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Abu Dhabi Real Estate Sees 125% Surge In FDI, Transactions Hit $26.19 Billion In 2024

The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Center (ADREC) has reported an impressive 125% year-on-year increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024, with the sector attracting over AED7.86 billion ($2.14 billion). A total of 2,302 investors from 105 countries, including the US, UK, Kazakhstan, Russia, France, and China, contributed to this surge.

Engineer Rashed Al Omaira, acting director general of ADREC, highlighted the significance of this surge, stating, “The rise in FDI demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s resilience and adaptability in a changing global economy. It underscores the emirate’s investment-friendly environment and world-class infrastructure that ensures sustainable growth.”

Real Estate Transactions Grow 24.2% In 2024

Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector saw a remarkable 24.2% rise in transactions last year. The market continues to thrive, positioning itself as an attractive destination for global investors. ADREC revealed that 28,249 transactions were completed in 2024, a 10.45% increase in total value, reaching AED96.2 billion ($26.19 billion). The sector included 16,735 sales transactions worth AED58.5 billion and 11,514 mortgage transactions valued at AED37.7 billion.

“The continuous growth of the real estate market reflects our strategy of ensuring stability,” said Al Omaira. “Abu Dhabi’s recognition among the top five global improvers in the 2024 Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI) by JLL reflects our commitment to transparency and trust in the sector.”

38 New Projects Launched In 2024

In line with its growth strategy, Abu Dhabi introduced 38 new real estate projects for off-plan sales and completed 12 major developments in 2024. These projects were carefully selected for their diverse offerings, innovative designs, and affordability, catering to a broad range of investors.

ADREC remains committed to enhancing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global investment hub, with initiatives focused on driving sustainable development and improving the quality of life for residents.

High ROI Areas In Abu Dhabi’s Real Estate

Several areas in Abu Dhabi’s real estate market stood out in 2024 for offering strong returns on investment (ROI), according to Bayut’s Abu Dhabi Annual Property Market Reports.

  • Al Reef provided the highest average ROI for budget-friendly apartments at 8.64%.
  • Al Ghadeer followed closely, with an 8.41% ROI for affordable apartments.
  • Yas Island was the top choice for luxury apartments, offering a 7.07% ROI.
  • Al Raha Beach also proved popular for high-end apartments with a 6.09% ROI.
  • For budget-friendly villas, Hydra Village led with an 8.09% ROI.
  • Al Ghadeer again offered a solid return of 6.53% in the affordable villa category.
  • Yas Island emerged as the top destination for luxury villas, with an ROI of 6.28%, closely followed by Al Raha Gardens with a 6.23% ROI.

Popular Off-Plan Projects In 2024

Abu Dhabi’s off-plan real estate market continued to attract investors in both affordable and luxury segments.

  • Affordable Apartments: Top choices included the City of Lights on Al Reem Island, Al Reeman 1 in Al Shamkha, and the eco-friendly Royal Park in Masdar City.
  • Luxury Apartments: Yas Bay on Yas Island, Saadiyat Island’s Cultural District, and Al Maryah Vista on Al Maryah Island stood out for their luxury offerings.
  • Affordable Villas: Investors showed interest in Reem Hills on Al Reem Island, Bloom Living in Zayed City, and Al Reeman 2 in Al Shamkha.
  • Luxury Villas: The opulent Saadiyat Lagoons on Saadiyat Island and Yas Acres on Yas Island were the top picks for those seeking high-end villa options.

Abu Dhabi’s real estate market continues to thrive, offering numerous opportunities for investors across diverse segments. ADREC’s initiatives are designed to ensure long-term growth and sustainability for the sector.

Apple Honors Indie Innovators in WWDC 2025 Design Awards

Celebrating Design Excellence

As anticipation builds for the Worldwide Developer Conference 2025, Apple has officially announced the winners and finalists of its prestigious 2025 Design Awards. In a notable departure from current industry trends, the awards notably exclude generative AI apps for a second consecutive year, instead spotlighting indie apps and startups that utilize Apple’s tools to create exceptional user experiences.

Spotlight on Standout Categories

Apple recognized 12 outstanding entries—one app and one game from each of six carefully curated categories: Delight And Fun, Innovation, Interaction, Inclusivity, Social Impact, and Visuals And Graphics. This year’s roster features a diverse array of projects from emerging developers around the world, highlighting the company’s commitment to nurturing global creativity.

Recognizing Functional Impact

In the Social Impact category, Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps garnered acclaim for its role in disseminating critical information during the California wildfires. Meanwhile, the Innovation category saw the triumph of the M13-backed prototyping tool Play, which demonstrates how modern app development is evolving by simplifying the process of sharing interactive prototypes through App Clips.

Notable Mentions

While AI-centric apps were not in the spotlight this year, Apple did acknowledge select apps leveraging AI technology. Notably, Speechify earned recognition in the Inclusivity category, and music creation app Moises, lauded for both its editing and creative capabilities, further underscores the potential of integrated AI features when blended with a robust platform.

A Comprehensive List of Honorees

The full roster includes:

  • Delight And Fun: Capwords; Balatro
  • Inclusivity: Speechify; Art Of Fauna
  • Innovation: Play; PBJ — The Musical
  • Interaction: Taobao; DREDGE
  • Social Impact: Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps; Neva
  • Visuals And Graphics: Feather: Draw In 3D; Infinity Nikki

A Forward-Looking Perspective

Apple’s strategic focus on how developers harness its design tools over trending technologies such as generative AI points to a broader industry narrative—one where enduring design principles and user-centric utility remain at the forefront of technological evolution. As innovation continues to drive the app ecosystem, the WWDC 2025 Design Awards serve as an indicator of where truly transformative experiences are being forged.

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