Al Maryah Island expansion: Aldar and Mubadala to build out the north side for AED 60bn+
Aldar (60%) and Mubadala (40%) will develop the last major plot on Al Maryah: 1.5m sqm of space, 450 000+ sqm of Grade A offices, 3 000+ homes and three new bridges, with a GDV above AED 60bn. What it means for Al Reem and Saadiyat owners.
Al Maryah Island is where Abu Dhabi does business: ADGM, the Four Seasons and Rosewood towers, The Galleria. There is almost no land left on it, and the last large plot, on the north shore, has now been handed to a single scheme. On 10 December 2025 Mubadala and Aldar announced a joint venture to build it out. As of September 2026 the project is at the enabling-works stage.
The numbers
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Aldar 60%, Mubadala 40% |
| Land | about 500 000 sqm on the north side |
| New built area | 1.5m sqm mixed use |
| Gross development value | above AED 60bn |
| Grade A offices | 450 000+ sqm, doubling the island's supply |
| Homes | 3 000+ waterfront residences |
| Retail | 40 000+ sqm |
| Access | three new bridges — to Al Reem, the mainland and towards Saadiyat |
The plan also includes hotels, a marina, the Abu Dhabi Convention Centre, 2.5 km of air-conditioned walkways, 12 000+ parking spaces and a bay fountain firing water up to 75 metres. A fifth of the site is set aside as open space.
Why the capital needs twice the office space
This is ADGM's growth expressed in concrete. At the time of the announcement the financial centre reported more than 11 000 active licences and around 40 000 professionals; by the first half of 2026 it was close to 14 000 licences and over 49 000 people. Grade A space on Al Maryah is full, and tenants have been spilling onto Al Reem, which has been inside ADGM's jurisdiction since 2023 — see ADGM on Al Reem and the funds moving in.
Talk to a licensed broker: 📲 +971 50 120 32 64 on WhatsApp, @dubai_oleg on Telegram
What it means for residential buyers
The direct effect is on the neighbours. Three bridges shorten the commute from Al Reem into the financial district, and Saadiyat will be under ten minutes away. For an Al Reem landlord that is a rental argument: finance staff want to live close to the office, and 450 000 sqm of new offices means thousands of such tenants over the build-out.
The indirect effect is competition. More than 3 000 premium homes on Al Maryah itself will eventually give buyers a third option alongside Al Reem and Saadiyat. No launch date for the residential component has been announced, so any "investor pool" quoting an entry price ahead of an official launch deserves scrutiny: project registration and escrow first, money second.
For Aldar this continues a two-year pattern of locking up the last undeveloped plots in the strongest locations, after Yas Point and the 2.3m sqm of Yas and Saadiyat land covered in Aldar's Yas and Saadiyat landbank.
How the island works today and what homes near the financial district cost is on our Al Maryah Island page.
Video on this topic
The same subject on the English channel — each clip has a written version of its own.
15:37Abu Dhabi property investment: Saadiyat Island and the Aldar launch numbers16 February 2023
55:13Land plots and joint ventures in Dubai: how investors and developers split the profit9 October 2026
15:43Nobu in Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi: why the RAK one is the more interesting asset10 December 2023
In the news
Other write-ups on the site about the same thing.
ADGM on Al Reem Island: 190 asset managers, 276 funds and what it means for Abu Dhabi rentals
ADGM has covered Al Reem Island since 2023. By H1 2026 it had 13 974 active licences, 190 asset managers (+23%), 276 funds (+32%), AUM up 54% and 49 027 people working in the district. Why that matters for Al Reem landlords.
Abu Dhabi rent freeze: why Al Reem and Al Maryah are outside it
Since 2 June 2026 Abu Dhabi has cut the permitted annual rent rise from 5% to 0% for homes, offices and industrial units, until further notice — still in force in September. ADGM communities on Al Reem and Al Maryah islands are excluded and follow their own rules.
Al Reem and Al Maryah: Radiant Garden from AED 548 000 and St. Regis Residences by ADGM
Two neighbouring Abu Dhabi islands, two different entry strategies: Radiant Garden on Al Reem starts from AED 548 000 with a late-2026 handover, while St. Regis The Residences on Al Maryah is a Marriott-branded tower priced from AED 4.6 million, due in 2028.
One&Only Private Residences on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi: a 44-storey tower by Mubadala and TARAF
Mubadala, TARAF and Kerzner International announced One&Only Private Residences on Al Maryah Island on 1 October 2026: a 44-storey tower of about 230 metres with one- to three-bedroom homes, duplexes and a penthouse, linked directly to The Galleria.
Riviera Residences 2 Abu Dhabi: payment plan, unit mix and handover of MERED’s second phase on Al Reem
MERED has launched Phase 2 of Riviera Residences on Al Reem Island: 389 apartments, 8 Bay Villas, 6 Sky Villas and a penthouse designed by Herzog & de Meuron. 50/50 payment plan, handover targeted for Q2 2030.
Abu Dhabi islands compared: Saadiyat, Yas, Al Reem, Hudayriyat, Fahid and Ramhan — which one suits which buyer
Six Abu Dhabi islands where foreigners own freehold. Al Reem: studios from about $203,000 and the deepest market. Saadiyat: museums and villas. Yas: theme parks and the airport. Hudayriyat, Fahid and Ramhan: early entry from AED 1.875m. A side-by-side guide.