Abu Dhabi master developer Aldar Properties has activated the final and most ambitious phase of the Saadiyat Island masterplan with the launch of Marsa Al Saadiyat, a landmark waterfront development carrying a gross development value (GDV) of AED100 billion ($27.2 billion).
Formerly known as Saadiyat Marina District, the 6.4-million-sq-m mega-project was officially launched in the presence of HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, who directed the renaming to Marsa Al Saadiyat. The new name reflects the UAE’s rich maritime heritage while preserving the emirate’s seafaring identity through a destination that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity and further reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading leisure tourism destination.
Aldar is acting as the sole master developer responsible for the overall spatial design, infrastructure delivery, and urban integration. The masterplan is engineered to accommodate over 58,000 residents across diverse, high-end residential topologies while forming a critical link between Saadiyat’s world-renowned Cultural District and its active coastal frontages.
At the launch last month, Sheikh Khaled commented: “This project reflects the UAE leadership’s commitment to investing in the development of integrated infrastructure that meets future aspirations and enhances the UAE’s global competitiveness as a leading destination offering a world-class living environment,” he stated.
Sheikh Khaled stated that the project elevates the nation’s quality of life for future generations.
The masterplan includes a host of amenities including children’s play areas, community clubhouses with outdoor pools, sports courts, premium healthcare, and three schools.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Aldar, said, “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.”
Masterplan scope & civil infrastructure
Marsa Al Saadiyat covers an 8-km stretch of waterfront, incorporating 5.6 km of pristine beaches. Infrastructure development is structured around walkable urbanism, active mobility, and multi-modal transit networks. The centrepiece marine infrastructure comprises Abu Dhabi’s largest marina, built with a capacity for up to 350 berths to accommodate vessels ranging from regional sailing craft to international superyachts.
Designed so that daily life unfolds within the community rather than outside it, the masterplan is woven together by a network of green linear parks, anchored by a landscaped central park that extends to the waterfront, children’s play areas, community clubhouses with outdoor pools, sports courts, premium healthcare, and three schools, ensuring that amenities are never more than a walk, cycle or short drive from home.
Active mobility across the mega-site is facilitated by more than 140 km of interconnected pedestrian paths and a 46-km dedicated cycling network that runs through linear green parks.
The development will be connected to Umm Yifeenah Island and Reem Island through a new integrated network of roads and tunnels, enhancing infrastructure efficiency and significantly reducing travel time to the heart of Abu Dhabi.
Marsa Al Saadiyat’s masterplan will feature a 1-km retail and dining promenade.
The destination will also feature an Etihad Rail underground high-speed rail station, strengthening connectivity between Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s other emirates, supporting greater economic and social integration, and advancing the nation’s vision for a modern, integrated and sustainable transport network.
In addition, the development will be linked to an island being developed by Aldar off the coast of Saadiyat Island via a new bridge, expanding the destination’s footprint and further reinforcing its urban integration across the emirate.
Site enabling works and primary infrastructure construction are scheduled to commence in Q3 2026, with the first residential sales launches planned for H2 2026.
Urban Topologies & Cultural Infrastructure
The community’s residential profile ranges from private waterfront mansions and luxury villas to branded residences, high-rise apartments, and a dedicated elevated hillside community of standalone villas, positioned 22.5 m above sea level to make the most of the surrounding landscape.
The masterplan incorporates a social core comprising a 1-km retail and dining promenade anchored by a private yacht club and two five-star luxury hotels. Its cultural anchor is a dedicated Theatre District featuring Dar Al Funoon, a state-of-the-art performing arts venue with a capacity exceeding 6,000 seats designed for year-round theatrical, musical, and live international productions (see separate article).
Civic support facilities encompass three new K-12 schools, community clubhouses with outdoor pools, sports facilities, and premium healthcare centres. Physical integration is completed via a dedicated pedestrian walkway connecting directly to the Saadiyat Cultural District, which houses Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and teamLab Phenomena.
The island’s offer for families is well established, with each stage of the education journey catered to, from nurseries to universities. Internationally recognised institutions such as NYU Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, American Community School of Abu Dhabi, and Harrow International School Abu Dhabi are accessible to residents across the community.
Pioneer residential phase: Nouran Living
The foundational residential activation of the district began in March 2024 with Aldar’s announcement of Nouran Living, a boutique mid-rise urban address that served as the first residential development within the former Saadiyat Marina District boundary. Nouran Living embodies Aldar’s design-led urban collection, joining siblings Manarat Living and Reeman Living, targeting young professionals, academic staff, and investors.