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The Abu Dhabi Media Office announced that Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, witnessed the launch of Marsa Al Saadiyat, a project valued at AED100 billion and spanning 6.4 million square metres on Saadiyat Island. During the site visit on July 22, 2026, the Crown Prince directed the renaming of the former Saadiyat Marina District to Marsa Al Saadiyat to reflect the UAE’s maritime heritage and seafaring identity. He reviewed the masterplan along with primary infrastructure and community amenities while affirming the leadership’s commitment to integrated developments that boost quality of life, economic competitiveness and sustainability.
According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, Aldar Properties acts as master developer for the project, which encompasses an eight-kilometre waterfront including the emirate’s largest marina with capacity for up to 350 berths for yachts and sailing boats. The masterplan features 5.6 kilometres of beaches, 140 kilometres of walking paths, 46 kilometres of cycling tracks, green linear parks and a central landscaped park extending to the waterfront. Additional facilities will include children’s play areas, community clubhouses with pools, sports courts, premium healthcare and three schools positioned for convenient resident access.
The development will accommodate more than 58,000 residents across private mansions, luxury villas, waterfront apartments, branded residences and hillside standalone villas, the official announcement stated. A one-kilometre promenade will offer retail and dining options alongside a yacht club, two luxury hotels and a theatre district anchored by Dar al Funoon, a venue with capacity for over 6,000 guests hosting musicals and international performances. Connectivity elements include a scenic walkway to the Saadiyat Cultural District, links to Umm Yifeenah and Reem Islands via new roads and tunnels, an underground Etihad Rail station and a bridge to another Aldar-developed island.
His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Aldar, said in the announcement, “Marsa Al Saadiyat marks the activation of the final phase of the Saadiyat Island masterplan, and with it, the beginning of the most ambitious chapter yet in the island’s evolution. Abu Dhabi today stands among the world’s most compelling destinations for long-term capital, offering a combination of vision, economic momentum, and a quality of life that continues to attract the most discerning investors and residents from around the world. Marsa Al Saadiyat is a direct expression of that confidence: a development of genuine global scale, conceived with an ambition that reflects Abu Dhabi’s place on the world stage.”
Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group Chief Executive Officer at Aldar, stated in the announcement, “Marsa Al Saadiyat is a landmark development for Abu Dhabi, reinforcing the emirate’s emergence as a powerful force in the global luxury landscape. With a development value of AED100 billion, the masterplan will add significant scale and character to the island, a destination already recognised as one of the most compelling cultural and lifestyle addresses in the world.” The CEO’s remarks highlighted how the project builds on the island’s established reputation for cultural institutions and exceptional living standards.
Saadiyat Island has evolved into a premier cultural and tourism destination since the 2017 opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which along with other museums has helped draw millions of visitors each year according to figures from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The Marsa Al Saadiyat launch complements these assets by expanding residential, retail and leisure capacity in line with the emirate’s economic diversification strategy that has driven steady real estate and hospitality investment growth. Aldar has contributed to this trajectory through prior Saadiyat communities that have set benchmarks for sustainable masterplanned developments in the Gulf region.
Site enabling and infrastructure works at Marsa Al Saadiyat are set to begin in the third quarter of 2026 with first home sales commencing in the second half of the year, the Abu Dhabi Media Office reported. The timeline aligns with sustained demand for premium Abu Dhabi properties where limited supply in core zones has supported price appreciation in recent market cycles tracked by local real estate analysts. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to enhance urban integration, transport connectivity and long-term investment appeal across the emirate.
