Abu Dhabi launches Dh100 billion Marsa Al Saadiyat waterfront district

Abu Dhabi launches Dh100 billion Marsa Al Saadiyat waterfront district

Abu Dhabi has unveiled Marsa Al Saadiyat, a Dh100 billion waterfront development spanning 6.4 million square metres that marks the completion of Saadiyat Island's two-decade transformation into a global cultural and residential destination.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, witnessed the launch and toured the project site to examine its masterplan, infrastructure network and community facilities. During the visit, Sheikh Khaled directed that the development be renamed from Saadiyat Marina District to Marsa Al Saadiyat, a name that honours the UAE's maritime heritage and signals the project's ambition.

The development arrives as Abu Dhabi's real estate market experiences unprecedented growth. During the first half of 2026, the emirate recorded Dh117 billion in property transactions, a 112 per cent increase year-on-year, while foreign direct investment surged 309 per cent to Dh13.8 billion. Saadiyat Island itself has emerged as one of Abu Dhabi's fastest-appreciating markets, with property values rising between 28 and 34 per cent over the past year.

Largest marina in the capital

The centrepiece of Marsa Al Saadiyat will be Abu Dhabi's largest marina, with berths for up to 350 sailing boats and luxury yachts. The waterfront district will stretch across eight kilometres, including 5.6 kilometres of beaches, and is designed to accommodate more than 58,000 residents.

Aldar, the project's master developer and the only major Abu Dhabi residential developer listed on a public stock exchange, will oversee the development's design and primary infrastructure. The company recorded Dh33.6 billion in sales during 2025, a 20 per cent annual increase, and manages a portfolio worth Dh47 billion in assets. With extensive experience across six business segments including marina development, Aldar brings proven capacity to the ambitious project.

Sales of the first residential units will begin in the second half of 2026. Site preparation and infrastructure construction are scheduled to commence in the third quarter. The residential offering will include private mansions, luxury villas, waterfront apartments and branded residences, as well as a hillside community of standalone villas rising 22.5 metres above sea level.

Integrated community infrastructure

A landscaped central park will extend towards the waterfront and connect with a network of linear green spaces threading through the development. The community will feature children's play areas, clubhouses with outdoor swimming pools, sports courts, healthcare facilities and three schools.

More than 140 kilometres of interconnected walking paths and a 46-kilometre cycling track will encourage active lifestyles. The masterplan positions everyday services within walking, cycling or short driving distance of homes.

A one-kilometre promenade will form the retail and dining heart of the district. Marsa Al Saadiyat will also contain a yacht club and two luxury hotels, creating a commercial and leisure hub around the marina.

Cultural connection

A theatre district anchored by Dar al Funoon, a performing arts venue with capacity for more than 6,000 guests, will host musicals, live productions and international performances throughout the year. A scenic walkway will connect Marsa Al Saadiyat directly with the Saadiyat Cultural District, providing residents with immediate access to its museums, restaurants and hotels.

The cultural district already attracts significant international attention. Louvre Abu Dhabi alone welcomed more than 1.4 million visitors in 2024, its highest attendance since opening in 2017, with international guests comprising 84 per cent of total visitors. The district also includes the Natural History Museum, Zayed National Museum and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, with Guggenheim Abu Dhabi planned for future completion.

The development comes 22 years after Abu Dhabi first conceived Saadiyat Island in 2004 as part of its strategy to diversify away from oil dependence. The Tourism Development and Investment Company began transforming the island in 2006, and the original 2007 masterplan projected a total cost of approximately Dh100 billion for the entire island, with a planned population of about 150,000 people across six districts.

Transport connections

Marsa Al Saadiyat will link with Umm Yifeenah Island and Reem Island through a new network of roads and tunnels, cutting travel time to central Abu Dhabi. The district will feature an underground station for Etihad Rail's high-speed passenger service, which launched operations between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah on 30 June 2026 and expanded to Dubai on 30 September 2026. The rail network will eventually connect 11 cities across the UAE and is projected to carry 10 million passengers annually.

A new bridge will provide an additional connection between Marsa Al Saadiyat and another island under development off Saadiyat's coast.

Sheikh Khaled said the project reflected the UAE leadership's commitment to developing integrated infrastructure that meets future needs and strengthens the country's competitiveness as a place to live. He added that Marsa Al Saadiyat supported the UAE's development model by combining quality of life, economic competitiveness and sustainability for current and future generations.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Aldar, described the development as the beginning of the most ambitious chapter in Saadiyat Island's evolution. He noted that Abu Dhabi stands among the world's most compelling destinations for long-term capital, offering a combination of strategic vision, economic momentum and quality of life that continues to attract discerning investors and residents from around the world.

The launch comes amid growing international interest in Abu Dhabi property. Foreign direct investment in the emirate's real estate sector during the first half of 2026 exceeded the entire total for 2025, with investor nationalities rising from 82 to 116, led by buyers from the United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States, Germany and France.

Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group Chief Executive Officer at Aldar, said the masterplan would add scale and character to Saadiyat Island, which has developed into one of Abu Dhabi's main cultural and lifestyle districts. The start of home sales and infrastructure work later in 2026 will mark the first stage in delivering the new waterfront district, though a full completion schedule has not been announced.