Dubai outperformed Abu Dhabi in property price increases in the first half of 2013 while the rise of residential rental market cooled down in both sheikhdoms, the National Bank of Abu Dhabi's figures showed on Sunday.

According to the bank's figures, the average listed property sales price in Dubai was 1,099 Dirham (299 U.S. dollars) per square foot, representing an increase of 34.6 percent compared to June 2012.

In Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, average listed residential sales price was up to 1,123 Dirham (306 dollars) per square foot, 22.2 percent higher year on year.

Nevertheless, in both emirates, with Dubai being the business hub of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Abu Dhabi its capital, the rise of residential rental prices has declined in the last 12 months.

In Dubai, rental prices increased by 6.75 percent last month, down from an 8 percent surge in June 2011. Newly completed residential projects in recent months like the villa district Al- Furjan have eased the situation in the rental real estate market.

Abu Dhabi has seen last month a 7.2 percent rise in rents, a decline by over one percent year on year. However, analysts expect rents to rise in Abu Dhabi because employees of government institutions in the UAE capital are no longer allowed to live in neighboring Dubai, an hour's drive west of Abu Dhabi, by the end of 2013.