Abu Dhabi’s rising property transactions provide the backdrop for developers and international brokers gathering at IREIS 2026.
Abu Dhabi: Against the backdrop of record growth in Abu Dhabi’s property market, the International Real Estate and Investment Show (IREIS) 2026 brought UAE developers together with international brokers and investors at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), highlighting opportunities in the capital’s real estate sector.
The three-day exhibition and conference was inaugurated by Amer Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Vertix Holdings, alongside Khalifa Al Qubaisi, Chief Commercial Officer of ADNEC Centre.
“Abu Dhabi’s real estate market is growing rapidly, thanks to the leadership’s vision, the stability it has created and strong investment in infrastructure. This is drawing more and more foreign investors to the emirate,” Al Ahbabi said.
Arun Bose, Director of IREIS, highlighted the growth of the UAE’s property sector and the role of international exhibitions in connecting developers, brokers and investors.
He pointed to growing interest in Abu Dhabi’s waterfront developments, particularly on Saadiyat Island, Reem Island and Hudayriyat Island.
Bose said registrations through visitor campaigns also give organisers valuable insights into prospective investors’ preferred emirates, budgets and countries of origin.
From coffee pot to cityscape
One of the concepts attracting attention on the sidelines of the exhibition was a proposed UAE cultural landmark and master-planned city presented by Edgar Gerson, architect, founder and president of De Sousa Holdings.
Describing it as a vision for a city of the future inspired by the nation’s heritage, Gerson said the concept draws inspiration from the traditional Arabic coffee pot, or dallah, depicted on the UAE’s one-dirham coin.
The coffee pot would form the centrepiece of the masterplan, surrounded by seven coffee cups representing the UAE’s seven emirates.
The proposed development is designed to accommodate 1.2 million people within the project and support around 300,000 people outside it.
Gerson said the road network would be designed to ease traffic congestion, while belts sloped at one degree would channel water towards underground drainage systems and a reservoir for water harvesting.
The masterplan is structured like a clock, featuring 12 radial roads, three belts and four dedicated roads leading to the centre. According to Gerson, the layout would simplify navigation and allow residents to reach the central area within seven to 10 minutes.
The proposed city would also prioritise electric vehicles, integrated waste recycling, upgraded utilities and a unified, credit-based public transport system.
Gerson described the concept as a tribute to the UAE, saying the project would ultimately belong to the government. He expressed hope that it could become a national treasure.
Developers eye wider UAE markets
Among the exhibitors were Al Rasikhoon Real Estate, Samana Developers, Ajman-based Aqaar and international real estate agencies, reflecting the wider interest in investment opportunities across the UAE.
Sunil Nair, Vice President at Samana, said the developer’s participation in IREIS was aimed at expanding its presence in Abu Dhabi and building connections with local channel partners and investors.
“Our goal is to build our presence in Abu Dhabi, connect with local channel partners and investors, and work towards future projects in the market,” he said.
Discussing current market trends, Nair said buyers were increasingly focused on value, payment plans and potential returns, while some were also seeking exclusive living experiences.
He added that Abu Dhabi-based investors were exploring opportunities across several UAE property markets, including Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.
Al Rasikhoon shared a similar assessment of growing interest in the northern emirates.
“People here want to explore the northern side of the emirates. Sharjah is booming thanks to the upcoming Fujairah port,” said Qadar Ashfaq Shaik, Sales Relationship Manager at Dubai-based Al Rasikhoon Real Estate.
“We provide land or plots where clients can build industrial factories or residential units, particularly in Sharjah. Industries ranging from textiles to automobiles are looking to relocate to areas with easy access to ports,” he said.
Visitors explore networking opportunities
Among the visitors exploring the exhibition was Bhavya Kamath of Husby Mortgages, who described Abu Dhabi as an emerging market with growing opportunities for businesses in the mortgage sector.
“Abu Dhabi is an up-and-coming market. We are in the mortgage business, and our main sources of leads are developers and real estate agencies. The average ticket size in the region is much higher for our sector,” she said.
Her colleague, Mounika Girmaji, highlighted the networking opportunities offered by the exhibition.
“We had very good interactions with everyone here,” she said, adding that the event provided opportunities to connect with potential clients from across the region compared with other exhibitions of its kind.
For Marcelo De Menezes Motta, a Global Real Estate Advisor, the exhibition offered an opportunity to gain a better understanding of upcoming developments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“My idea is to be able to network with developers in one place and find out about new projects,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nathalya Musa, a real estate advisor specialising in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, described the market as cautious but active. She said she was keen to gain broader insights from industry experts to strengthen her understanding of emerging market trends.
Abu Dhabi strengthens its investment appeal
Abu Dhabi has been recognised as the world’s most improved market in JLL’s 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index, recording the largest improvement among the markets assessed.
The emirate climbed eight places, from 41st in 2024 to 33rd globally in 2026, with a score of 2.42. The improvement also marked Abu Dhabi’s move from the ‘Semi-Transparent’ to the ‘Transparent’ category, placing it second in the MENA region.
Bose expressed optimism about the UAE property market, forecasting significant growth in 2027 and 2028, with off-plan developments offering particular potential.
He also pointed to expansion in the hospitality sector, noting growing interest from new international hotel brands.
International partnerships and collaborations, he said, could further promote UAE property projects to investors in markets such as the UK, US, Singapore and Malaysia, among others.
