If you have been searching for Saadiyat Marina District, you are looking for a place that now carries a different name. On 22 July 2026 Aldar Properties unveiled the district publicly, and at the launch His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, directed that it be renamed Marsa Al Saadiyat. The land, the masterplan and the marina are the same. Only the name has changed.
This guide explains what the district is, what Aldar has committed to building there, when the first homes go on sale, and what you can buy on Saadiyat Island in the meantime, with current prices from our own catalogue. If you want the project page itself, see Marsa Al Saadiyat, and for the island as a whole read our Saadiyat Island guide.
Saadiyat Marina District Is Now Marsa Al Saadiyat
Marsa Al Saadiyat activates the final phase of the Saadiyat Island masterplan. Aldar is the master developer, responsible for the overall design and for delivering the primary infrastructure. The gross development value is AED 100 billion, which makes it one of the largest single waterfront projects announced in the United Arab Emirates.
For buyers the practical consequences of the renaming are simple. Older listings, articles and portal pages still say Saadiyat Marina District, and they are describing this same destination. Anything published by Aldar from July 2026 onwards uses Marsa Al Saadiyat. When you compare information, check the date before you compare the detail, because the masterplan released at launch is far larger than the versions circulated before it.
Marsa Al Saadiyat at a Glance
| Former name | Saadiyat Marina District |
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| Current name | Marsa Al Saadiyat |
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| Master developer | Aldar Properties |
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| Launched | 22 July 2026 |
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| Gross development value | AED 100 billion |
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| Total area | 6.4 million square metres |
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| Coastline | 8 km, including 5.6 km of beaches |
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| Marina | Abu Dhabi's largest, more than 350 berths |
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| Residents planned | More than 58,000 |
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| Home types | Private mansions, villas, waterfront apartments, branded residences, hillside villas |
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| Promenade | 1 km of retail, dining, a yacht club and two luxury hotels |
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| Culture | A theatre district anchored by Dar Al Funoon, capacity more than 6,000 |
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| Outdoors | 140 km of walking paths, a 46 km cycling loop, every home within 150 m of it |
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| Education and health | Three schools, nurseries, community clubhouses, premium healthcare |
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| Transport | Underground Etihad Rail station, new roads and tunnels, a bridge to a new Aldar island |
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| Sustainability | Estidama 2 Pearl target, Fitwel principles, LEED Silver and Gold for key assets |
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| First home sales | Second half of 2026 |
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| Infrastructure works | From Q3 2026 |
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Where the District Sits on Saadiyat Island
Saadiyat Island lies about 500 metres off the Abu Dhabi coast. Marsa Al Saadiyat occupies the island's remaining waterfront, wrapping 8 kilometres of coastline and sitting directly beside the Saadiyat Cultural District, which it will be connected to by a scenic pedestrian walkway. That places the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena, the Zayed National Museum and the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi within a short walk or drive of the new homes.
| Destination | Approximate drive |
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| Saadiyat Cultural District | 5 minutes |
| Saadiyat Beach | 5 minutes |
| New York University Abu Dhabi | 10 minutes |
| Abu Dhabi city centre | 10 minutes |
| Al Reem Island | 15 minutes |
| Al Maryah Island and ADGM | 15 minutes |
| Yas Island | 20 minutes |
| Zayed International Airport | 20 minutes |
Those times are the island's today. Aldar has committed to new roads and tunnels linking Marsa Al Saadiyat directly to Umm Yifeenah Island and Al Reem Island, which the developer expects will cut the drive to the mainland further, plus a bridge to a new island Aldar is developing off the Saadiyat coast.
What Is Being Built
The marina and the promenade
The centre of the destination is Abu Dhabi's largest marina, with more than 350 berths sized for everything from sailing boats to superyachts, lined with waterfront restaurants. Beside it runs a one kilometre promenade holding retail, dining, a yacht club and two luxury hotels. This is the commercial and social core of the district, and the reason the name Marsa, Arabic for harbour, replaced the old one.
Beaches and the outdoors
The masterplan includes 5.6 kilometres of beach along the 8 kilometres of coastline, roughly 140 kilometres of interconnected walking paths and a 46 kilometre cycling loop. Aldar has stated that every home will sit within 150 metres of that loop, which is an unusually specific commitment and a good indicator of how the residential clusters are being laid out.
Parks, schools and healthcare
Green linear parks run through the district and are anchored by a landscaped central park that reaches the waterfront. The plan also includes children's play areas, community clubhouses with outdoor pools, sports courts, premium healthcare and three schools, with the stated intention that residents reach daily amenities on foot, by bike or with a short drive rather than leaving the community.
The theatre district
A theatre district will be anchored by Dar Al Funoon, a performing arts venue with capacity for more than 6,000 guests, designed for musicals, live productions and international performances. For a district built beside the largest concentration of museums in the region, this is the piece that extends the island's cultural offer into the evening economy.
Transport
An underground Etihad Rail high speed station will sit inside a transit oriented development hub within the district, connecting it to the national rail network. Combined with the new road and tunnel links, this is the first time a Saadiyat community has been planned around public transport rather than the car.
The Museums Next Door
Marsa Al Saadiyat is being built beside the greatest concentration of cultural institutions in the region, and the walkway between the two districts is part of the masterplan rather than a later addition. Residents will be within a short walk of the following.
| Institution | Architect | Status |
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| Louvre Abu Dhabi | Jean Nouvel | Open |
| Zayed National Museum | Foster and Partners | Open |
| Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi | Mecanoo | Open |
| teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi | MZ Architects with teamLab | Open |
| Manarat Al Saadiyat | Visitor and exhibition centre | Open |
| Guggenheim Abu Dhabi | Frank Gehry | Opening 2026 |
| Dar Al Funoon | Performing arts venue, more than 6,000 seats | Planned, inside the district |
Schools and universities
Saadiyat Island already covers every stage of education, from nurseries through to university. Aldar lists New York University Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, the American Community School of Abu Dhabi and Harrow International School Abu Dhabi as accessible to residents across the island, and three further schools are planned inside Marsa Al Saadiyat itself. For families relocating to Abu Dhabi, this is the single biggest practical difference between Saadiyat and most other island communities.
Saadiyat Island Community by Community
Marsa Al Saadiyat is one district of several. If you are comparing addresses on the island, this is how they differ.
| Community | Character | Typical homes |
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| Marsa Al Saadiyat | The new waterfront district, marina and promenade | Mansions, villas, apartments, branded residences |
| Saadiyat Cultural District | Museum quarter, walkable, the island's centre of gravity | Apartments and branded residences |
| Saadiyat Beach | Beachfront living beside the golf club | Villas and apartments |
| Saadiyat Lagoons and Saadiyat Reserve | Low density, mangroves and water channels | Large villas |
| Saadiyat Grove | Mixed use, retail led, next to the museums | Studios to 3 bedroom apartments |
| Mamsha Al Saadiyat | The beachfront promenade, delivered and lived in | Beachfront apartments |
| Soho Square and Nouran Living | Established, the island's accessible entry point | Studios to 3 bedroom apartments |
Names That Get Confused
Three Saadiyat names sound alike and mean different things, which is worth clearing up before you search or sign anything.
- Marsa Al Saadiyat is the new 6.4 million square metre district, formerly Saadiyat Marina District, where homes go on sale in the second half of 2026.
- Mamsha Al Saadiyat is the delivered beachfront promenade community in the Cultural District, where homes are bought on resale today.
- Saadiyat Marina, as a search, now returns both the district and the marina itself, the 350 berth harbour at the centre of Marsa Al Saadiyat.
Homes Planned in Marsa Al Saadiyat
Aldar has described the residential mix but has not yet published prices, layouts or payment plans. What has been confirmed is a curated collection of private mansions, luxury villas, waterfront apartments and branded residences, plus a hillside community of standalone villas rising to 22.5 metres, each positioned for the surrounding landscape. In total the district is planned to house more than 58,000 residents.
Sales of the first homes start in the second half of 2026, with site enabling and infrastructure works beginning in the third quarter. Because the first release will be limited and Aldar launches on Saadiyat have historically sold quickly, buyers who want a unit in the first phase usually register interest before the public launch. You can do that on our Marsa Al Saadiyat page, or see the catalogue entry at Marsa Al Saadiyat off-plan project.
What You Can Buy on Saadiyat Island Today
While Marsa Al Saadiyat prices are unreleased, the rest of the island is active. The table below lists live off-plan projects on Saadiyat Island with their current starting price, expected handover and payment plan, taken from our own catalogue. Every project is by Aldar Properties except Soho Square, which is by Bloom Holding. Prices are starting prices and change with each release.
| Project | Homes | From (AED) | Handover and plan |
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| Saadiyat Grove | Studio to 3 bed | 905,000 | 2026, 40/60 |
| Manarat Living III | Studio to 3 bed | 1,050,000 | Q2 2028, 10/55/35 |
| Soho Square | 1 to 3 bed | 1,400,000 | Completed 2019, resale |
| Sei Saadiyat | 1 to 3 bed, lofts | 2,950,000 | Q4 2030, 50/50 |
| Mamsha Al Saadiyat | Apartments | 3,000,000 | Delivered, resale |
| Mamsha Palm | 1 to 4 bed, duplex | 3,600,000 | Q4 2028, 65/35 |
| The Row | 1 to 3 bed | 3,700,000 | Q1 2030, 65/35 |
| Al Sidr | 4 to 6 bed villas | 6,100,000 | Q3 2027, 10/30/60 |
| Mandarin Oriental The Residences | Branded | 6,200,000 | 2028, on request |
| Saadiyat Lagoons Phase 2 | 4 to 6 bed villas | 7,964,550 | 2026, 10/50/40 |
The full list, including projects by Bloom Holding, Reportage Properties, SDIC, Taraf Holding and NORD, is on our Saadiyat Island off-plan projects page. For ready homes see apartments for sale in Saadiyat Island and villas for sale in Saadiyat Island.
Saadiyat Island Prices Right Now
The bands below come from the homes listed with us on Saadiyat Island at the time of writing. They are a snapshot of asking prices in delivered buildings, which is the closest reference available while Marsa Al Saadiyat prices are unreleased.
| Home | Asking price range (AED) | Where |
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| Studio | Around 1,150,000 | Nouran Living |
| 1 bedroom apartment | 1,980,000 to 3,818,438 | Saadiyat Cultural District, Nouran Living |
| 2 bedroom apartment | 2,300,000 to 8,342,682 | Soho Square, Nouran Living, Cultural District, The Row |
| 5 bedroom villa | Around 9,600,000 | Saadiyat Lagoons |
The spread inside a single bedroom count is wide on Saadiyat because building, floor and view matter more here than on most Abu Dhabi islands. A 2 bedroom apartment in a standard building and a 2 bedroom in a beachfront or branded address are different products at different prices. For how those prices convert into returns, read our Abu Dhabi real estate ROI guide.
Who Marsa Al Saadiyat Suits
Boat owners and waterfront buyers
More than 350 berths and a yacht club on a one kilometre promenade make this the most boat oriented community Abu Dhabi has planned. If proximity to a berth is part of the decision, this district is the only one on the island built around it.
Families
Three schools inside the district, nurseries, clubhouses, sports courts and healthcare, plus the island's existing institutions from Cranleigh Abu Dhabi and Harrow International School Abu Dhabi to the American Community School and New York University Abu Dhabi, cover the full education journey without leaving Saadiyat.
Investors
The district is an early entry into the final phase of an island that is already established, with the Cultural District, the beaches and the schools delivered rather than promised. That combination, a mature location with a new supply pipeline, is unusual. Our Abu Dhabi investment guide covers how to assess it, and our off-plan buying guide explains how launch purchases work.
Golden Visa buyers
Property purchases at or above AED 2,000,000 can support a 10 year UAE Golden Visa application. Most of the Saadiyat projects in the table above clear that threshold, as will the majority of homes in Marsa Al Saadiyat. The conditions are in our Golden Visa guide.
How to Buy in the District
Saadiyat Island is a designated freehold zone, so buyers of any nationality can own a home there outright. Off-plan purchases follow the standard Abu Dhabi process: reservation, sale and purchase agreement, registration with the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, then payments against the project's plan until handover. The full sequence, including the documents and the fees you should budget for, is in our step by step buying guide.
For a first release like Marsa Al Saadiyat, the practical points are earlier than that. Register before the launch date, decide the home type and budget in advance, and have identification and funds ready, because allocations in Aldar launches on Saadiyat are usually resolved in days rather than weeks.
What to Check Before You Buy in a New District
Buying at the launch of a masterplan is different from buying a finished home. The upside is first choice of position and the earliest price, and the discipline that protects it comes down to a few checks.
- Escrow. Off-plan payments in Abu Dhabi go into a project escrow account, not to the developer directly. Confirm the account before any transfer.
- Registration. The sale must be registered with the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre. Keep the registration record with your sale and purchase agreement.
- What is sold and what is planned. A masterplan brochure describes the district. Your contract covers one home. Read what is committed for your building and your handover date, not the destination around it.
- The payment plan against your own cash flow. Plans on Saadiyat run from 40/60 to 65/35 and 50/50. The instalment dates matter more than the headline split, so map them against your income before committing.
- Service charges. Waterfront communities with marinas, promenades and large landscaped areas carry higher service charges than standard apartment buildings. Ask for the estimate in writing.
- Resale and handover terms. Check the point at which you may resell before handover, and the penalties on both sides for late payment or late delivery.
Our off-plan buying guide covers each of these in detail, and our agents will go through them with you on any unit before you reserve.
Timeline
| Stage | When |
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| Public launch and renaming from Saadiyat Marina District | 22 July 2026 |
| Site enabling and infrastructure works begin | Q3 2026 |
| First homes go on sale | Second half of 2026 |
| Masterplan delivery | Phased, dates to be confirmed by Aldar |
Aldar has not published a completion date for the district as a whole, which is normal for a masterplan of this size. Individual projects inside it will carry their own handover dates as they are released, in the same way Sei Saadiyat carries Q4 2030 and Mamsha Palm carries Q4 2028.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saadiyat Marina District still called that?
No. Aldar renamed it Marsa Al Saadiyat at the public launch on 22 July 2026, at the direction of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Older material still uses the previous name for the same district.
Where is Marsa Al Saadiyat?
On Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, along 8 kilometres of the island's remaining coastline, directly beside the Saadiyat Cultural District and about 10 minutes from Abu Dhabi city centre and 20 minutes from Zayed International Airport.
Who is the developer?
Aldar Properties is the master developer, responsible for the masterplan and for delivering the primary infrastructure.
When do homes go on sale?
Sales of the first homes start in the second half of 2026. Site enabling and infrastructure works begin in the third quarter of 2026.
What will homes cost?
Aldar has not released prices, sizes or payment plans. For a reference point, live Saadiyat Island projects currently start from AED 905,000 for an apartment and from AED 7,964,550 for a villa, and delivered homes on the island are asking from about AED 1,150,000 for a studio.
What types of homes will be available?
Private mansions, luxury villas, waterfront apartments, branded residences and a hillside community of standalone villas.
How big is the district?
6.4 million square metres, with a gross development value of AED 100 billion and capacity for more than 58,000 residents.
Can foreigners buy there?
Yes. Saadiyat Island is a designated freehold zone, so buyers of all nationalities can own property with full ownership rights.
What is Dar Al Funoon?
A performing arts venue with capacity for more than 6,000 guests that will anchor the theatre district inside Marsa Al Saadiyat, hosting musicals, live productions and international performances.
Will Marsa Al Saadiyat be connected to Etihad Rail?
Yes. An underground high speed Etihad Rail station is planned inside a transit oriented hub in the district, alongside new roads and tunnels linking it to Umm Yifeenah Island and Al Reem Island.
How do I register interest before the launch?
Register on our Marsa Al Saadiyat page or call 800 666 888. We will confirm your home type and budget, then contact you as soon as Aldar releases prices and the launch date.
What can I buy on Saadiyat while I wait for the launch?
Active projects include Saadiyat Grove from AED 905,000, Manarat Living III from AED 1,050,000, Sei Saadiyat from AED 2,950,000, Mamsha Palm from AED 3,600,000 and Saadiyat Lagoons Phase 2 from AED 7,964,550. The complete list is on our Saadiyat Island off-plan projects page.
Continue Reading
To discuss Marsa Al Saadiyat or any Saadiyat Island home with our team, call 800 666 888 or contact Masterpiece Property.
