Abu Dhabi has officially launched Marsa Al Saadiyat, a Dh100 billion waterfront development marking the final phase of the broader Saadiyat Island masterplan. The project spans 6.4 million square metres and will transform an eight-kilometre stretch of coastline into a mixed-use community featuring homes, hotels, cultural venues, and recreational facilities.
Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, oversaw the launch and visited the site to review the overall masterplan, infrastructure plans, and community amenities. He also directed the renaming of the development from Saadiyat Marina District to Marsa Al Saadiyat, a name chosen to reflect the UAE’s maritime heritage and the development's centerpiece—a marina designed to accommodate up to 350 sailing boats and luxury yachts.
Adlar, the project’s master developer, is responsible for the design and primary infrastructure. The development will include 5.6 kilometres of beaches and aims to serve more than 58,000 residents through a combination of private mansions, luxury villas, waterfront apartments, and branded residences. A hillside neighbourhood with standalone villas, elevated 22.5 metres above sea level, is planned to provide panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Sales of the first homes are expected to begin in the second half of 2026, with site enabling and infrastructure works scheduled to commence in the third quarter of the year.
Key community features include a large landscaped central park extending to the waterfront, linking green spaces throughout the development. Residents will have access to three schools, healthcare facilities, sports courts, swimming pools, clubhouses, and children’s play areas. The masterplan also incorporates 140 kilometres of walking paths and a 46-kilometre cycling network to encourage active lifestyles, ensuring daily amenities are within walking or cycling distance.
A one-kilometre waterfront promenade will serve as the district’s retail and dining hub, complemented by a yacht club and two luxury hotels. Theatre and entertainment options will be anchored by Dar Al Funoon, a performing arts venue with seating for more than 6,000 guests, expected to host musicals, concerts, and international productions year-round.
The development also offers residents direct access to the nearby Saadiyat Cultural District via a landscaped walkway connecting major cultural attractions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Aldar, described the project as a new phase in the ongoing expansion of Saadiyat Island. Meanwhile, Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group Chief Executive Officer at Aldar, noted that Marsa Al Saadiyat will contribute scale and distinctiveness to Saadiyat Island’s reputation as a key cultural and lifestyle district within Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Khaled highlighted that the initiative underscores the UAE leadership’s commitment to developing integrated infrastructure to meet future needs and enhance the country’s attractiveness as a place to live.