Abu Dhabi Approves 43.6 Million Sq M of Development Capacity in H1 2026
Development approvals rise 40% as Abu Dhabi issues 4,730 new building permits
Abu Dhabi approved 43.6 million square metres of gross floor area (GFA) across development projects and master plans during the first half of 2026, according to the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT).
The approved development capacity was 40% higher than in the same period of 2025, representing an additional 12.46 million square metres. The approvals provide a framework for future development, including residential communities, public facilities, transport networks and supporting infrastructure.
The figure refers to development capacity approved within projects and master plans. It does not mean that 43.6 million square metres of new buildings were completed or delivered to the market during the first six months of the year.
Building permits and engineering activity
During H1 2026, Abu Dhabi issued 4,730 new building permits, representing a 0.9% increase compared with the same period a year earlier.
The Urban Planning and Permits Centre also registered and licensed 4,574 new engineers during the period. This took the total number of engineers registered and licensed with the department to 10,280.
The initial rollout of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) system also covered 119 transactions during the first half of the year. The system is intended to improve engineering reviews and coordination between authorities, developers and consultants.
Infrastructure approvals expand alongside development
Development-related infrastructure services increased to 22,035 during H1 2026, up 31.5% year on year.
These services covered areas such as utility corridors, residential connections, parking facilities, pedestrian pavements, building entrances, road projects and no-objection certificates. The increase highlights the infrastructure work being processed alongside Abu Dhabi's wider development pipeline.
More inspections and faster field processing
The department completed 54,852 technical site inspection requests during the first half of 2026, an increase of 9.9% from the previous year.
It also completed 15,375 transactions within 24 hours out of 18,777 survey transactions and field visits, equivalent to nearly 82% of the total.
The latest figures follow substantial development activity recorded in Abu Dhabi during 2025. DMT previously reported that nearly 75 million square metres of GFA had been approved across the emirate during 2025, a 137% increase from the previous year.
The H1 2026 results therefore point to continued activity in Abu Dhabi's urban development pipeline, with approvals covering future projects as well as the infrastructure and regulatory processes required to support new communities.
