Al Reem Island accounted for nearly half of Abu Dhabi's off-plan apartment transactions during Summer 2026, as expanding residential supply, amenities and integration with the capital's financial district strengthen buyer activity.
September 11, 2026 | Palak Kataria | UAE | Real Estate | 4 Min Read
Image Courtesy: MERED analysis
Al Reem Island is taking a larger share of Abu Dhabi's off-plan residential market, with new analysis showing that almost every second off-plan apartment transaction in the capital during Summer 2026 took place on the island.
According to proprietary market analysis by MERED, 1,291 of Abu Dhabi's 2,658 off-plan apartment transactions during the summer were recorded on Al Reem Island, giving the district a 49% share.
The numbers highlight how the island's residential market has expanded alongside its wider evolution into a mixed-use district combining homes, offices, retail, schools and leisure amenities.
The growth becomes particularly visible when compared with 2024.
Approximately 139,000 sqm of off-plan apartments were sold on Al Reem Island during Summer 2026, compared with around 34,000 sqm during the same period in 2024; representing a more than fourfold increase in two years.
Across Abu Dhabi as a whole, around 308,000 sqm of off-plan apartments changed hands during Summer 2026, 2.4 times the volume recorded in Summer 2024. Al Reem Island represented approximately 45% of the total area sold.
Prices have moved higher alongside transaction activity. MERED's analysis puts the average transacted price for off-plan apartments across Abu Dhabi at approximately US$7,070 per sqm in Summer 2026, up 28% from Summer 2024.
Together, these figures point to a residential market where both transaction volumes and values have expanded over the past two years.
Al Reem Island's appeal is also being shaped by what now surrounds its residential developments.
Reem Central Park provides waterfront and outdoor recreation space, including a four-kilometre promenade, while schools, restaurants and everyday services have expanded across the island. Reem Mall and Shams Boutik add retail and leisure options, with Al Maryah Island and central Abu Dhabi nearby.
Another important change has been Al Reem's integration into Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
The UAE Cabinet expanded ADGM's jurisdiction to include Al Reem Island in 2023, alongside Al Maryah Island. The integration was completed at the end of 2024, and by February 2025 more than 1,100 businesses on Al Reem were operating under ADGM's jurisdiction, according to the supplied analysis.
That connection between a growing residential district and Abu Dhabi's financial centre adds another dimension to Al Reem's development, bringing homes, employment, lifestyle infrastructure and commercial activity into closer proximity.
Al Reem's performance sits within a broader expansion of Abu Dhabi's off-plan sector.
Data cited from the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) shows that off-plan transactions represented 82% of residential deals and 89% of residential sales value across Abu Dhabi during the first half of 2026.
For developers, this level of activity also raises expectations around what new projects need to offer.
MERED Project Director Artemiy Marinin said buyers are increasingly considering factors such as layouts, construction quality, amenities, day-to-day functionality and longer-term relevance when evaluating residential projects.
That shift is important for Al Reem Island. As the neighbourhood matures and its off-plan pipeline expands, competition is increasingly likely to centre not simply on bringing additional units to market, but on how effectively projects respond to changing expectations around design, quality and lifestyle.
The latest transaction figures indicate that Al Reem has already established a substantial position within Abu Dhabi's off-plan market. Its next phase will be shaped by how that residential momentum combines with the island's growing amenities, waterfront setting and increasingly important role within the capital's wider business landscape.
Source: MERED; Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC); supplied market analysis.
