Abu Dhabi realty begins 2025 on strong footing with robust transaction numbers
5 May 2025 00:44
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Abu Dhabi's real estate market began 2025 with growing transaction numbers, reflecting healthy investor confidence, according to a report by Bayut, the UAE's leading property portal.The upward trend follows the year of 2024, which recorded 28,249 property transactions, a 24.2% year-on-year increase, with a combined transaction value of Dh96.2 billion.According to Bayut's newly released Q1 2025 market report, foreign direct investment into Abu Dhabi's real estate sector stands at Dh7.86 billion, with capital inflows from over 2,300 international investors spanning 105 countries.The report mentioned the launch of 38 new off-plan developments and the delivery of 12 landmark projects, which further expanded Abu Dhabi's real estate portfolio.According to Bayut's analysis, the first quarter showed persistent popularity among budget buyers for areas like Al Reef, Al Ghadeer, Khalifa City, and Al Shamkha.On the other hand, demand surged in the mid-market segment, with areas such as Al Reem Island, Masdar City, and Al Raha Gardens being targeted by buyers that value amenities and decent pricing.For aspirational buyers, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, and Al Raha Beach remained the foremost waterfront investment destinations.The mid-market segment, which saw healthy search activity in Al Reem Island, Masdar City, Baniyas, Al Samha and Al Raha Gardens, demonstrated a robust performance, reassuring investors about market stability. Apartments in the mid-range sector witnessed price increases of up to 4%, while villa prices saw more moderate appreciations. Worthy of particular note was Al Samha reporting a price increase of 7.20%.In the affordable apartment category, Al Reef and Al Ghadeer have witnessed exceptional rental yields of 8.38% and 9.95%, respectively.The mid-market apartment communities, including Al Reem Island, Baniyas and Masdar City, also provided solid returns ranging from 5.57% to 7.60%.Higher-end apartments in Al Raha Beach, Yas Island and Saadiyat Island have produced rental returns of between 3.88% and 7.37%.As for the villa segment, Al Reef leads the affordable category with a robust return of investment of 6.45%. Mid-tier villa communities such as Al Raha Gardens and Al Samha provided healthy returns between 5% and 7%.
Premium villa destinations, including Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and Al Raha Beach, remained attractive to investors with yields exceeding 4.55%.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
Responsible e-waste disposal urged as Enviroserve, Tadweer boost recycling efforts
5 June 2025 00:30 SARA ALZAABI, MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Old and unused electronic devices, if improperly discarded, pose risks not only to the environment but to personal data security. On World Environment Day, experts urged the public to ensure these gadgets are sent to trusted recyclers, emphasising the importance of responsible e-waste advance recycling efforts and boost the UAE's circular economy, Abu Dhabi's waste management entity Tadweer Group has acquired a 50% stake in Enviroserve - one of the world's largest e-waste recycling facilities - in on the public to pay close attention to e-waste in their households, Shashidhar Y S, Board Member and Managing Director at Enviroserve, spoke to Aletihad about the proper disposal of electronics."One of the most damaging myths is that old electronics are harmless if stored or discarded," Shashidhar said. But the truth is, improperly handled e-waste can pollute the environment and put data security at stake, he stressed."[This is why] they should use only certified recyclers like Enviroserve for proper disposal (which is traceable and safe)," Shashidhar is not just about disposal, he stressed, "it is about doing it right"."By choosing certified recyclers and taking responsibility for how we manage old devices, we can all help build a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future."As technology advances, so does the complexity of e-waste, Shashidhar keep up with these shifts, Enviroserve is innovating its waste management by incorporating new technologies, including recycling EV batteries and smart devices, as well as recovering silicon from used solar panels-addressing the emerging waste challenges of the renewable energy sector, he added. Waste Management as Shared ResponsibilityThis World Environment Day, Tadweer Group urges the public to prioritise recycling and the proper disposal not only of e-waste but all other types of waste. "World Environment Day is a moment for all of us to pause and reflect on the role we play in protecting our planet. For us at Tadweer Group, it is a chance to remind the community that small changes can make a big difference, and show how working together leads to real environmental impact," Dr. Reem Al Kindi, Head of Public Awareness at Tadweer Group, told Aletihad . "The message we would like to convey is that waste is a valuable resource and we need to be more responsible with how we manage it – including incorporating the 3Rs in everything we do (reduce, reuse, recycle)." Lifestyle ShiftChanges in daily routines, such as segregating waste and reducing plastic use, have become necessary, considering the climate challenges the planet faces today, she said. Tadweer Group's Community Engagement Team has been raising awareness about these waste issues all year round, be it through school visits and events, as well as digital campaigns and partnerships."We believe awareness should be accessible and engaging. This is led by our Community Engagement team, which directly engages with the public to encourage the 3Rs, showcase the impact we can make if we segregate our waste, and that each individual is responsible for their actions," Al Kindi management is becoming more fundamental amid a rapidly growing population, urban development, and industrial activity - which could all contribute to an increasing volume of trash - Dr. Al Kindi said."Proper waste management in the UAE is a cornerstone of national sustainability and public wellbeing," she said. However, reaching sustainability targets requires shared responsibility. "Our objective is to divert 80% of waste from Abu Dhabi landfill by 2030, but we cannot do this alone-this relies in part on how the community segregates and sorts its waste." Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Al Etihad
AI fluency an essential for CEOs to drive innovation, shape future-ready firms
3 June 2025 01:00 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHBAI)C-suite executives recognise the importance of adopting AI, but there remain gaps in their understanding of the technology — particularly in knowing its capabilities, limitations, and how it can effectively enhance operations and the workforce, an expert has said. Today's CEOs will require more than just education, said Abir Habbal, Data and AI Strategy & Consulting Lead at Accenture in the Middle East, in an interview with Aletihad . Habbal enumerated three key barriers to AI adoption at the executive level.'First, there is uncertainty about where to start. The AI space is evolving so fast, it is hard to separate hype from what is actually achievable. Second, alignment across the leadership team is not always there. If your CIO, CFO, and CHRO are not working from a shared understanding, AI initiatives often stall at the pilot stage. And third, many organisations simply are not ready.'To close these gaps, she recommended a full-immersion executive training programme.'When you bring CEOs and their leadership teams into a focused learning environment… you give them the space to step back, learn from experts, and engage in honest, strategic conversations."CEOs need AI fluency, Habbal said. This refers to 'understanding what AI can and cannot do, how to manage risks responsibly, how to redesign operating models around AI, and how to build a future-ready workforce'.The UAE Government is ahead of the curve in upskilling top officials across federal entities. Its recently launched Chief AI Officers' Training Programme aims to empower AI leaders and drive sustained progress in adopting and developing smart is just one among several initiatives that the country has rolled out to be at the forefront of AI development.'What sets the UAE apart is the clarity of its ambition and the speed of execution,' Habbal said. 'We are deeply aligned with Abu Dhabi's vision for becoming an AI-native government by 2027… not just by adopting technology, but by reimagining how services are delivered to citizens.' Impact of AI Literacy AI training programmes are not about 'turning executives into data scientists', the expert said. 'It is about giving them the tools to lead in an AI-driven world.'AI literacy fundamentally changes the dynamics between the C-suite and technical teams, Habbal said. 'That alignment helps sharpen priorities, streamline decision-making, and avoid the disconnects that often slow down execution.'Generative AI, she said, is becoming a powerful decision-support tool for executives. 'It is not making decisions for leaders; but it helps them make better, faster, more informed decisions,' Habbal said. "At the end of the day, the judgment still lies with the human. But generative AI helps cut through the noise, boost strategic thinking, and unlock time — so leaders can focus on what truly matters.' Differentiating Factors Asked about measuring the return on investment (ROI) from AI implementation, Habbal explained that it's not always about 'cost savings or headcount reduction'. The real impact, she said, would be evident from smarter decisions; teams that can make decisions on their own; better business outcomes; and the organisational statistics from Accenture studies, Habbal said 63% of leading performing companies see AI deliver measurable ROI within 3 years, but only 15% of the C-suite feel they are prepared to who lead in AI adoption invest twice as much in talent and responsible AI practices compared to their peers — enabling them to bring new products to market up to 50% faster, their research added. As teams get more AI fluency, collaboration improves and innovation speeds up, Habbal said.'AI training is one of the fastest ways to unlock innovation — because it gives people the confidence and know-how to actually use the technology,' she said. 'The companies that are winning with AI are the ones that treat it as a business transformation, not just a tech upgrade.'In line with UAE AI Strategy 2031, firms need to build AI fluency from within, the expert said. "The UAE's vision is ambitious, but it is also collaborative. Companies that lean in, upskill their leaders, and align their innovation agendas with the country's strategic goals will not only stay relevant; they will help shape the future of the region.'
Al Etihad
7 days ago
- Al Etihad
AI-powered energy control platform AD.WE to transform Abu Dhabi's utilities sector
30 May 2025 00:53 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has entered into a strategic partnership with Presight and AIQ, marking a significant step toward integrated, AI-enabled energy management aimed at enhancing efficiency and during the World Utilities Congress in the UAE capital earlier this week, the agreement will see the development of an advanced AI-driven control centre platform. will deliver real-time analytics to support and optimise the energy and utilities sector across Abu Dhabi's Presight, an international big data analytics company powered by GenAI, has developed the smart platform that would manage the integrated to Aletihad, Dr. Adel Al Sharji, Chief Operating Officer of Presight, said, 'The platform will contribute to optimising energy use and production lines.' Using AI to manage facilities and infrastructure can streamline various operations, contributing to the emirate's sustainability goals, Al Sharji said. He cited its impact on the agriculture sector — managing energy and water resources in farms — as an example. 'With AI and sensors, we can track weather conditions, like dust or humidity, and apply algorithms to protect crops and conserve energy,' he said. "These IoT sensors gather data, feed it into our AI platform, which interacts with the information and applies specific procedures based on different scenarios."In this case, the outcomes are clear: savings in energy, water, and increased agricultural productivity, Al Sharji said. 'Farms can see improved yields and better resource allocation regardless of their distance."One of the project's main goals, he added, is to ensure "effective management that allows global energy companies to safely present ideas and experiments on the platform.''If these ideas succeed, they will be implemented by the Department of Energy,' Al Sharji said. The collaboration further involves the introduction of an AI Lab-as-a-Service, enabling energy companies in Abu Dhabi to test, confirm, and roll out artificial intelligence solutions within their processes for various application the agreement covers the establishment of a primary data hub which will consolidate all data under the purview of the DoE and sector companies, serving as a single and trusted source of an interview with Aletihad, Dr. Adel Bin Subaih, Chief Operations Officer at AIQ, said the company will work hand in hand with DoE and Presight to build the state-of-the-art platform that consolidates necessary data and insights.'This will improve the Department of Energy's operational efficiency and productivity, giving them a full picture on how to reduce operating costs,' Bin Subaih a joint venture between G42, Presight, and ADNOC, is pioneering and developing complex AI solutions for the energy currently has three primary offerings in its portfolio. 'We have one called SMARTi, which focuses on protecting people and enhancing safety. Another product is EMISSIONX—this helps monitor and advise on decarbonisation efforts, directly contributing to the UAE's and Abu Dhabi's 2050 sustainability goals,' Dr. Bin Subaih said. The third key product, the Corrosion Suite, 'is designed to protect assets rather than people.''It monitors pipeline infrastructure and provides recommendations on preventive maintenance, helping safeguard utilities and facilities,' Dr. Bin Subaih said. These three solutions—Smart Eye, Emission X, and CORROSCAN—are now being integrated into the newly signed agreement alongside the real-time digital platform.
