---
title: "ADREC"
canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/adrec
markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/glossary/adrec.md
type: glossary-term
description: "ADREC is the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, the government body that regulates the emirate's property market and oversees registration of sales."
publisher: "UAE Property Agents (Omnia)"
language: en-GB
usage: "You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting."
---

# ADREC

> ADREC is the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, the government body that regulates the emirate's property market and oversees registration of sales.

Also known as: Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, Adrec.

## What ADREC means for a buyer

The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) was established in November 2023 by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) to bring regulation, registration and promotion of Abu Dhabi's property sector under one body. For a buyer it plays the part that the [Dubai Land Department](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dld) and [RERA](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/rera) play together in Dubai.

Its responsibilities include:

- licensing developers, brokers and other property professionals
- registering off-plan projects and supervising their [escrow accounts](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/escrow-account)
- registering sales, mortgages and [title deeds](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/title-deed) through the [DARI](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dari) platform
- issuing [Madhmoun](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/madhmoun) permits for property listings
- overseeing service charges and the management of jointly owned buildings

A buyer deals with ADREC mostly through DARI, where you can confirm that a project is registered, see its developer and escrow details and reported completion, check a broker's licence and verify an ownership certificate. The registration fee on a purchase in Abu Dhabi is 2% of the price.

Two boundaries are worth knowing. Foreigners can buy only inside an [investment zone](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/investment-zone), so ADREC registration of a project does not by itself mean a foreign buyer is eligible; check the location. And the Abu Dhabi Global Market on Al Maryah and Al Reem islands is a separate jurisdiction with its own rules, to which some ADREC procedures do not extend.

ADREC's remit covers the whole emirate, including Al Ain and Al Dhafra. See [buying property in Abu Dhabi](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-property-in-abu-dhabi).

## Related terms

- [DARI](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dari): DARI is Abu Dhabi's official digital property platform, through which sales are registered, title deeds issued and documents and brokers verified.
- [Madhmoun](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/madhmoun): Madhmoun is Abu Dhabi's verified listing system: every property advert in the emirate needs a Madhmoun permit issued under ADREC before it can be published.
- [Investment zone (Abu Dhabi)](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/investment-zone): An investment zone is an area of Abu Dhabi designated by the government in which foreign nationals are permitted to own freehold property.
- [DLD](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dld): The Dubai Land Department is the government body that registers every property sale, mortgage and long lease in Dubai and issues title deeds.

## In depth

- [How to buy property in Abu Dhabi as a foreigner: zones, fees and the 2026 rules](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-property-in-abu-dhabi)


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Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/adrec. Published by UAE Property Agents, Omnia Capital Group. You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting.