BUYER & SELLER GUIDES
Freehold Areas in Abu Dhabi: Where Foreigners Can Buy in 2026
Foreigners can buy freehold property in Abu Dhabi only inside designated investment zones, of which there were 50 across the emirate after ADREC approved eight new zones in H1 2026. The best-known freehold areas are the original nine: Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Al Maryah Island, Lulu Island, Al Raha Beach, Seih Al Sedirah, Al Reef and Masdar City. Because tenure is set plot by plot, always confirm a unit’s status on DARI.
Last reviewed by the ODZ Properties advisory team
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Foreigners can buy freehold in Abu Dhabi only inside investment zones, of which there were 50 after eight were approved in H1 2026.
- The original nine are Yas, Saadiyat, Al Reem, Al Maryah, Lulu Island, Al Raha Beach, Seih Al Sedirah, Al Reef and Masdar City.
- Investment zones hold about 72,000 homes, more than 22% of Abu Dhabi’s residential stock; Al Reem alone has about 27,500.
- Tenure is set plot by plot, so confirm the specific unit on DARI rather than relying on the area name.
AT A GLANCE
- Investment zones
- 50 (after 8 approved in H1 2026)
- Original zones (2019 era)
- 9
- Units in investment zones
- About 72,000, over 22% of residential stock
- Largest zone by units
- Al Reem Island, about 27,500 units
- Investment-zone activity, H1 2026
- AED 75bn
- Where to check tenure
- DARI or ADREC
What is a freehold area in Abu Dhabi?
In Abu Dhabi, the legal term is an investment zone (or investment area). Under Law No. 19 of 2005 as amended by Law No. 13 of 2019, non-UAE nationals and foreign companies can own and acquire all original and in-kind real estate rights within these zones, including freehold title. Outside them, foreigners cannot hold freehold, although long-term rights such as musataha and usufruct remain available. So when an agent or developer describes a project as freehold, what they mean is that it sits in an investment zone and the plot carries freehold tenure that a foreign buyer can register in their own name.
Which were the original freehold areas in Abu Dhabi?
The 2019-era list of investment zones had nine areas: Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Al Maryah Island, Lulu Island, Al Raha Beach, Seih Al Sedirah, Al Reef and Masdar City. Between them they cover most of the established communities that international buyers know by name, from island districts to suburban and mixed-use neighbourhoods. Two are worth singling out. Al Reem Island has the largest stock of any investment zone, about 27,500 units. Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands both fall within Abu Dhabi Global Market’s jurisdiction, so property there is registered with the ADGM Registration Authority rather than ADREC, which changes the transaction process.
Which areas have been added since 2019?
Several areas now offer foreign freehold beyond the original nine. Modon launched freehold communities on Hudayriyat Island in 2024; broker sources cite Executive Council Decision No. 31 of 2024 as its designation. Jubail Island has six investment zone villages: Marafaa Al Jubail, Nad Al Dhabi, Seef Al Jubail, Ain Al Maha, Souk Al Jubail and Bed’a Al Jubail. Ramhan Island appears in ADREC-attributed press coverage of zones with foreign freehold, although we have not seen a published designation decision. Developer guides also name Al Ghadeer, Al Shamkha, Nurai Island and Fahid Island. Treat these secondary listings as a starting point and confirm tenure for the specific project and plot before you commit.
| Area | Status | Registered with | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yas Island | Original zone (2019 list) | ADREC (DARI) | Leisure island; apartments, townhouses and villas |
| Saadiyat Island | Original zone (2019 list) | ADREC (DARI) | Cultural district; prime villas and apartments |
| Al Reem Island | Original zone (2019 list) | ADGM Registration Authority | Largest zone, about 27,500 units |
| Al Maryah Island | Original zone (2019 list) | ADGM Registration Authority | Financial district |
| Lulu Island | Original zone (2019 list) | ADREC (DARI) | |
| Al Raha Beach | Original zone (2019 list) | ADREC (DARI) | |
| Seih Al Sedirah | Original zone (2019 list) | ADREC (DARI) | |
| Al Reef | Original zone (2019 list) | ADREC (DARI) | |
| Masdar City | Original zone (2019 list) | ADREC (DARI) | |
| Hudayriyat Island | Added: Modon freehold communities launched 2024 | ADREC (DARI) | Broker sources cite Executive Council Decision No. 31 of 2024 |
| Jubail Island | Added: six investment zone villages | ADREC (DARI) | Marafaa Al Jubail, Nad Al Dhabi, Seef Al Jubail, Ain Al Maha, Souk Al Jubail, Bed’a Al Jubail |
| Ramhan Island | Reported in ADREC-attributed press | ADREC (DARI) | No published designation decision found |
| Al Ghadeer, Al Shamkha, Nurai Island, Fahid Island | Named in developer guides | ADREC (DARI) | Confirm per project and plot |
How many investment zones are there in Abu Dhabi now?
ADREC reported that it approved eight new investment zones in H1 2026, bringing the total to 50 across the emirate. Activity in investment zones reached AED 75bn in H1 2026, compared with AED 54.13bn for the whole of 2025. The zones hold about 72,000 units, more than 22% of residential stock, with Al Reem Island alone accounting for roughly 27,500. There is, however, no complete public list of all 50 zones. New zones are often created around specific master-planned projects, which is why a single address can contain plots with different tenure.
How do you check whether a property is freehold?
Check the unit itself, not the area name. Tenure in Abu Dhabi depends on the plot and the project, and a project can be freehold, musataha or usufruct. The reliable route is DARI, ADREC’s registration platform, or a direct enquiry with ADREC. For a resale, the title deed and a recent site plan will show the registered right. For off-plan purchases, check that the project is registered and that sales are recorded on the Interim Real Estate Register. For Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands, which fall within ADGM, the ADGM Registration Authority holds the records rather than ADREC. Want land rather than a finished home? See buying a plot in Abu Dhabi.
How ODZ helps you choose between Abu Dhabi’s freehold areas
Each investment zone serves a different buyer. Some are built around culture and low density, others around rental demand, business districts or family living, and their supply pipelines differ widely. ODZ helps you match the zone to your objective, whether that is a home, an income asset or a long-term hold. We compare districts on fundamentals such as demand, upcoming supply, pricing against comparable stock and exit depth, and we confirm the tenure of each shortlisted unit before you rely on it.
Frequently asked questions
What are the freehold areas in Abu Dhabi?
Foreign freehold is allowed in Abu Dhabi’s investment zones. The original nine were Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Al Maryah Island, Lulu Island, Al Raha Beach, Seih Al Sedirah, Al Reef and Masdar City. Others, including Hudayriyat Island and Jubail Island’s six villages, have been added since, and ADREC reported 50 zones in H1 2026.
Is Hudayriyat Island freehold?
Yes. Modon launched freehold communities on Hudayriyat Island in 2024, and broker sources cite Executive Council Decision No. 31 of 2024 as the designation. Hudayriyat was Abu Dhabi’s top area for residential sales in H1 2026, at AED 19bn. Its stock is mainly off-plan villas and plots, so check each unit’s registration.
Is there an official list of all 50 investment zones?
Not that we have found. ADREC has reported the total of 50 zones after approving eight in H1 2026, but no complete public list of all 50 has been published. Because tenure is set plot by plot, the dependable check for any property is its record on DARI or a direct enquiry with ADREC.
Can foreigners buy outside Abu Dhabi’s investment zones?
Not as freehold. Outside investment zones, foreigners can hold long-term rights such as usufruct or musataha. Older guidance describes usufruct of up to 99 years and musataha of up to 50 years, but the exact terms available should be confirmed for the specific plot before any commitment.
Which Abu Dhabi investment zone has the most homes?
Al Reem Island, with about 27,500 units of the roughly 72,000 units in Abu Dhabi’s investment zones, according to WAM-reported figures from August 2026. Al Reem is a high-rise district of mainly studio to three-bedroom apartments, and it falls within ADGM’s jurisdiction, so property there is registered with the ADGM Registration Authority.
Sources
- ADREC via Zawya — H1 2026 transactions and new investment zones
- Oxford Business Group — Freehold regulations for expatriates
- Aletihad / WAM — Hudayriyat tops Abu Dhabi residential sales
- Gulf News — Modon launches freehold communities on Hudayriyat Island
- Gulf News — Jubail Island investment zone villages
- Al Tamimi & Co — ADGM expands into Al Reem Island
General information, not legal or financial advice. Fees and rules change — confirm current requirements with ADREC or speak with an advisor before you commit.