Aldar projects: off plan Abu Dhabi and Dubai homes in 2026

Aldar projects cover most of Abu Dhabi's best known addresses, from Yas and Saadiyat to Reem and Al Raha, and since 2023 Aldar has been building in Dubai too. If you are browsing Abu Dhabi property for sale as an overseas buyer, the headline is simple: these communities sit in zones where foreigners can own, and the developer reported AED 40.6 billion of group sales in 2025, with 77% of its UAE sales going to overseas and expat buyers.

I'm Naveen, a property consultant at Almirax Properties, which has its head office in Abu Dhabi and a sales centre on Saadiyat, while I work with buyers from our Business Bay office in Dubai. Below is what each of the Aldar projects offers, who can buy, and what the 2026 numbers really say.

Who Aldar is, in numbers

Aldar was approved by Abu Dhabi's Department of Planning and Economy in October 2004 and incorporated in February 2005, with its headquarters at Al Raha. Its portfolio includes landmarks such as Gate Towers on Reem, Yas Marina Circuit and the W Hotel on Yas.

The 2026 slowdown is real, and it matches the cooler UAE market after the regional conflict early in the year. For buyers that usually means more choice and more room to negotiate. Profits held up, which matters when you are paying a developer in stages.

Can foreigners buy in Abu Dhabi?

Yes, in designated investment zones. Abu Dhabi Law No. 19 of 2005, amended in 2019, lets non-UAE nationals own property there, and the UAE government portal lists nine zones: Yas, Saadiyat, Reem, Al Maryah, Lulu, Al Raha Beach, Sayh Al Sedairah, Al Reef and Masdar City. Outside them, foreigners can hold musataha rights for up to 50 years or usufruct for up to 99 years.

A Modon buying guide from April 2026 adds Hudayriyat, Al Ghadeer and Al Shamkha, so confirm any newer zone with ADREC, the Abu Dhabi regulator. Eligibility can also be set per launch. Aldar's first Saadiyat Lagoons release in 2022 was for UAE nationals only, while The Row Saadiyat opened to all nationalities. I check the terms of each release before you pay anything.

Aldar projects on Saadiyat

Saadiyat is the island of the Saadiyat Cultural District, where Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi are open, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is due to open on 11 December 2026. Several of the newest off plan properties Abu Dhabi has seen in 2025 and 2026 are here.

• Saadiyat Lagoons: a villa community on the east of the island, launched in October 2022 with 207 villas of four to six bedrooms from AED 6.1 million.
• The Row Saadiyat: one to three bedroom apartments designed by BIG, with 315 homes in the first phase and sales from November 2025.
• Sei Saadiyat: 778 apartments and lofts across six buildings; sales of the first 265 homes opened on 16 September 2026.
• Marsa Al Saadiyat: an AED 100 billion waterfront district unveiled in July 2026. Its first community, Talay, offers 351 standalone villas of four to six bedrooms, on sale from 23 September 2026.
• Faya Al Saadiyat: 21 beachfront homes, where an eight bedroom mansion sold for AED 400 million in July 2025, which Aldar called an Abu Dhabi record.

For villa buyers I keep a separate guide to Saadiyat villas for sale that compares every community on the island.

Yas Island: Aldar new projects and established communities

Yas is the capital's leisure island, home to Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari World and SeaWorld, and a Disney theme park was announced with Miral in May 2025. Recent Aldar new projects on the island include:

• Yas Living and Yas Riva Residences, both launched in Q4 2025.
• Yas Park Place, a mid rise community launched in Q2 2026.
• The Orchids at Yas Acres, townhouses and villas added to an established community in Q2 2026.
• Yas Point, an AED 6 billion mixed use waterfront community announced in July 2026.

Because Yas Acres is already established, it also offers resale homes for buyers who want something finished.

Reem Island and Al Raha

These are Aldar's older addresses, and here I mostly look at resale homes in completed buildings. On Reem, Aldar built The Bridges and Meera, and in 2018 it launched Reflection: 374 homes in two towers, from studios to three bedrooms, priced from AED 580,000 at launch and open to all nationalities. Gate Towers also stands on Reem.

Al Raha is where Aldar has its headquarters. The Al Raha Beach waterfront includes Aldar's Al Muneera and Al Zeina, alongside Al Bandar. If you want a finished apartment near the beach with rent from day one, this is where I start when I search for Aldar properties for sale.

Aldar projects in Dubai

Aldar entered Dubai through an alliance with Dubai Holding.

• Haven: its first Dubai community, opposite Al Habtoor Polo Resort on the Dubai to Al Ain road. It plans 2,428 homes. The first phase of 462 launched in October 2023 with three bedroom townhouses from AED 2.5 million and villas from AED 3.5 million, open to all nationalities, with handovers expected in Q3 2027.
• Athlon: near Global Village, with 1,492 homes, launched in May 2024 from AED 2.8 million.
• Dubai Studio City: in May 2026 Aldar acquired an AED 1.1 billion residential and retail project there, due for completion in 2028.

Aldar projects in Dubai pair the developer's track record with Dubai's DLD rules: escrow accounts, Oqood registration and progress tracking in Dubai REST. If you are comparing them with Emaar and DAMAC launches, see my hub of off plan projects in Dubai.

Off plan Abu Dhabi: how buying works

Buying Aldar off plan follows a familiar pattern: reserve, sign, pay instalments through construction, then take handover. The local details differ.

1. Check eligibility for the release. Confirm the zone and whether the launch is open to your nationality.
2. Reserve and sign. Aldar sells through its sales centres on Yas Island and in Dubai, and through registered brokers.
3. Register the sale. Abu Dhabi charges a 2% registration fee, according to a 2026 developer guide. Confirm the current fee with ADREC or on the DARI platform before you budget.
4. Pay the instalments. Plans differ by launch. Bayut lists 40/60 plans on Saadiyat Lagoons releases, and Aldar asked for a 5% down payment at Reflection in 2018 and on Saadiyat Reserve plots in 2019.
5. Take handover. With off plan properties, Abu Dhabi completion dates are set project by project, so rely on the date written into your sale agreement, not the brochure.

When I compare off plan properties, Abu Dhabi stands out for its lower registration fee: 2% against Dubai's 4%. Want the current Aldar off plan launches matched to your budget? Book a free consultation and I will send what is actually available, not last year's brochure.

Abu Dhabi property for sale or Dubai: which suits you?

If your priority is a lower registration cost and island living close to museums and beaches, Abu Dhabi property for sale through Aldar deserves a look. If you want the widest resale choice, Dubai recorded more than 270,000 transactions in 2025, according to DLD. I cover both cities, so you can compare like for like.

Golden Visa through an Aldar home

The Golden Visa is a federal programme, so it applies to Aldar projects in Abu Dhabi as well as Dubai. ICP grants a 10 year visa for property worth at least AED 2 million, including units bought from an approved developer before completion and mortgaged homes financed by an approved local bank. My Golden Visa property guide covers the process.

Aldar properties for sale: my honest take for 2026

Aldar's H1 2026 sales fell sharply, and the wider UAE market is calmer than in 2025. That does not make Aldar projects a bad buy, but it changes the approach. Compare the launch price with recent resale prices in the same community, read the payment plan line by line, and get the handover date in writing. Nobody can guarantee price growth or rent, and I will not pretend otherwise.

When you are ready, tell me which island or city you prefer, your budget and whether you need a finished home. I will send current launches and resale options, the full cost in AED and the eligibility terms for each. Book a free consultation to start.

Frequently asked questions