Marsa Al Saadiyat by Aldar: The AED 100 Billion Final Chapter of Saadiyat Island
Saadiyat Island just got its last big move. On 22 July 2026, Aldar unveiled Marsa Al Saadiyat — an AED 100 billion (US$27.2 billion) waterfront masterplan spanning 6.4 million square metres and 8 kilometres of coastline. It is the single largest development ever announced on the island, and Aldar is explicit about what it represents: the final chapter of Saadiyat.
For anyone tracking Abu Dhabi real estate, that phrase matters more than the headline number. Saadiyat is a finite island. When this masterplan is built out, there is no phase six.
Key takeaways
- Marsa Al Saadiyat is Aldar's AED 100 billion final phase of Saadiyat Island, launched 22 July 2026.
- It covers 6.4 million sqm across 8 km of waterfront, planned for 58,000+ residents.
- Five districts: The Marina, The Residences, The Park, The Culture, The Promenade.
- Anchored by Abu Dhabi's largest marina (350+ berths), 5.6 km of beaches and a 6,000-seat theatre district.
- Served by an underground Etihad Rail station plus new tunnels to Reem and Umm Yifeenah islands.
- Infrastructure works start Q3 2026. First home sales open in H2 2026. Prices are not yet released.
Marsa Al Saadiyat at a glance
| Developer | Aldar Properties |
| Location | Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi |
| Development value | AED 100 billion (US$27.2bn) |
| Total area | 6.4 million sqm |
| Waterfront | 8 km coastline, 5.6 km of beaches |
| Planned population | 58,000+ residents |
| Marina | 350+ berths — the largest in Abu Dhabi |
| Property types | Mansions, hillside villas, waterfront apartments, branded residences |
| Infrastructure start | Q3 2026 |
| First sales | H2 2026 |
| Sustainability | Estidama 2 Pearl target, LEED Silver & Gold |
The five districts of Marsa Al Saadiyat
1. The Marina — 350 berths and a yacht club
The anchor of the masterplan is a 350-berth marina, the largest in Abu Dhabi, built for everything from day boats to superyachts, with a private yacht club and two luxury hotels alongside it. Berth-linked addresses are the scarcest product in the emirate; nothing on Yas, Reem or Al Maryah competes at this scale.
2. The Residences — mansions to hillside villas
The residential mix spans private mansions, luxury villas, waterfront apartments, branded residences, and — the genuinely unusual part — a hillside community of stand-alone villas set at a 22.5-metre elevation. Abu Dhabi is famously flat, so elevated sea views from an inland plot are close to unheard of here.
3. The Park — 140 km of paths and three schools
A landscaped central park threaded with roughly 140 km of interconnected walking paths and a 46 km cycling loop, plus three schools, healthcare facilities, clubhouses, sports courts and children's play areas. This is the layer that turns a resort address into a year-round family community — and it is what makes the difference for end-user resale demand.
4. The Culture — Dar al Funoon and the museums next door
Dar al Funoon, a theatre district built for audiences of 6,000+, plus a direct walkable connection into the Saadiyat Cultural District — Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and the island's galleries within walking distance.
5. The Promenade — 1 km of retail and 5.6 km of beach
A 1 km retail and dining strip running along the water, opening onto 5.6 km of beaches. Continuous, activated waterfront is what separates a masterplan that holds value from a cluster of towers that does not.
Why the Etihad Rail station is the most underrated detail
Marsa Al Saadiyat is planned around an underground Etihad Rail station, along with a new road and tunnel network linking Saadiyat to Reem Island and Umm Yifeenah Island. With Etihad Rail's passenger service coming online, a rail-connected beachfront community is a category that barely exists in the UAE today. Station catchments have a long, consistent record of repricing once services actually run — and here it is designed in from day one rather than retrofitted.
Marsa Al Saadiyat vs the rest of Saadiyat Island
| Community | Character | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Marsa Al Saadiyat | Marina-led masterplan, full island district | Sales H2 2026 |
| Saadiyat Grove | Urban core beside the Cultural District | Under development |
| Mamsha Gardens | Beachfront apartments, walk-to-sand living | Selling / building |
| The Row Saadiyat | Low-density townhouse living | Selling / building |
| Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences | Museum-branded ultra-luxury | Selling |
| Nudra by IMKAN | Custom beachfront villas | Delivered / limited |
Marsa Al Saadiyat prices and payment plan
Aldar has not published prices for Marsa Al Saadiyat. Official price lists, unit mixes and payment plans are released with the first sales phase in H2 2026, and registered buyers receive them ahead of general release.
Based on how Aldar has structured its previous Saadiyat launches, expect a construction-linked plan: a deposit at booking (typically 10–20%), instalments tied to build milestones, and the balance at handover. Treat that as a planning assumption, not a published figure — we update this page the day Aldar releases the official plan.
Is Marsa Al Saadiyat a good investment?
Three things carry the case, and one argues for patience.
- Hard scarcity. This is explicitly the island's final phase. There is no land bank queued behind it, and Saadiyat cannot expand.
- Proven absorption. Saadiyat's existing communities have run at persistently tight availability, and the cultural and hospitality anchors keep the tenant pool unusually broad — museum-district professionals, hospitality executives, long-stay leisure tenants.
- Phase-one entry. The first release on a masterplan this size is the lowest entry price the project will ever carry, and off-plan buyers capture the spread between launch and handover. See our Abu Dhabi investment guide for how that has played out across the emirate.
The counterweight: this is a multi-phase build. The marina, the theatre district and the promenade mature over years, not months. Marsa Al Saadiyat suits a buyer with a hold period — not a quick flip.
Buying at AED 2 million or above also puts you in range of the UAE Golden Visa, which is a meaningful part of the maths for overseas buyers.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the developer of Marsa Al Saadiyat?
Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi's largest listed developer and the master developer behind Saadiyat Grove, Mamsha, The Row and Yas Island's flagship communities.
Where exactly is Marsa Al Saadiyat?
On Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, occupying 8 km of coastline and connecting directly to the Saadiyat Cultural District, with new tunnel links to Reem Island and Umm Yifeenah Island.
When do sales start?
The first phase of home sales opens in H2 2026. Site enabling and infrastructure works begin in Q3 2026.
How much do properties at Marsa Al Saadiyat cost?
Pricing has not been announced. Aldar releases the official price list with the first sales phase in H2 2026; registered buyers get it first.
Can foreigners buy property in Marsa Al Saadiyat?
Yes. Saadiyat Island is a designated investment zone where non-UAE nationals can buy freehold, and purchases from AED 2 million can qualify for the UAE Golden Visa.
What makes Marsa Al Saadiyat different from other Abu Dhabi waterfront projects?
Scale and scarcity. It combines Abu Dhabi's largest marina, 5.6 km of beaches, a rail station, a 6,000-seat theatre district and 58,000 planned residents into one masterplan — and it is the last phase of an island that cannot grow.
How to get priority access
Registered buyers receive the price list, unit mix and payment plan ahead of the general release — and in Aldar's phase-one launches, the strongest inventory tends to clear inside the first release window. If Marsa Al Saadiyat is on your list, register your interest before H2 2026, not after the announcement.
Talk to the Zain Middle East Abu Dhabi team for the full masterplan breakdown, unit-type guidance and priority access the moment pricing goes live. You can also browse our current off-plan projects in Abu Dhabi.