Abu Dhabi’s residential real estate sector delivered its strongest first quarter on record this year, with AED38.1 billion ($10.4 billion) worth of sales across 8,100 transactions, said a top property consultancy, adding that Yas Island was in pole position for biggest jump in sales and rental prices.
Saudi Arabia's residential market recorded a sharp slowdown in activity during Q1 2026, with transaction volumes falling by 50% year-on-year, according to an analysis by global property consultancy, Knight Frank.
Qatar has issued a decision updating planning and architectural requirements for residential villas and palaces, introducing over 20 amendments aimed at providing homeowners with greater flexibility in residential development. It is aimed at improving the use of residential plots and accommodating the needs of its citizens.
Dubai's residential real estate market recorded more than 57,300 sales between January and April 2026, with transactions in the off-plan sector rising 3.3% year-on-year, says leading real estate advisory and property consultancy Cavendish Maxwell.
Drake & Scull International, in a strategic partnership with luxury developer Prestige One Developments, has officially started work on the Majan Project. Located in one of Dubai's fastest-growing districts, the Majan Project is set for completion in the first quarter of 2028.
Majid Al Futtaim, a leading mall developer and leisure pioneer in the region, has awarded the main construction contract worth over AED700 million ($191 million) for its prime residential community in Dubai - Distrikt Ghaf Woods - to Al Sahel Contracting, a part of the Al Nabooda Group.
Emaar Properties said it is in the process of exiting the JV structure relating to The Eighth Gate, its key mixed-use development in Damascus, thus marking a decisive new chapter in its long-standing relationship with Syria. With this move, the Dubai master developer will be operating in the country without any partner.
Leading Saudi developer Retal has secured a key contract from Oman for the development of an integrated residential community on a 1.3 million sq m area within Sultan Haitham City in Muscat. A $830 million project, it will boast over 2,000 residential units as well as other key amenities.
Dubai developer Esnaad has announced the handover of its residential project in Mohammed Bin Rashid City, marking a key milestone in its journey in the emirate’s real estate market. The project comprises a ground floor, five residential floors, and a rooftop, offering a total of 50 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Sanzen, a UAE-based real estate developer, has announced that it has broken ground on Sukoon, an AED1.5 billion ($408 million) residential development in Sharjah comprising 859 villas and townhouses across four phases. The Phase 1 work has been awarded to PTC, a UAE-based company with more than five decades of experience.
