What is the average Class A rent in Abu Dhabi?

Around 1900 AED/sqft/yr ($517 USD) across the broader Class A index. Trophy submarkets like Al Maryah Island (ADGM) command 20–40% above that.

How many months of rent-free are normal in Abu Dhabi?

6 months on a 3-year deal is the standard benchmark. Lease-up product or tenants with strong covenant strength can push higher.

Are rents rising or falling in Abu Dhabi?

The Abu Dhabi Class A market is currently rising. Vacancy is 9.2%, which sets the negotiating context.

Headline Class A rent in Abu Dhabi is around 1900 AED/sqft/yr ($517 USD), with 6 months of typical rent-free on a 3-year term.

Headline Class A rent: 1900 AED/sqft/yr ($517 USD).
Trophy submarket rents (Al Maryah Island (ADGM)) push to roughly AED 2,200/sqm/yr · ≈ $55.6 PSF/yr USD.
Typical concessions on a 3-year deal: 6 months free rent.
Vacancy stands at 9.2% — market trend is rising.
Use effective rent (face minus PV of concessions), not headline, to compare deals.

Abu Dhabi Class A office rents and incentives

Headline Class A rent in Abu Dhabi is around 1900 AED/sqft/yr ($517 USD), with 6 months of typical rent-free on a 3-year term.

TL;DR

Headline Class A rent: 1900 AED/sqft/yr ($517 USD).
Trophy submarket rents (Al Maryah Island (ADGM)) push to roughly AED 2,200/sqm/yr · ≈ $55.6 PSF/yr USD.
Typical concessions on a 3-year deal: 6 months free rent.
Vacancy stands at 9.2% — market trend is rising.
Use effective rent (face minus PV of concessions), not headline, to compare deals.

Headline rent vs. effective rent

Asking rents in Abu Dhabi are quoted in AED per sqft per year. Across the broad Class A index the figure is 1900, but the trophy tier in Al Maryah Island (ADGM) reaches roughly AED 2,200/sqm/yr · ≈ $55.6 PSF/yr USD. Always discount headline rent by the present value of free rent and tenant improvement allowance to land on effective rent — the only number that compares cleanly across deals.

Rent-free and TI

Standard Abu Dhabi concessions on a 3-year Class A lease run to 6 months of base-rent abatement. Trophy lease-ups can push rent-free 25–40% above that benchmark. Local cost-of-occupancy is also shaped by tax — 9% UAE federal corporate tax (effective from 2023, on profits above AED 375k). 0% for qualifying free zone persons (ADGM, masdar, etc.). VAT 5%. 9% will rise to OECD-aligned 15% under Pillar Two for in-scope groups.

Where rents land by submarket

Al Maryah Island (ADGM) sits at the top end (~AED 2,200/sqm/yr · ≈ $55.6 PSF/yr USD). Al Reem Island clears around AED 1,500/sqm/yr · ≈ $37.9 PSF/yr USD as the prime tier. The full submarket map is on the Abu Dhabi city page.

Key facts

city	Abu Dhabi
country	United Arab Emirates
region	EMEA
classARentLocal	1900 AED/sqft/yr
classARentUsd	$517/sqft/yr
vacancy	9.2%
typicalLeaseYears	3
typicalRentFreeMonths	6
submarkets	5
primeYieldPct	6.6%
trophyRent	AED 2,200/sqm/yr · ≈ $55.6 PSF/yr USD
primeRent	AED 1,500/sqm/yr · ≈ $37.9 PSF/yr USD

Frequently asked questions

What is the average Class A rent in Abu Dhabi?: Around 1900 AED/sqft/yr ($517 USD) across the broader Class A index. Trophy submarkets like Al Maryah Island (ADGM) command 20–40% above that.
How many months of rent-free are normal in Abu Dhabi?: 6 months on a 3-year deal is the standard benchmark. Lease-up product or tenants with strong covenant strength can push higher.
Are rents rising or falling in Abu Dhabi?: The Abu Dhabi Class A market is currently rising. Vacancy is 9.2%, which sets the negotiating context.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Samuel Okafor — EMEA contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
JLL Office Insight — JLL
Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
Savills World Research — Savills
Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

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