu Dhabi averages about AED 12 700 (~€3 175) per square metre in 2026, which puts a 90 square metre apartment near AED 1 143 000 (~€285 750). The spread between the cheapest and the most expensive district is wide, so the city average is a starting point rather than a budget.

Which areas of Abu Dhabi offer the best rental yield?

The table above ranks every district by gross yield, and the pattern is consistent across Gulf cities: mid-priced residential areas outperform prime waterfront districts, because rents there rise roughly in line with the market while purchase prices carry a premium for capital growth. Expect one to two percentage points of difference between the two ends of the ranking.

Is it a good time to buy in Abu Dhabi?

Prices in Abu Dhabi have moved by 6.0% over the last twelve months. Timing a Gulf market on a single year is unreliable: handover waves and off-plan launches distort short-run averages. The more useful questions are how long you intend to hold, and whether the rent covers the service charges and financing in the meantime.

How much rent do properties in Abu Dhabi achieve?

Asking rents average around AED 800 (~€200) per square metre per year across the districts we cover, which is roughly AED 6 000 (~€1 500) a month for a 90 square metre apartment. Furnished units and short-term lets command more, at the cost of higher turnover and management time.

What costs come on top of the purchase price in Abu Dhabi?

Budget five to seven per cent of the price for transaction costs: land department or registration fees, agency commission of about two per cent, trustee and conveyancing charges, and mortgage arrangement fees where financing is used. Annual service charges then apply per square metre, and they vary enormously between an older tower and a recent development with extensive amenities.