The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) approved 20.8 million square metres of gross floor area in the first quarter of 2026, a 17.3 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025.
The increase signals that developers are scaling up the size and ambition of projects coming to market in the emirate.
New permit requests rose to 5,096, up 14.0 per cent year-on-year, reflecting fresh demand from developers initiating new projects. Furthermore, work start notices — issued when approved projects break ground — climbed to 3,244, a 14.3 per cent increase, while inspection requests rose by 24.5 per cent, to 34,391, indicating high levels of on-site construction activity across the emirate.
His Excellency Eng. Abdulla Mohamed Al Blooshi, Director General of the Urban Planning & Permits Centre at DMT, said: “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. 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.”
The first quarter results build on the sustained momentum gained throughout 2025, during which the DMT approved 75 million square metres of gross floor area, marking a 137 per cent year-on-year increase. Last year, over 11,000 building permits were issued for key sectors including housing, manufacturing, technology, and hospitality among others.
