The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announced on June 17, 2026, that first-quarter development approvals reached 20.8 million square meters of gross floor area, up from 17.7 million square meters in Q1 2025, signaling accelerating momentum in Abu Dhabi’s construction pipeline.
New permit requests rose to 5,096, up 14% year-on-year, reflecting fresh demand from developers initiating new projects across residential, commercial, and mixed-use segments.
Work start notices — issued when approved projects break ground — climbed to 3,244, a 14.3% increase, while inspection requests surged 24.5% to 34,391, indicating high levels of on-site construction activity across the emirate.
“These figures demonstrate the continued strength and resilience of Abu Dhabi’s development market. The growth we are seeing across approvals, project starts, and on-site activity reflects the confidence investors and developers place in the emirate as a stable, forward-looking destination for long-term capital,” said His Excellency Eng. Abdulla Mohamed Al Blooshi, Director General of the Urban Planning & Permits Centre at DMT.
The Q1 performance builds on sustained momentum from 2025, when DMT approved 75 million square meters of gross floor area, a 137% year-on-year increase, with over 11,000 building permits issued across housing, manufacturing, technology, and hospitality sectors.
Housing initiatives represented the largest share of development approvals, with nearly 190,000 residential units planned across new and existing neighborhoods. These include more than 158,000 market units and approximately 30,000 homes dedicated to UAE Nationals, supported by an extensive network of community amenities, including schools, healthcare facilities, community majlis, and retail destinations.
“This sustained momentum reinforces the belief investors have in our vision for the future and underscores the effectiveness of the regulatory and service environment we have built to enable the emirate’s continued urban transformation,” Al Blooshi added.
The surge in development approvals comes as Abu Dhabi positions itself for long-term growth, with the emirate’s population projected to reach six million by 2040. Recent government initiatives, including a Dh55 billion public-private partnership pipeline covering 24 infrastructure projects and a housing benefits package worth AED1.54 billion, underscore the emirate’s commitment to supporting residential and commercial expansion.
The emirate’s property sector has also benefited from rent stabilization measures introduced earlier this month, aimed at maintaining housing affordability amid growing demand and double-digit rent increases in some segments.