The first half of 2026 was a tale of three markets. Dubai paused after two record-breaking years, as a regional conflict that erupted in March 2026 (missile and drone strikes tied to the Iran-Israel confrontation) triggered a sharp, temporary pullback in transaction activity, particularly in villas and secondary sales, before signs of recovery emerged by June.̉
Abu Dhabi, by contrast, had its strongest half-year on record, with sales transactions and value both surging, as the capital increasingly functioned as a safe haven within the UAE property market. The Northern Emirates continued their multi-year growth run largely undisturbed, led by Sharjah’s record-breaking momentum. Each market is examined in turn below.
