Aldar Properties released its Q1 FY2026 financial results on April 28, 2026, and the numbers deliver a clear, data-backed verdict on the health of Abu Dhabi’s real estate market. For investors, end-users, and anyone tracking the emirate’s property trajectory, this earnings report is required reading. Here is every figure that matters — and what it means for buyers active in the market today.
Headline Financials: Q1 2026 vs. Q1 2025
| Metric | Q1 2026 | Q1 2025 | YoY Change |
| Revenue | AED 8.7 billion | AED 7.8 billion | +12% |
| Gross Profit | AED 3.3 billion | AED 2.8 billion | +19% |
| EBITDA | AED 3.0 billion | AED 2.5 billion | +22% |
| Net Profit (after tax) | AED 2.3 billion | AED 1.9 billion | +20% |
| Earnings Per Share | AED 0.25 | AED 0.20 | +25% |
Net profit reaching AED 2.3 billion in a single quarter — a 20% year-on-year increase — establishes Q1 2026 as a record-setting period for the group. The 22% EBITDA growth outpacing revenue growth of 12% signals expanding margins, a reflection of higher-value product mix and disciplined cost management across Aldar’s development pipeline.
Development Division: Sales, Backlog & Launches
| Metric | Q1 2026 | Q1 2025 | YoY Change |
| Development Revenue | AED 6.5 billion | AED 5.7 billion | +14% |
| Development EBITDA | AED 2.2 billion | AED 1.8 billion | +23% |
| Group Sales | AED 6.7 billion | AED 8.9 billion | -25% |
| UAE Sales | AED 5.9 billion | AED 8.4 billion | -30% |
| UAE Revenue Backlog | AED 62.2 billion | — | Record high |
| Total Group Revenue Backlog | AED 72.1 billion | AED 71.7 billion | +0.6% |
The 25% decline in group sales against Q1 2025 requires context: Q1 2025 included an exceptionally high volume of major project launches. Q1 2026 saw only two UAE launches — The Wilds Residences in Dubai and Baccarat Residences on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. The critical metric here is the revenue backlog, which reached a record AED 72.1 billion at end of March 2026, providing clear revenue visibility across the next 29 months on the UAE portfolio alone. Developer default rates held steady at approximately 1% — consistent with historical norms — confirming that buyer commitment remains robust.
The post-quarter data reinforces this: Yas Park Place, launched in mid-April 2026, generated over AED 800 million with 80% of released units sold within the first week.
International Demand: The 88% Signal
One of the most significant data points in the Q1 2026 results is the international buyer share:
| Buyer Category | UAE Sales Value | Share of Total UAE Sales |
| Overseas & Expat Buyers | AED 5.3 billion | 88% |
| UAE National Buyers | ~AED 0.6 billion | ~12% |
International and expatriate buyers drove 88% of all UAE sales — AED 5.3 billion out of AED 5.9 billion total. This is not a marginal trend; it is the structural reality of Abu Dhabi’s property demand. The UAE Golden Visa, Abu Dhabi’s zero income tax environment, and Aldar’s expanding global sales network — which now includes World of Aldar experience centres in Hong Kong and London opened in Q1 2026 — are systematically converting international interest into committed capital. For investors considering Abu Dhabi entry, this figure confirms they are buying alongside a deep, diverse, and financially committed global buyer pool.
Aldar Investment Portfolio: AED 52 Billion AUM
| Metric | Q1 2026 | Q1 2025 | YoY Change |
| Adjusted EBITDA | AED 905 million | AED 768 million | +18% |
| Assets Under Management | AED 52 billion | — | Growing |
Aldar’s investment properties portfolio — comprising commercial, retail, industrial, logistics, and hospitality assets — delivered an 18% EBITDA uplift, supported by high occupancy rates and strategic acquisitions including The Link at Masdar City and logistics assets at KEZAD. The develop-to-hold pipeline expanded by AED 2.8 billion to AED 20.1 billion through a new partnership to deliver 9,000 value housing units for rent in Abu Dhabi, further underpinning long-term rental demand across the emirate.
Financial Strength: Liquidity & Capital Position
| Metric | Figure |
| Total Available Liquidity | AED 33.2 billion |
| Free & Unrestricted Cash | AED 13.9 billion |
| Committed Undrawn Bank Facilities | AED 19.4 billion |
| Hybrid Issuance (January 2026) | USD 1.0 billion (AED 3.7 billion) |
| Hybrid Issuance to Apollo (February 2026) | USD 1.0 billion (AED 3.7 billion) |
| Sustainability-Linked RCF (April 2026) | AED 5.0 billion |
| 2025 Dividend Per Share | AED 0.205 (+10.8% YoY) |
| Total 2025 Dividend Payout | AED 1.61 billion |
AED 33.2 billion in total liquidity is not a passive buffer — it is active capital deployment capacity. The completion of two USD 1 billion hybrid issuances in consecutive months and a AED 5 billion sustainability-linked revolving credit facility in April signals that Aldar is positioning for an accelerated acquisition and development programme throughout 2026. For property investors, a developer with this financial firepower is the strongest possible guarantee of project delivery and community infrastructure follow-through. To understand how Aldar’s Q1 2026 performance translates into specific buying opportunities across Abu Dhabi’s key destinations, consulting a trusted property advisor provides the market-level intelligence that raw financial data alone cannot deliver.
Conclusion: What Q1 2026 Means for Property Buyers
Aldar’s Q1 2026 results confirm three things with precision. First, Abu Dhabi’s property market is generating record developer profits driven by genuine buyer demand — not speculative volume. Second, international capital continues to flow into the emirate at scale, with 88% of UAE sales going to overseas and expatriate buyers. Third, a record AED 72.1 billion revenue backlog guarantees that the pipeline of high-quality communities currently under construction will be delivered. For buyers active in Abu Dhabi’s off-plan market, these results are the most credible possible endorsement of their investment thesis.
Aldar reported revenue of AED 8.7 billion (+12% YoY), EBITDA of AED 3.0 billion (+22% YoY), and net profit of AED 2.3 billion (+20% YoY) — all record figures for a single quarter. Contact Ayman Sadieh to understand what these results mean for your investment strategy.
The decline reflects a deliberate reduction in launch activity — only two UAE projects launched in Q1 2026 versus a higher volume in Q1 2025. The revenue backlog reaching a record AED 72.1 billion confirms demand remains structurally strong. Post-quarter, Yas Park Place generated over AED 800 million with 80% of units sold within the first week of launch.
It confirms that Abu Dhabi’s property demand is globally diversified and not dependent on any single buyer nationality. With AED 5.3 billion of Q1 UAE sales driven by overseas and expatriate buyers, the market has a deep, resilient demand base that supports long-term price stability and rental demand.
The AED 72.1 billion revenue backlog — including AED 62.2 billion in the UAE — represents contracted sales already secured by Aldar across projects under construction. It guarantees delivery of communities currently available for purchase and signals continued infrastructure investment. For a breakdown of which projects form part of this backlog, visit Ayman Sadieh.
Aldar holds AED 33.2 billion in total liquidity, including AED 13.9 billion in free cash. This level of financial capacity — combined with a project management backlog of AED 91.6 billion — virtually eliminates delivery risk for buyers in Aldar’s off-plan communities, making it one of the most financially secure development platforms globally.
