Al Maryah Island

Originally known as Sowwah Island, Al Maryah Island was developed by Mubadala as Abu Dhabi's central business and lifestyle district. It covers about 114 hectares (roughly 1.23 million sq m) surrounded by a 5.4 km waterfront promenade. In recent years Mubadala and Aldar Properties have expanded their partnership across the island's commercial towers, retail spaces and a 50-hectare northern waterfront expansion.

The island combines Grade-A office towers around ADGM Square with five-star hotels, a multi-specialty hospital and residential towers, making it one of the few walk-to-work waterfront districts in Abu Dhabi.

Daily life on Al Maryah Island is urban, walkable and centred on the waterfront promenade and air-conditioned connections into The Galleria and ADGM Square. Many residents work in the financial district or at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and can walk between home, office, restaurants and shops without needing a car during the week.

The waterfront promenade hosts seasonal events and outdoor dining looking across the water toward Al Reem Island and the Abu Dhabi skyline. It suits professionals, executives, couples and families who prefer high-rise waterfront living with immediate access to dining, retail and healthcare over a suburban villa community.

• The Galleria Al Maryah Island: flagship shopping and dining destination with more than 400 stores, luxury boutiques, cinemas, family entertainment and fine-dining restaurants including Zuma, LPM, Coya and Cipriani

• Healthcare: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a 364-bed multi-specialty hospital located directly on the island's waterfront

• Five-star hotels: Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi and Rosewood Abu Dhabi, both offering spas, pools, gyms and restaurants connected to The Galleria

• Business district: Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM Square), an English common-law financial free zone housing global banks, asset managers and corporate offices

• Outdoor spaces: 5.4 km waterfront promenade with pedestrian paths, waterfront plazas and rooftop sky parks

Al Maryah Island attracts financial, legal and healthcare executives working in ADGM and Cleveland Clinic, alongside international investors who want a central Abu Dhabi address. Because the island has no standalone villas, the resident profile skews toward professionals, couples, smaller families and second-home owners using hotel-serviced residences.

Schools and universities are a short drive away on neighbouring Al Reem Island, including Repton School Abu Dhabi and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and on Saadiyat Island.

• Bridges and highways: linked by multiple road and pedestrian bridges directly to Al Reem Island, the Abu Dhabi mainland (Al Zahiyah) and the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Highway (E12) toward Saadiyat and Yas Island

• Al Reem Island: about 3 to 5 minutes by car

• Al Zahiyah (Abu Dhabi mainland): about 5 minutes by car

• Abu Dhabi Corniche: about 10 to 12 minutes by car

• Saadiyat Island (Louvre Abu Dhabi): about 10 to 15 minutes by car

• Yas Island: about 20 to 25 minutes by car

• Zayed International Airport (AUH): about 25 to 30 minutes by car

• Public transport: served by Abu Dhabi public bus routes and taxis, with air-conditioned pedestrian links between the main commercial, hotel and retail buildings

Al Maryah Island is an apartment and branded-residence market rather than a villa community. Key residential developments include:

Property prices on Al Maryah Island split into two distinct tiers. Canal-facing apartments in non-branded buildings such as Al Maryah Vista start around AED 720,000 to AED 1.4 million for studios and one-bedroom units, while five-star branded residences at Four Seasons, W Residences and The Ritz-Carlton Residences start from about AED 3.95 million and rise past AED 40 million for penthouses.

On the rental side, Bayut's Abu Dhabi market data puts average asking rents on Al Maryah Island at around AED 151 per sq ft a year, with studios and one-bedrooms commanding higher rates per sq ft than larger apartments. Speak with Ahyan Real Estate to compare current resale and off-plan prices across the island's towers.

Al Maryah Island's investment case rests on limited waterfront land, the expansion of ADGM as a financial hub, and year-round tenant demand from executives working on the island and on neighbouring Al Reem Island. Foreign buyers can purchase freehold title within the investment zone.

The main checks for buyers are the wide gap in price and service charges between branded hotel residences and standard apartment towers, and the delivery timelines of new off-plan launches. Purchases of AED 2 million or more can support a Golden Visa application, subject to official conditions.