Marsa Al Saadiyat: Everything Known So Far
Updated 13 August 2026 · By the Cresco local market team
On 22 July 2026 Aldar launched Marsa Al Saadiyat, an AED 100 billion waterfront masterplan that completes Saadiyat Island. It covers 6.4 million square metres, it will house more than 58,000 residents, and it includes Abu Dhabi’s largest marina. First residential sales are expected in the second half of 2026, which means now. This page tracks what has actually been confirmed and, just as importantly, what has not.
What was announced
Marsa Al Saadiyat was inaugurated by HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. He also directed that the project be renamed. It was previously called Saadiyat Marina District. If you have older material referring to Saadiyat Marina District, it is the same site.
Aldar describes it as the final phase of the Saadiyat Island masterplan. That framing matters. There is no more Saadiyat after this.
The confirmed numbers
| Item | Confirmed |
|---|---|
| Launch date | 22 July 2026 |
| Development value | AED 100 billion, around USD 27.23 billion |
| Total area | 6.4 million square metres |
| Planned population | More than 58,000 residents |
| Waterfront | 8 km, including 5.6 km of beaches |
| Marina | Abu Dhabi’s largest, up to 350 berths for sailing boats and yachts |
| Retail and dining | A 1 km promenade |
| Walking network | Approximately 140 km of interconnected paths |
| Cycling network | 46 km |
| Hotels | Two luxury hotels, operators not yet announced |
| Rail | An underground Etihad Rail station |
| Infrastructure works begin | Q3 2026 |
| First residential sales | Second half of 2026 |
The six zones
- Residential neighbourhoods
- A landscaped central park
- Marina and yacht club
- Theatre district, anchored by Dar Al Funoon, a Frank Gehry designed performing arts venue with capacity for more than 6,000 guests
- Schools and healthcare
- Beachfront and promenade
What you will be able to buy
Aldar has described four product categories. None of them has a project name yet.
- Private mansions
- Luxury villas, including a hillside community of standalone villas
- Waterfront apartments
- Branded residences, with the brand partner still to be announced
Why it connects to the rest of Saadiyat
A scenic walkway will link Marsa Al Saadiyat directly to the Saadiyat Cultural District. That district already holds the Louvre Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, with Zayed National Museum, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi still to come.
That is the single strongest argument for the address. Very few waterfront masterplans anywhere sit walking distance from a cultural quarter of that weight, and the museums are being built regardless of how the property market performs.
How we would think about it
- Register early, commit late. First releases on an Aldar masterplan of this profile are usually allocated rather than sold openly. Getting on the list costs nothing. Signing before you have seen a price list and a payment plan costs a lot.
- The marina and the theatre are the differentiators. 350 berths and a Frank Gehry venue are not features another developer can replicate on Saadiyat, because there is no more Saadiyat.
- Watch the Etihad Rail station. An underground station inside the masterplan is a genuine long term value driver. Note that no completion date for it has been published.
- Do not price in the whole 58,000 population. That is a build out figure across a masterplan with no announced completion date. Early phases will feel like a construction site for years.
Marsa Al Saadiyat questions, answered
What is Marsa Al Saadiyat?
An AED 100 billion, 6.4 million square metre waterfront masterplan by Aldar on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, launched on 22 July 2026. It is the final phase of the Saadiyat Island masterplan and will house more than 58,000 residents.
Was it called something else before?
Yes. It was previously known as Saadiyat Marina District. It was renamed Marsa Al Saadiyat at launch on the direction of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
When can I buy in Marsa Al Saadiyat?
Aldar expects first residential sales in the second half of 2026. Infrastructure works were due to begin in the third quarter of 2026. No individual project inside the masterplan has been named or priced yet.
How much does property in Marsa Al Saadiyat cost?
No prices have been published. As of 13 August 2026 Aldar has not released a price list for any project inside Marsa Al Saadiyat. Any figure you are shown at this stage is an estimate rather than a quoted price.
What will be built there?
Private mansions, luxury villas including a hillside community of standalone villas, waterfront apartments and branded residences. Plus two luxury hotels, a marina with up to 350 berths, a 1 km retail and dining promenade, a theatre district anchored by the Frank Gehry designed Dar Al Funoon, schools, healthcare and an underground Etihad Rail station.
Can a foreigner buy in Marsa Al Saadiyat?
Saadiyat Island is a designated investment zone in Abu Dhabi where foreign nationals can acquire freehold ownership of the property. Confirm the exact title basis for the specific plot and project at the point of purchase, as terms can differ between projects.
Want to be on the list for the first Marsa Al Saadiyat release? We already handle Saadiyat Island across Aldar, Taraf, ESK and Nord stock. Tell us what you are looking for and we will come back to you the day pricing is released, not a week later.
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