Abu Dhabi rental growth at slowest pace for two years

Concerns over long-term impact of oil price decline impacting on both the residential and commercial sectors.

Rents rose 3% at Al Reef downtown in Abu Dhabi according to CBRE. Courtesy Better Homes

Rents in Abu Dhabi increased at the slowest pace in more than two years during the second quarter amid concerns over the long-term impact of lower oil prices.

CBRE’s Abu Dhabi Marketview reported a quarterly increase in rents of just 1 per cent, although on a year-on-year basis rents have climbed by 10 per cent in the capital.

Rental increases have also been higher in prime, master planned communities in the capital where supply is limited. For instance, rents have increased by 3 per cent at Al Reef Downtown, where a two-bedroom unit can cost anything ranging between Dh85,000 and Dh105,000 per year.

The capital’s office market has also remained subdued as a result of weak occupier demand in a market that is traditionally driven by government occupiers and firms in the oil and gas sector.

“This was also compounded by signs of a slowdown within the professional services sector, again driven by reduced government activity,” said Matthew Green, CBRE’s UAE head of research.

Prime office rents remained static at Dh1,600 to Dh2,200 per square metre per year.

Rents in the secondary market were also flat at Dh1,1235 per sq metres per year, but are likely to come under pressure as 1.45 million sq metres of new space is set to enter the market over the next three years.

Looking ahead, Mr Green said Abu Dhabi’s property market “is still somewhat vulnerable to the current oil price situation, particularly its potential impact on major occupiers in the government and oil and gas sectors.

“That said, the market situation is softened by the relatively constrained development pipeline. Around 34,000 new residential units will be completed up to 2018, notably down on the five-year average and a similarly tight pipeline also exists for new Grade A office supply.”

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