Christie’s International Real Estate has launched in Abu Dhabi, with Jackie Johns and Dinesh Chhatwani leading the new affiliate as the emirate’s luxury residential market expands.
August 27, 2026 | Palak Kataria | UAE | Brokers | 2 Min Read
Christie’s International Real Estate has expanded its UAE presence with the launch of Christie’s International Real Estate Abu Dhabi, bringing the luxury property network into a market that recorded AED117 billion in real estate transactions during the first half of 2026.
The new Abu Dhabi agency is owned by Jackie Johns and Dinesh Chhatwani, the team behind Christie’s International Real Estate Dubai and its operations in Ras Al Khaimah.
The timing places the expansion alongside a significant period for Abu Dhabi property. According to figures cited in the announcement, residential sales reached AED86.1 billion in H1 2026, while total real estate transaction value stood at AED117 billion.
That AED117 billion figure is also consistent with recently published Abu Dhabi real estate market data, adding broader context to the international brokerage’s decision to establish a presence in the capital.
For Christie’s, the move extends a UAE footprint that already covers Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. Johns and Chhatwani have used the network’s international referrals and its relationship with Christie’s auction house to work with buyers, investors and developers across the region.
Abu Dhabi also presents a sizeable luxury segment. Christie’s estimates that luxury properties across the emirate currently span approximately AED2 million to more than AED200 million, while branded residences have become increasingly visible within the upper end of the residential market.
Names including Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons and St. Regis are already represented in the emirate’s branded residential landscape.
Jackie Johns said the team views Abu Dhabi as a market with its own long-term fundamentals rather than simply an extension of Dubai’s property growth.
The launch also reflects the increasing attention Abu Dhabi is attracting from international real estate businesses as its residential pipeline, investment zones and luxury offering continue to expand.
For Christie’s International Real Estate, that creates an opportunity to establish a dedicated presence in the capital while connecting Abu Dhabi property with its wider international network.
Source(s): Christie’s International Real Estate; Christie’s International Real Estate Abu Dhabi State of the Market.
