Al Reem Island

Introduction: Abu Dhabi’s Most Dynamic Island Community

Al Reem Island is Abu Dhabi’s most active, most populated, and most thoroughly developed freehold residential community — a place that has, over the course of roughly two decades, transformed from a low-lying natural island on the edge of the Arabian Gulf into a dense, fully functioning urban quarter that is home to tens of thousands of residents from across the world. It sits immediately off the north-eastern coast of the Abu Dhabi main island, separated from it by a narrow channel and connected by a series of bridges, and it has become the first answer that many real estate professionals and experienced Abu Dhabi residents give when someone asks: “Where should I live in Abu Dhabi?”

That reputation is well-earned. Al Reem Island offers a combination of qualities that is genuinely difficult to replicate elsewhere in Abu Dhabi City: waterfront living with open Gulf views; a well-established and diverse community of residents that gives the island a genuine social fabric; proximity to the Abu Dhabi city centre that makes daily commuting practical; a growing and increasingly comprehensive range of community facilities including world-class schools, convenient healthcare, a major regional mall, restaurants, parks, and promenades; and a freehold ownership framework that allows expatriates and international investors to purchase property with full title. Add to this consistently strong rental yields — averaging approximately 7.59% for apartments across the island — and it becomes clear why Al Reem Island occupies the prominent place in the Abu Dhabi property market that it does.

This comprehensive guide from Address Point Properties covers every dimension of Al Reem Island that a property seeker, prospective resident, or investor needs to understand before making a decision. It examines the island’s five distinct sub-districts and their individual characters; provides detailed profiles of the major residential towers and buildings; gives current property market data for buyers and renters across all unit types; explores the community infrastructure in depth; and sets Al Reem Island in the context of the broader Abu Dhabi City property market and Abu Dhabi Emirate as a whole. A FAQ section rounds out the guide by addressing the most common questions asked by people seriously considering Al Reem Island as their next home or investment.

History & Development: How Al Reem Island Came to Be

The story of Al Reem Island’s transformation is one of the most instructive case studies in modern Gulf urban development. Before the early 2000s, Al Reem Island was a largely undeveloped natural island — part of Abu Dhabi’s broader archipelago of coastal islands, used informally but without the large-scale residential infrastructure that now defines it. The decision to develop Al Reem as a major freehold residential zone was driven by several converging factors: the Abu Dhabi government’s recognition that the UAE’s rapidly growing expatriate population needed residential options that offered security of tenure; the desire to create a new supply of high-quality urban housing to meet the demands of a population that was growing substantially year on year; and the broader economic diversification imperative to develop the real estate sector as a significant contributor to GDP alongside the traditional hydrocarbon base.

Aldar Properties — Abu Dhabi’s largest and most influential developer, established in 2005 — played a central role in Al Reem Island’s development, designing and executing the master plan for the Shams Abu Dhabi sub-district, which became the island’s first major residential neighbourhood and the template for what followed. The Shams master plan was notably coherent for its era: rather than selling individual plots and allowing uncoordinated development, Aldar established design guidelines, infrastructure standards, and public space requirements that gave the district a unified character and a quality of urban environment that ad hoc development rarely achieves. The success of Shams — and particularly the iconic Gate Towers and Sky/Sun Tower complex that defined the Abu Dhabi skyline — proved the concept and attracted further investment and development activity across the island.

Subsequent years brought the development of Marina Square, City of Lights, Najmat Abu Dhabi, and most recently ADGM Square — each sub-district adding new residential capacity, new building typologies, and new community facilities to the island’s growing portfolio. The island’s population has grown from a handful of early residents in the late 2000s to a fully fledged urban community of tens of thousands across all nationalities. Infrastructure has kept pace with population growth more successfully than in many comparable developments: roads, utilities, schools, healthcare facilities, and retail have been progressively added as the community matured, culminating in the arrival of Reem Mall in 2023 — a landmark development that effectively completed the island’s transformation from a residential suburb dependent on the main island for major amenities to a genuinely self-sufficient urban community.

Geography, Location & Getting Around

Al Reem Island occupies a position of considerable geographic advantage within Abu Dhabi City‘s urban structure. Sitting immediately off the north-eastern shore of the Abu Dhabi main island — separated from it by a channel of no more than a few hundred metres at its narrowest point — Al Reem Island combines the lifestyle qualities of an island setting (waterfront views, a sense of separation from the urban hustle of the main island, proximity to the sea and to the protected mangrove ecosystems that fringe parts of its coastline) with the practical advantages of near-mainland connectivity (short drive times to the city centre, government offices, and the main island’s established commercial and institutional infrastructure).

The island measures approximately 8.5 square kilometres in total area and is broadly rectangular in shape, with its longer axis running roughly east-west. Its northern coast faces the open waters of the Arabian Gulf and is characterised by waterfront promenades, residential towers, and mangrove-fringed shorelines that provide the island’s most iconic views and outdoor spaces. Its southern boundary abuts the narrow channel that separates it from the Abu Dhabi main island, and it is along this southern edge that the island’s primary road connections — via a series of bridges and causeways — link it to the main island’s street network.

Internal circulation within Al Reem Island is served by a grid-based road network of varying quality across the different sub-districts. The main island arterials carry traffic east-west and north-south across the island, connecting the five sub-districts and providing access to the bridge connections. Within the well-planned master-developed areas — particularly Shams Abu Dhabi and Marina Square — the street network is coherent and well-maintained, with pedestrian paths and cycling infrastructure alongside the roads. Drive times from Al Reem Island to the Abu Dhabi city centre are typically seven to fifteen minutes under normal conditions; to Abu Dhabi International Airport, approximately 20–30 minutes; and to the Al Maryah Island financial district, which sits immediately adjacent to the island to the south-west, as little as five minutes.

Al Reem Island’s Five Sub-Districts: An Overview

Al Reem Island is not a single homogeneous community but a collection of five distinct sub-districts, each developed with its own character, architectural identity, and target market. Understanding these differences is essential for anyone making a property decision on the island — the right sub-district varies significantly depending on priorities around lifestyle, budget, investment yield, and the type of community environment sought.

Shams Abu Dhabi

Shams Abu Dhabi is the island’s most established, most architecturally dramatic, and most prestigious sub-district. Occupying the north-western section of the island — with the longest frontage onto the open Gulf — Shams is defined by its landmark supertall towers, its coherent Aldar-designed master plan, and its mature community infrastructure. The sub-district’s skyline is dominated by the Sky Tower (80 floors, 312 metres, the tallest residential building on the island), Sun Tower (its slightly lower twin), and the iconic Gate Towers complex — three 64-storey towers of 805 units each, connected by a spectacular sky bridge — that together constitute one of the most recognisable architectural groups in Abu Dhabi. Other significant buildings in Shams include The Bridges, Mangrove Place, Meera Towers, Oceanscape, The Arc, Pixel Tower, Reflection Tower, and Leaf Tower. Shams commands the highest rents and sale prices on the island, reflecting its waterfront positioning, building quality, and community maturity. Average apartment rental yields sit at approximately 7.5%.

Marina Square

Marina Square occupies the central section of Al Reem Island and is characterised by its internal marina basin — a sheltered waterway around which residential towers are arranged to maximise marina and water views. Where Shams Abu Dhabi’s premium view aspect is the open Gulf, Marina Square’s defining visual asset is the calm, reflective surface of its marina and the animated life of the boats and watercraft that use it. Marina Square is in many respects a slightly more intimate community than Shams — somewhat lower in average building height, with a stronger sense of the marina basin as a shared communal space around which community life organises. Residential towers within Marina Square include Tala Tower, Marina Heights, MAG 5 Residences, and Marina Bay Tower. Pricing in Marina Square runs slightly below Shams for comparable unit types, offering a meaningful value proposition for tenants and investors who want the Al Reem Island lifestyle without paying the Shams premium.

City of Lights

City of Lights is the largest sub-district on Al Reem Island by total area and has the most varied property mix of the five zones. It sits in the central-eastern section of the island and is home to a diverse range of residential towers, from established high-rise communities to newer mid-rise developments. Key buildings within City of Lights include Horizon Towers — a significant twin-tower development of 57 and 38 floors with a combined 924 units, developed by Tamouh — Hydra Avenue, a large multi-tower complex, and the mixed-use Addax Tower. City of Lights tends to offer the most competitively priced apartments on Al Reem Island, attracting budget-conscious tenants and investors seeking the highest gross yields. The trade-off is that parts of City of Lights are still developing their community infrastructure and lack the refined finishing of the more mature Shams and Marina Square sub-districts, though this gap has been closing steadily as the area matures.

Najmat Abu Dhabi

Najmat Abu Dhabi is a more recent addition to the Al Reem Island community, positioned in the eastern section of the island. Its name — meaning “Star of Abu Dhabi” in Arabic — reflects its positioning as a newer, aspirational community rather than the island’s established residential core. Najmat has a somewhat lower density and a more open, less built-up character than Shams or Marina Square, with development still ongoing and community infrastructure still maturing. This work-in-progress status is reflected in its pricing, which is among the most accessible on the island, making Najmat an appealing option for investors willing to accept lower immediate liquidity in exchange for potentially stronger long-term capital appreciation as the sub-district matures. The still-developing nature of Najmat also means that residents should be prepared for ongoing construction activity in the surrounding area, which is a consideration for those who prefer a fully settled community environment.

ADGM Square

ADGM Square is the newest and most distinctively positioned of Al Reem Island’s five sub-districts. It takes its name from the Abu Dhabi Global Market — the UAE’s international financial free zone headquartered on the adjacent Al Maryah Island — and its development has been deliberately positioned to capitalise on the proximity to the ADGM financial cluster. The sub-district occupies the south-western tip of Al Reem Island, directly across the channel from Al Maryah Island, making it uniquely well-placed for residents who work in the ADGM ecosystem: financial professionals, lawyers, bankers, consultants, and others employed by the hundreds of international firms registered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market. The Landmark — set to be the tallest building in Abu Dhabi when completed, developed by Aldar — is the flagship development of ADGM Square, and its completion is expected to significantly elevate the sub-district’s profile and pricing. ADGM Square currently offers some of the most attractive entry prices on Al Reem Island for investors with a long-term horizon who want to position ahead of the sub-district’s full maturity.

Property Market: Buying in Al Reem Island (2026)

Al Reem Island is a fully established freehold market, meaning that expatriates and international investors can purchase property across the island with full freehold title — outright ownership of the apartment and the proportionate share of common areas — under the Abu Dhabi government’s designated investment zone framework. This ownership security, combined with the island’s strong rental yield performance and its deep and liquid secondary market, makes it one of the most straightforward and well-evidenced property investment propositions in Abu Dhabi City and across Abu Dhabi Emirate as a whole.

The island’s property market is predominantly an apartment market — villas and townhouses are not available on Al Reem Island, which is developed entirely as a high-density apartment community. Unit types run from compact studios through to spacious three-bedroom apartments, with the occasional larger penthouse configuration available in the most premium buildings. The range of building age, quality, specification, and location across the island means that the price spectrum is wide, providing genuine choice for buyers across a broad budget range.

Indicative Sale Prices by Unit Type (2026)

Studios: AED 360,000 – AED 650,000. Entry-level studios in older City of Lights stock start below AED 400,000, while premium studios in landmark Shams towers — high-floor units in Sky Tower or Gate Towers with Gulf views — reach and exceed AED 600,000.

1-Bedroom Apartments: AED 580,000 – AED 1,200,000. The most transacted unit type across the island. Budget-conscious buyers can find well-maintained one-bedrooms in City of Lights below AED 650,000; premium one-bedrooms in The Bridges or Oceanscape with direct sea views can approach or exceed AED 1,100,000.

2-Bedroom Apartments: AED 900,000 – AED 2,000,000. Two-bedrooms attract strong family and corporate demand. Shams and Marina Square two-bedrooms at mid-floor levels typically transact in the AED 1,000,000–AED 1,400,000 range; premium sea-facing units in landmark towers push significantly higher.

3-Bedroom Apartments: AED 1,500,000 – AED 3,000,000. Three-bedrooms are less common across the island but are available in the larger floor-plate buildings, particularly in The Bridges, Mangrove Place, and select City of Lights developments. Premium three-bedrooms with panoramic views in Shams’s most prestigious towers approach AED 2,500,000–AED 3,000,000.

Transaction costs for buyers on Al Reem Island follow the standard Abu Dhabi framework: a 2% property registration fee payable to the Department of Municipalities and Transport, agent commission of 2%, and additional incidental costs of 1%–2% covering conveyancing, valuation (if purchasing with a mortgage), and Oqood registration for off-plan purchases. Buyers should budget a total of 5%–7% on top of the purchase price for these costs. Annual service charges — covering building maintenance, shared facilities, and community management — vary by development, generally falling in the range of AED 12–22 per square foot per year for the major towers. These service charges are a critical factor in calculating net investment yield and should always be established with precision before committing to a purchase.

For investors targeting UAE Golden Visa eligibility — which requires a minimum completed property investment of AED 2,000,000 — the premium end of Al Reem Island’s market (large two-bedrooms and three-bedrooms in flagship Shams buildings, and select Marina Square and ADGM Square units) provides realistic qualifying options, with the significant added benefit of long-term UAE residency without employer sponsorship.

The Secondary Market & Liquidity

Al Reem Island’s secondary (resale) market is the most liquid of any residential area in Abu Dhabi City, reflecting the island’s depth of ownership base, the diversity of building stock, and the strong ongoing interest from both domestic and international buyers. Well-known buildings — particularly the Aldar-developed towers of Shams Abu Dhabi — tend to sell quickly and at strong prices relative to the wider market, as buyers have confidence in the brand, the management quality, and the rental performance of these assets. Less well-known buildings may require longer selling periods, but even these benefit from the Al Reem Island address premium. Mortgage availability for Al Reem Island properties is good, with both UAE national banks and international lenders active in this segment; typical LTV ratios for expatriate buyers are 75%–80% on the purchase price, subject to UAE Central Bank guidelines and individual bank affordability assessments.

Property Market: Renting in Al Reem Island (2026)

The rental market on Al Reem Island is the most active and consistently high-performing apartment rental market in Abu Dhabi City. Average apartment rental yields across the island sit at approximately 7.59% — a figure that has proven remarkably resilient across different phases of the UAE’s economic cycle — placing Al Reem Island among the top-yielding established apartment markets in the Gulf. The breadth and diversity of the island’s tenant pool is the principal driver of this performance: Al Reem Island attracts tenants from every employment sector represented in Abu Dhabi, from government and quasi-government employees to oil and gas professionals, financial services workers, healthcare professionals, academics, and creative industry practitioners.

Indicative Annual Rents by Sub-District and Unit Type (2026)

Studios: AED 34,000 – AED 62,000 per year. City of Lights studios start at the lower end; premium Shams units with Gulf views reach AED 58,000–62,000.

1-Bedroom Apartments: AED 55,000 – AED 92,000 per year. The island’s most popular rental unit type. Mid-range City of Lights one-bedrooms sit in the AED 55,000–65,000 band; Marina Square one-bedrooms command AED 62,000–75,000; premium Shams one-bedrooms with sea views reach AED 80,000–92,000.

2-Bedroom Apartments: AED 85,000 – AED 145,000 per year. City of Lights two-bedrooms: AED 85,000–100,000; Marina Square: AED 95,000–115,000; Shams premium: AED 115,000–145,000.

3-Bedroom Apartments: AED 125,000 – AED 205,000 per year. Three-bedrooms attract strong family demand and typically achieve the highest occupancy rates among unit types, given the relative scarcity of supply versus demand for family-sized apartments on the island.

Rental payments across Al Reem Island follow the Abu Dhabi standard of post-dated cheques — typically one to four cheques annually. Tenants offering a single annual cheque often negotiate discounts of 5%–10% from landlords. All tenancies are registered on the Abu Dhabi government’s Tawtheeq system, which is required for utility connection and provides legal protections for both landlord and tenant. A refundable security deposit of one month’s rent is standard, and agent fees of 2%–5% of annual rent apply when a real estate agent facilitates the tenancy.

What Tenants Value Most About Al Reem Island

Through years of observing and analysing the Al Reem Island rental market, a consistent picture emerges of what tenants value most about living on the island. Proximity to the Abu Dhabi City centre is the most commonly cited practical advantage — the ability to reach the main island’s commercial and government districts in under fifteen minutes by car is a meaningful quality-of-life asset for working professionals. The waterfront environment — the promenades, the Gulf views, the mangrove-fringed shorelines — provides the lifestyle dimension that justifies the modest premium over comparable mainland apartments. The improving community infrastructure, most notably the arrival of Reem Mall, has substantially reduced the need to leave the island for major shopping and entertainment. And the safety and security of the island environment — controlled access to some communities, a predominantly residential character, and the generally safe Abu Dhabi urban environment — makes it particularly attractive to families with young children and to residents who value personal security in their immediate neighbourhood.

The Investment Case for Al Reem Island Property

Al Reem Island’s investment credentials are among the most well-established and consistently validated of any residential community in Abu Dhabi Emirate. The island’s 7.59% average apartment yield is not a one-year anomaly but a figure that has been sustained across multiple years and through varying market conditions, reflecting structural rather than cyclical drivers.

The structural foundations of the island’s investment performance include the following. First, supply discipline: Al Reem Island’s development has been managed within a master-planned framework that, while it has allowed significant residential growth, has maintained quality standards and avoided the kind of speculative overbuilding that has periodically produced rental yield compression in less well-managed developments. Second, demand depth: the island draws tenants from a wide cross-section of Abu Dhabi’s working population, meaning that occupancy rates are resilient to changes in any single employment sector. Third, the employer-backed housing allowance structure: a significant proportion of Abu Dhabi’s working population — particularly in government, oil and gas, and healthcare — receives housing allowances from their employers that make their ability to pay rent less sensitive to individual economic pressures. Fourth, brand strength: the Aldar Properties brand — which underpins much of the island’s best-known residential stock — provides tenants and buyers with confidence in building quality and management standards that translates into faster lease-up, lower vacancy, and stronger pricing.

Looking forward, several factors support a positive medium-to-long-term investment outlook for Al Reem Island. The continued development of ADGM Square and the completion of The Landmark — Aldar’s flagship new supertall — will bring additional prestige and community investment to the island’s newest sub-district. The ongoing expansion of the Al Maryah Island ADGM financial free zone will continue to generate professional tenant demand in the parts of Al Reem Island closest to the financial district. And the UAE government’s active management of its population growth — through policies including the Golden Visa, the remote work visa, and the progressive broadening of freehold ownership rights — is expected to continue supporting overall residential demand in Abu Dhabi’s most established communities.

For investors comparing Al Reem Island to other Abu Dhabi options, the island consistently holds its own against the main alternatives. Versus Saadiyat Island: Al Reem offers higher yields and a more liquid secondary market, while Saadiyat offers stronger long-term capital appreciation potential and a premium lifestyle positioning. Versus Yas Island: Al Reem offers better proximity to the city centre and more established community infrastructure; Yas offers entertainment-led lifestyle positioning and growing family community infrastructure. The choice between these communities is ultimately a function of the investor’s specific objectives — for income-focused investors seeking strong, consistent yields in a proven and liquid market, Al Reem Island remains the benchmark in Abu Dhabi. These comparisons are explored in depth in the Al Reem Island vs Saadiyat Island and Al Reem Island vs Yas Island comparison guides.

Community Life & Lifestyle on Al Reem Island

Life on Al Reem Island has evolved considerably from the early years when residents were essentially pioneers in an island that was more construction site than community. Today, Al Reem Island offers a full, rounded residential lifestyle that compares favourably with the most liveable urban communities in the region — and in many respects offers a quality of daily life that is simply not available in the main island’s older, more car-dependent neighbourhoods.

The island’s promenades and waterfront spaces are the most immediate expression of this lifestyle quality. From the dramatic Gulf-facing promenade of Shams Abu Dhabi — with its landscaped walkways, children’s play areas, outdoor seating, and views across the open water — to the more intimate marina environment of Marina Square, there is an outdoor living quality available to Al Reem residents that far exceeds what most Abu Dhabi main island neighbourhoods can offer. During the UAE’s cooler months from October through April, these outdoor spaces are genuinely vibrant — populated throughout the day and into the evening by residents of all ages and nationalities, using them for exercise, socialising, family time, and simple enjoyment of the waterfront setting.

The mangrove ecosystems that fringe parts of Al Reem Island’s northern and north-eastern coastline add a dimension of natural beauty and ecological interest that is genuinely rare in an urban Gulf setting. The Abu Dhabi mangroves — a protected natural habitat of great ecological significance — are accessible from the island by kayak and paddleboard, and the waters around the mangroves are home to a variety of bird species, fish, and marine life that residents can observe from the shore or from the water. This connection to a functioning natural ecosystem within minutes of a high-rise residential community is something that Al Reem residents frequently cite as unexpectedly enriching — it provides a counterbalance to the urban density of the towers that is as important for wellbeing as any built amenity.

Al Reem Island’s demographic mix broadly mirrors that of Abu Dhabi City as a whole, with a particularly strong South Asian professional community (many employed in engineering, healthcare, and financial services), a significant Western European and North American community (often in senior corporate or government roles), and a well-represented Arab expatriate population from across the region. UAE nationals and GCC residents are a smaller but present part of the island community, particularly in the newer and more premium developments. This diversity expresses itself in the variety of the island’s dining scene, the mix of languages heard in communal spaces, and the range of cultural events and community activities that the island’s various resident groups organise through the year.

Healthcare & Medical Facilities

Al Reem Island residents have access to a well-structured and progressively expanding range of healthcare facilities, beginning with on-island provision and extending to the full resources of Abu Dhabi City‘s exceptional hospital network across the bridge.

The most immediately convenient healthcare facility for residents of the island — and particularly for those in the Shams Abu Dhabi sub-district — is the Burjeel Day Surgery Center located within The Arc tower. This Burjeel Holdings-operated outpatient facility offers a broad range of primary care, specialist consultations, diagnostics, dental services, and day surgery procedures without the need to navigate a large hospital environment. For island residents with straightforward medical needs — GP visits, specialist referrals, blood tests, minor procedures — the Burjeel Day Surgery Center represents an excellent first port of call, and its island location means that medical appointments can be incorporated into the working day without the time loss of a trip to the main island.

Reem Hospital serves the island’s general inpatient and emergency healthcare needs, providing a broader range of services than the day surgery centre. For major specialist care, complex procedures, or significant emergencies, the main island’s hospital network is accessible within a short drive. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) — a 441-bed Cleveland Clinic-managed tertiary care hospital with trauma centre capabilities — is the most prominent government hospital option. Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), the UAE’s largest hospital at 742 beds managed in partnership with Mayo Clinic, provides the region’s most comprehensive specialist offering across oncology, cardiology, neurology, and other complex disciplines. For maternity care, Corniche Hospital has an unparalleled track record with over 300,000 deliveries since its founding in 1975. In the private sector, Burjeel Medical City and a range of Mediclinic, Aster, and NMC facilities provide strong alternatives across the main island, all accessible from Al Reem Island within fifteen minutes by car.

Schools & Education on Al Reem Island

The education landscape on and around Al Reem Island has matured considerably alongside the island’s residential development, and it now supports families across a wide range of schooling preferences and budgets. The island has moved from having virtually no local schooling in its early development years to hosting multiple well-regarded international schools directly on-island, with further options within easy reach on the main island.

Repton School Abu Dhabi is the island’s flagship school — a full British curriculum institution offering education from Kindergarten through to Year 13, preparing students for IGCSE and A-Level examinations. Repton Abu Dhabi is affiliated with Repton School in the UK — one of England’s oldest and most respected independent schools — and its Abu Dhabi campus maintains the curriculum standards, pastoral care philosophy, and university preparation rigour that the Repton brand is known for internationally. For British curriculum families, or families seeking an internationally portable curriculum for children who may move between countries during their education, Repton’s presence on Al Reem Island is a significant practical advantage — the ability to walk or take a short car journey to a top-quality British school is something that many Abu Dhabi parents elsewhere in the city would envy.

Nord Anglia International School offers a complementary British curriculum option, backed by the Nord Anglia Education global network — one of the world’s most prestigious premium school groups operating 80+ schools across 32 countries. Nord Anglia’s distinctive offering includes collaborative programmes with institutions such as Juilliard School for performing arts, MIT for STEM education, and the United Nations for global citizenship — creating an educational experience that extends meaningfully beyond the standard national curriculum. For families in senior professional or diplomatic roles who value a genuinely international educational perspective alongside rigorous academic preparation, Nord Anglia is an exceptionally strong option.

At university level, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and Paris-Sorbonne Abu Dhabi maintain campuses on Al Reem Island, offering French-language and bilingual programmes in the humanities, social sciences, languages, and arts — attracting students from across the Francophone world and from the broader UAE university market. The presence of these institutions on the island generates a young professional and student population that adds to the community’s demographic diversity and supports the island’s F&B and retail scene. Families whose children require American curriculum, IB, or other curriculum options will find a full range of well-regarded institutions within a reasonable commute on the Abu Dhabi main island, accessible via the bridge network.

Shopping, Retail & Reem Mall

The opening of Reem Mall in 2023 was a watershed moment for the Al Reem Island community. Before Reem Mall, the island’s retail offering — while improving steadily through the growth of ground-floor retail in the major tower podiums — could not satisfy all the shopping needs of its growing residential population, meaning that residents frequently needed to cross the bridge to the main island for major grocery shops, electronics purchases, clothing, and entertainment. Reem Mall changed this fundamentally: with over 400 retail stores, a full-size Waitrose supermarket, a VOX Cinemas multiplex, a Magic Planet family entertainment centre, and the centrepiece Snow Abu Dhabi indoor snow park, Reem Mall gave Al Reem Island the retail and entertainment critical mass that the community had long needed to become genuinely self-sufficient.

Snow Abu Dhabi deserves specific mention: a 10,000-square-metre temperature-controlled indoor environment maintained at genuine sub-zero temperatures year-round — featuring a ski slope, a snow tubing run, a snowboard park, a children’s snow play area, and an ice skating rink — it has rapidly become one of the most popular family entertainment destinations in Abu Dhabi, drawing visitors not just from Al Reem Island but from across the city and from Dubai. For island residents, particularly families, having this calibre of entertainment attraction within a five-minute drive is an exceptional community benefit that has meaningfully improved quality of life during the UAE’s hot summer months when outdoor activity is limited.

Beyond Reem Mall, the island’s community retail is well-developed at ground level within the major residential towers. The podiums of Gate Towers, Sky Tower, and other major buildings host supermarkets, pharmacies, laundry services, salons, and a variety of convenience stores that serve residents’ daily needs without requiring a trip to a shopping mall. For luxury retail and high-end dining, The Galleria Al Maryah Island is minutes away across the bridge, offering some of the UAE’s finest luxury brand boutiques and a superb waterfront dining terrace. Marina Mall on the Abu Dhabi Corniche and the vast Yas Mall on Yas Island are also within practical reach for broader retail options.

Dining & Food Scene

Al Reem Island’s dining scene reflects the diversity of its resident population and has grown in variety and quality as the community has matured. The primary dining destinations on the island are the waterfront promenades and canal-side walkways of Shams Abu Dhabi and Marina Square, where a range of restaurants and cafes with outdoor terraces capitalise on the waterfront setting. The cuisine variety is genuinely broad: Indian, Pakistani, Arabic, Filipino, East Asian, Mediterranean, and Western options are all well-represented, catering to the island’s cosmopolitan population.

The Shams waterfront promenade hosts the island’s most established dining strip, with restaurants and cafes that have been operating for years and have built loyal followings among the island’s resident community. The outdoor terraces facing the Gulf are particularly popular during the cooler months — the combination of sea view, gentle breeze, and pleasant evening temperatures creates an outdoor dining environment that is genuinely exceptional by any international standard. Marina Square’s marina-side dining adds a complementary character: the reflective calm of the marina basin at night, with the surrounding towers’ lights creating a shimmering reflection, provides one of the more atmospheric dining settings in Abu Dhabi. The opening of Reem Mall has added a further tier to the island’s dining offer, with a range of restaurant concepts and a food court providing convenient options for casual family dining and quick-service meals. For premium dining occasions, the restaurants of The Galleria Al Maryah Island — including internationally acclaimed outlets — are accessible within minutes.

Parks, Promenades & Outdoor Life

One of Al Reem Island’s most consistent selling points — cited by residents and repeated in property marketing materials with equal regularity — is the quality and extent of its outdoor spaces. This is a legitimate claim rather than hyperbole: the island’s combination of Gulf-facing promenades, canal-side walkways, mangrove access, and building-level outdoor amenities gives it an outdoor quality of life that is genuinely superior to most equivalent-density residential communities in Abu Dhabi City.

The northern waterfront promenade — running along the Gulf-facing edge of Shams Abu Dhabi — is the island’s most important public outdoor space. Wide, well-landscaped, consistently maintained, and activated by the restaurants and cafes that line it, the promenade is in active use throughout the day and well into the evening for eleven months of the year (the July–August heat reduces outdoor activity to early mornings and late evenings even for the most dedicated outdoor enthusiasts). Dedicated jogging tracks and cycling paths run alongside the pedestrian walkway, and children’s play areas are positioned at regular intervals along the route. The promenade is lit at night with a quality of outdoor lighting that makes it safe and pleasant to use in the evenings — an important consideration in a community where evening outdoor activity is a cornerstone of social life for much of the year.

The mangrove ecosystem that fringes parts of the island’s northern coastline — most prominently adjacent to Mangrove Place — is accessible by kayak and paddleboard from several launch points on the island, and provides one of Abu Dhabi’s most distinctive and rewarding outdoor experiences. Paddling through the dense mangrove channels — with the towers of Al Reem rising behind and the calls of herons, flamingos, and wading birds echoing across the water — is a counterpoint to urban life that residents consistently describe as one of the island’s most unexpected pleasures. The mangrove area is also a site of active ecological conservation, and it serves as an important educational resource for the island’s school-age population, with regular nature education programmes operated by Abu Dhabi’s environmental authorities.

Beyond the public promenades, the building-level outdoor amenities of the island’s major towers add a significant further layer of outdoor living quality. Swimming pools — in some cases multiple pools, including infinity pools with Gulf views in buildings like The Bridges — landscaped podium gardens, BBQ areas, padel courts, and rooftop terraces are features of most of the island’s major developments. In buildings where these facilities are well-maintained and of high quality, they represent a meaningful supplement to the public outdoor spaces and are actively used by building communities as social gathering points.

Transport & Connectivity

Al Reem Island’s transport connectivity to the rest of Abu Dhabi City is one of its strongest practical assets. The island is connected to the main island by a series of bridges and causeways, providing multiple road access and egress points that distribute traffic across the network and reduce the vulnerability to any single point of congestion. The main bridge connections feed directly into the Abu Dhabi main island’s arterial road network, giving residents access to all parts of the city.

Drive times from Al Reem Island under normal traffic conditions are approximately: 7–12 minutes to the Abu Dhabi city centre and the Corniche; 5–8 minutes to Al Maryah Island and the ADGM financial district; 15–20 minutes to Abu Dhabi International Airport via Airport Road (E20); 20–25 minutes to Khalifa City and the mainland suburban districts; and approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes to Dubai via Sheikh Zayed Road (E11). During the morning rush hour (7:30–9:00 AM) and the evening rush (5:00–7:00 PM), congestion at the island bridges can add 10–20 minutes to these journey times — a factor that residents who commute daily to distant workplaces should weigh carefully.

Public bus services connect Al Reem Island to the main island’s transport nodes, but in practice the vast majority of residents use private vehicles or ride-hailing apps (Careem and Uber are both widely used and readily available on the island) as their primary mode of transport. Within the island itself, the walkability of the major sub-districts — particularly Shams Abu Dhabi and Marina Square — means that a significant proportion of daily errands and leisure activities can be accomplished on foot or by bicycle, particularly during the cooler months. The arrival of Reem Mall on the island has further reduced the need to make car trips off-island for routine shopping and entertainment needs.

Al Reem Island Compared to Nearby Communities

Understanding how Al Reem Island sits relative to its nearest neighbours in Abu Dhabi City helps property seekers calibrate their choices and identify the best fit for their priorities.

The closest neighbour geographically is Al Maryah Island, which sits immediately adjacent to Al Reem’s south-western tip. Al Maryah is primarily a commercial and financial destination rather than a residential community, though its residential supply is growing. For professionals who work in the ADGM ecosystem, choosing between ADGM Square on Al Reem and Al Maryah Island itself for their residence is a genuine decision, with Al Reem offering more diverse residential options and a stronger community infrastructure, while Al Maryah offers maximum proximity to the financial district.

Saadiyat Island — Abu Dhabi’s most prestigious island community — is accessible from Al Reem Island in approximately fifteen to twenty minutes by car. The two islands represent meaningfully different real estate propositions: Al Reem offers higher yields, greater apartment variety, and a more established community social life; Saadiyat offers world-class cultural institutions, beachfront living, and long-term capital appreciation potential driven by the Saadiyat Cultural District’s continued development. The choice between them for residents and investors is explored in detail in the Al Reem Island vs Saadiyat Island comparison guide.

For families considering the mainland suburban alternative, the villa communities of Khalifa City offer substantially more interior space per dirham but sacrifice the waterfront lifestyle, island community character, and proximity to the city centre that Al Reem provides. The Al Raha Beach vs Al Reem Island comparison guide explores the choice between the island and this popular waterfront mainland community for families who want water views without the full urban density of Al Reem.

Frequently Asked Questions: Al Reem Island

1. Is Al Reem Island freehold for all nationalities?

Yes. Al Reem Island is a designated freehold investment zone under the Abu Dhabi government’s real estate ownership framework, meaning that nationals of any country can purchase property on the island with full freehold title — outright ownership of the apartment and a proportionate share of the building’s common areas. This full freehold ownership, rather than the 99-year usufruct (leasehold) that applies in some other parts of Abu Dhabi City, gives buyers the most complete form of property ownership available in the UAE, including the right to sell, rent, mortgage, gift, or bequeath the property. The freehold framework on Al Reem Island is administered by the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport, and the title deed issued upon registration explicitly confirms the freehold nature of the ownership. For investors planning to hold property for the long term and potentially pass it to future generations, the freehold status is a meaningful security advantage.

2. Which is the best sub-district on Al Reem Island to live in?

The best sub-district on Al Reem Island depends entirely on the individual’s priorities, lifestyle preferences, and budget. Shams Abu Dhabi is the right choice for those seeking the most prestigious address, the most dramatic waterfront setting, the most architecturally distinguished buildings, and the most mature community infrastructure — at the cost of the highest rents and purchase prices on the island. Marina Square suits those who want a slightly more intimate, marina-focused community environment at a modest pricing discount from Shams. City of Lights is the optimal choice for budget-conscious tenants and investors seeking the highest gross yields, accepting a less refined community environment in exchange. Najmat Abu Dhabi appeals to investors with a long-term capital appreciation thesis and a tolerance for a community that is still maturing. And ADGM Square is uniquely suited to financial sector professionals working in the adjacent ADGM ecosystem who value proximity to work above all other locational factors. Spending time in each sub-district before committing to a property decision is always advisable.

3. Are there villas available on Al Reem Island?

No. Al Reem Island is developed entirely as a high-density apartment community, and no villas or townhouses are available on the island. The island’s development framework has been built around high-rise and mid-rise apartment towers from its inception, reflecting the land economics of an offshore island and the Abu Dhabi planning authority’s vision for Al Reem as an urban, high-density community rather than a low-rise suburban one. Families seeking villas with gardens and private outdoor space will need to look to the mainland suburban districts of Abu Dhabi City — most notably Khalifa City, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, and Al Raha Beach — or to the premium villa communities on Saadiyat Island and Yas Island. Those who want island living with villa-style space may find Saadiyat Island the most compelling alternative.

4. What is One Maryah Place tower and when will it be completed?

The Landmark is Aldar Properties’ flagship development on Al Reem Island and, upon completion, is set to become the tallest building in Abu Dhabi — surpassing the existing record held by Sky Tower in Shams Abu Dhabi. Located within the ADGM Square sub-district at the south-western tip of the island, One Maryah Place’s positioning adjacent to the Al Maryah Island financial district makes it exceptionally well-placed for financial and professional services residents. As of 2026, the project is at various stages of development; prospective buyers and investors should verify the current completion timeline and off-plan availability directly with Aldar Properties. One Maryah Place is expected to set a new benchmark for residential tower specification and design on the island, and its eventual completion is anticipated to significantly elevate ADGM Square‘s profile and property values.

5. How safe is Al Reem Island?

Al Reem Island is extremely safe, consistent with Abu Dhabi City‘s standing as one of the safest urban environments in the world. Violent crime is exceptionally rare; petty crime is minimal; and the island’s residential character, controlled bridge access, and active presence of building security in all major towers creates a secure living environment that residents consistently describe as far safer than equivalent urban residential communities in most Western countries. The island’s promenades and outdoor spaces are well-lit, actively maintained, and populated through the evening hours, creating a natural safety-in-numbers effect in public spaces. For families with children, the safety environment allows a degree of independent movement within the community — children cycling on the promenade, walking to a nearby convenience store, using building amenities independently — that would be uncommon and often impractical in higher-crime urban environments. The Abu Dhabi Police maintain a visible presence in the city and respond rapidly to any incidents.

6. What are the most important things to check before renting on Al Reem Island?

Before signing a tenancy agreement for an apartment on Al Reem Island, prospective tenants should verify several key points. First, confirm that the apartment is registered for tenancy on the Abu Dhabi Tawtheeq system and that the landlord’s title deed is current and valid — your real estate agent should be able to confirm both. Second, inspect the apartment’s fixtures, appliances, and finishes carefully and document any pre-existing damage with dated photographs before handing over any money or cheques. Third, check the building’s service charge status — units in buildings with outstanding service charge arrears can create complications. Fourth, understand exactly what is included in the rent: some landlords include a chiller (district cooling) allowance; others leave chiller costs entirely to the tenant, which can add significantly to monthly living costs in older buildings. Fifth, verify the payment terms requested by the landlord — the number of cheques, the accepted payment methods, and the notice period required for renewal or non-renewal. Finally, if you have a pet, confirm explicitly with the landlord and the building management company whether pets are permitted in the specific building and unit before committing.

7. Does Al Reem Island flood or face flooding risk from the Gulf?

Al Reem Island’s exposure to Gulf weather and the occasional heavy rainfall events that affect Abu Dhabi is a legitimate environmental consideration, and one that the island’s development planning has addressed through infrastructure engineering. The island’s coastal infrastructure — including its waterfront promenades, drainage systems, and coastal protection measures — has been designed to manage normal weather events and the coastal conditions typical of the Arabian Gulf. The UAE experiences periodic weather events — including unseasonal heavy rainfall and occasional tropical-influence weather systems — that can cause localised flooding in parts of Abu Dhabi City. On Al Reem Island, the built-up, elevated nature of the major residential developments and the quality of the drainage infrastructure in the master-planned sub-districts (particularly Shams Abu Dhabi and Marina Square) has generally meant that flooding impacts are limited. Parts of the island that are less completely developed — or that have older or less well-maintained drainage infrastructure — may be more susceptible to localised water pooling during heavy rain events. Climate change considerations and the potential for more intense weather events in the region are a factor that all investors in coastal properties anywhere in the world should be aware of, though the UAE’s infrastructure investment programme addresses resilience to weather events as a continuing priority.

8. Can I find furnished apartments on Al Reem Island?

Yes, furnished apartments are available for rent across Al Reem Island, and the island has a well-developed furnished apartment market that caters to corporate relocation packages, short-to-medium-term residents, and individuals who prefer the convenience of a fully equipped home without the time and expense of furnishing. Furnished units command a rental premium over unfurnished equivalents — typically 15%–25% more per year depending on the quality of the furnishings and the specific building. The most common furnished apartment configurations on Al Reem Island are studios and one-bedrooms, which are in highest demand from single professionals on corporate packages, though furnished two and three-bedroom units are also available. The quality of furnishings varies significantly between listings: some landlords provide hotel-quality contemporary furnishings with all white goods, linens, and kitchen equipment included; others provide basic furnishing that meets the technical definition without providing a comfortable living environment. Prospective tenants should inspect furnished units carefully and confirm exactly what is included before signing. Several of the island’s towers have a strong concentration of furnished units and are well-known to real estate agents specialising in the corporate relocation market.

Explore Al Reem Island’s Sub-Districts & Abu Dhabi City

Al Reem Island’s five sub-districts each warrant individual exploration. Find detailed area guides for Shams Abu Dhabi, Marina Square, City of Lights, Najmat Abu Dhabi, and ADGM Square. For the broader Abu Dhabi real estate context, the Abu Dhabi City overview covers all major island and mainland communities across the capital, and the Abu Dhabi Emirate hub provides a complete picture of the emirate’s three regions. The comparison guides for Al Reem Island vs Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island vs Yas Island, and Al Raha Beach vs Al Reem Island provide structured side-by-side analysis for those weighing up their options across the city.