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Abu Dhabi has launched Marsa Al Saadiyat, a Dh100 billion waterfront project covering 6.4 million square metres. It is the final phase of the wider Saadiyat Island masterplan.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, attended the launch and visited the site. He reviewed the masterplan, infrastructure and community facilities.
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Sheikh Khaled also approved the new name, changing it from Saadiyat Marina District to Marsa Al Saadiyat. The name reflects the UAE’s sea heritage and the main highlight of the project: Abu Dhabi’s largest marina, which can accommodate up to 350 sailing boats and luxury yachts.
Aldar is the master developer for the project. It is handling the overall design and key infrastructure works.
8km of waterfront
The destination will cover eight kilometres of waterfront, including 5.6 kilometres of beaches. It will include homes, hotels, schools, cultural spaces, parks and commercial areas for more than 58,000 residents.
Sales of the first homes will start in the second half of 2026. Site preparation and infrastructure works are set to begin in the third quarter.
During the visit, Sheikh Khaled was briefed on the project’s public parks, boat and yacht marinas, waterfront promenade, walking paths, cycling tracks and other community facilities.
He said the project shows the UAE leadership’s focus on integrated infrastructure that supports future needs and improves the country’s appeal as a place to live.
Sheikh Khaled also said Marsa Al Saadiyat supports the UAE’s development model by combining quality of life, economic growth and sustainability for today and future generations.
Saadiyat masterplan phase
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Aldar, said the development will mark a new stage in Saadiyat Island’s growth.
“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,” Al Mubarak said.
“Abu Dhabi today stands among the world’s most compelling destinations for long-term capital, offering a combination of long-term 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,” he added.
Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group Chief Executive Officer at Aldar, said the masterplan will add more scale and character to Saadiyat Island, which is now one of Abu Dhabi’s main cultural and lifestyle areas.
The residential offering will include private mansions, luxury villas, waterfront apartments and branded residences. It will also feature a hillside community of standalone villas rising 22.5 metres and designed to make the most of the natural surroundings.
A central landscaped park will stretch towards the waterfront and connect with a network of green spaces. The community will also include children’s play areas, clubhouses with outdoor swimming pools, sports courts, healthcare facilities and three schools.
The masterplan includes about 140 kilometres of connected walking paths and a 46-kilometre cycling track. Everyday services will be within walking, cycling or short driving distance of homes.
Marina, hotels, arts venue
A one-kilometre promenade will be the main retail and dining area of the development. Marsa Al Saadiyat will also include a yacht club and two luxury hotels, creating a lively leisure and commercial hub around the marina.
A theatre district will be centred around Dar al Funoon, a performing arts venue with capacity for more than 6,000 guests. It is planned to host musicals, live shows and international performances all year round.
A scenic walkway will connect Marsa Al Saadiyat directly to the Saadiyat Cultural District, giving residents easy access to museums, restaurants and hotels.
The cultural district includes Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum, Zayed National Museum and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is also planned for the island.
Saadiyat Island’s wider education network includes nurseries, schools and universities. Nearby institutions include NYU Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, American Community School of Abu Dhabi and Harrow International School Abu Dhabi.
The island also has beaches and protected natural areas, which have shaped the project’s focus on outdoor living and active lifestyles.
New road and rail links
Marsa Al Saadiyat will connect to Umm Yifeenah Island and Reem Island through a new road and tunnel network. These links are expected to reduce travel time between the development and central Abu Dhabi.
The district will also include an underground station for Etihad Rail’s high-speed passenger service. This planned station will improve links between Abu Dhabi and the other emirates.
A new bridge will also connect Marsa Al Saadiyat with another island being developed off Saadiyat Island’s coast.
The launch of home sales and infrastructure works later in 2026 will be the first step in delivering this new waterfront district. A full completion timeline has not yet been announced.
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This article was posted on UAEMoments
