Source: ADREC, 18 August 2026
The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) has published the emirate's official rent figures for the first half of 2026 in the Residential Leases section of its H1 2026 Real Estate Market Report, released on 18 August 2026. The figures come from lease contracts registered up to 30 June 2026, so they show what tenants actually signed, not advertised asking rents.
The headline numbers
- 233,000 active residential lease contracts across the emirate, 201,000 of them in Abu Dhabi Region.
- AED 9.3 billion in total residential lease value, up 8% year on year, while the number of contracts grew 2%.
- 69% of occupied homes in Abu Dhabi Region are rented.
New-lease prices by home type
ADREC's lease index follows the rent of the same units from one contract to the next. New-lease prices in Abu Dhabi Region, year on year to H1 2026:
| Home type | All zones | Investment zones |
|---|
| Apartments | +17% | +21% |
| Villas and townhouses | +9% | +16% |
Monthly growth in new-lease prices peaked at about 1.6% in December and January. In June, the first month under the temporary rent freeze, ADREC reports that new-lease price growth eased to 0.5% for apartments while villas held flat. In the report, ADREC's Director General cautions that one month is not a trend.
Where the rent is earned
In Abu Dhabi Region, 15 major districts made up 86% of the lease market over the last 12 months. Five districts produced 58% of apartment lease value: Al Danah, Al Reem Island, Al Zahiyah, Al Raha and Mohamed Bin Zayed City. Five produced 51% of villa and townhouse lease value: Khalifa City, Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Yas Island, Al Saadiyat Island and Al Muntazah. Villas bring in 26% of the region's lease value from just 14% of occupied units.
For a single area, ADREC's Interactive Map carries the official rental index with indicative rents. ADREC states that the index is a general guide built from aggregate data and is not a legal reference for the exact rent of any unit.
What it means for owners
Registered rents rose in the year to June 2026, but while the temporary 0% measure lasts, renewals and re-lets outside ADGM communities stay at the last registered Tawtheeq rent.
Before you renew, re-let or sell, compare your rent with ADREC's figures for your district, not with advertised asking rents.
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Disclaimer: Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute real estate, legal, or financial advice. Property details, prices, and market data are subject to change. Always seek professional guidance before making any property decision.
