H.H. Sheikh Khaled witnesses launch of AED100 billion Marsa Al Saadiyat project

His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has witnessed the launch of Marsa Al Saadiyat, a development project valued at AED100 billion and spanning across 6.4 million square metres.

Sheikh Khaled also directed the renaming of the project from Saadiyat Marina District to Marsa Al Saadiyat, adding that the new name reflects the UAE’s rich maritime heritage and puts Abu Dhabi on the global luxury landscape.

Developed by Aldar, the destination will offer luxury villas and mansions to more than 58,000 residents and will be home to Abu Dhabi’s largest marina, with capacity for up to 350 berths for sailing boats and luxury yachts.

Sheikh Khaled, who also holds the position of the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, was briefed on the masterplan during a tour of the project site. 

The masterplan is woven together by a network of green linear parks, anchored by a landscaped central park that extends to the waterfront. It will feature an 8km waterfront, including 5.6km of pristine beaches, approximately 140km of interconnected walking paths, and a 46km cycling track.

It will also include a yacht club, two luxury hotels, public parks, 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.

A scenic walkway will connect the community to Saadiyat Cultural District, giving residents easy access to the island’s world-class museums, restaurants and five-star hospitality. It will come alongside a theatre district that will be anchored by Dar al Funoon, a performing arts venue with capacity for more than 6,000 guests to enjoy year-round musicals, live productions and international performances.

Marsa Al Saadiyat is the next significant addition to that story, complementing a destination that already offers one of the world's top 20 beaches, protected natural habitats, and the greatest concentration of cultural institutions, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum, Zayed National Museum, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

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.

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.

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.

The development will also 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.

Sales of the first homes at Marsa Al Saadiyat will commence in the second half of 2026, with site enabling and infrastructure works set to begin in the third quarter of the year.