Fahid Island
Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi City — Complete Area Guide (2026)
Overview: The World’s First Fitwel-Certified Island
Fahid Island is Abu Dhabi’s newest and most environmentally ambitious island masterplan — a 2.7-million-square-metre (340-hectare) coastal island developed by Aldar Properties for an investment of AED 40 billion*, positioned in the waters between Yas Island and Saadiyat Island. Acquired by Aldar in January 2023 and unveiled to the public in summer 2025, Fahid Island holds the distinction of being the world’s first island community to receive preliminary LEED City and Communities Platinum certification, and the world’s first Fitwel 3-Star certified island community — two internationally recognised sustainability and wellness benchmarks that no other island residential development anywhere in the world has achieved simultaneously.
The island’s 11-kilometre coastline, 4.6 kilometres of private white-sand beach, protected mangrove forests, and masterplan philosophy of reserving 30% of all land for parks, lagoons, and shaded promenades give Fahid Island a an amazing natural quality.
Overview
Every residence will sit within 250 metres of green space or waterfront. The masterplan architecture is lower-density than comparable waterfront developments, prioritising open space and landscape over maximising unit count. This restraint is itself a statement: Fahid Island is not conceived as a density-maximising real estate project but as a place designed for health, wellbeing, and connection to the coastal natural environment.
The island’s first residential launches — Fahid Beach Residences (464 units, Phase 1), Fahid Beach House, and Fahid Beach Terraces (501 units) — all launched in 2025 with handovers expected from 2029. Ultimately the island will accommodate approximately 6,000 residences at full build-out between 2029 and 2032. King’s College School Wimbledon, a planned metro connection, boutique retail, and an event plaza are all incorporated into the masterplan infrastructure.
Enquire about properties on Fahid Island via WhatsApp or visit approperties.ae for current listings.
Location and Connectivity
Location and Strategic Setting
Fahid Island is positioned in the Arabian Gulf between the Abu Dhabi mainland and the island arc of Yas Island and Saadiyat Island — a central coastal location with access corridors to the emirate’s two most established island residential markets. The island is accessed from the mainland via the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Highway (E12) and the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge — the same arterial road and bridge network that serves Saadiyat Island, providing fast, direct connectivity to Abu Dhabi city centre (approximately 20 minutes), Abu Dhabi International Airport (approximately 15 minutes), Yas Island’s entertainment cluster (approximately 5 minutes), and Saadiyat Island’s Cultural District (approximately 15 minutes).
The island’s southern shores adjoin protected mangrove lagoons. Its northern and western faces are exposed to open Gulf water, providing the clear, warm Arabian Gulf beach conditions that define the island’s coastline character. The Eastern Mangrove corridor on the Abu Dhabi mainland is visible from the eastern approaches to the island, extending the natural mangrove environment that Fahid Island itself preserves within its own southern boundaries. Al Bateen Beach on the mainland is within a short drive, adding a further free public beach option for island residents.
Masterplan Character — Wellness, Sustainability, and Low Density
Fahid Island is the only island residential development in the world to simultaneously hold preliminary LEED City and Communities Platinum certification and Fitwel 3-Star community certification. Fitwel is an internationally recognised evidence-based design standard that rates buildings and communities on their contribution to human health and wellbeing. Achieving 3 Stars — the highest tier — means the island’s masterplan has been designed from the ground up to actively promote residents’ physical and mental health through urban design decisions: proximity to green space, pedestrian connectivity, air quality, access to healthy food, and physical activity infrastructure.
In practical terms, this means: every home is within 250 metres of a park or waterfront; the masterplan allocates 30% of all land (940,000 square metres) to landscaped greenery, protected mangroves, and recreational open space; a 10-kilometre protective berm safeguards the coastal habitats while providing recreational infrastructure; and the beach and wellness infrastructure is integrated into the community as essential infrastructure rather than optional lifestyle extras. The architectural approach is lower-density than comparable UAE island developments, with Aldar explicitly choosing open space and environmental quality over density metrics.
The island also preserves its existing mangrove lagoons and natural coastal strips, integrating the built environment with the UAE’s protected coastal ecosystem. This is rare: most major Abu Dhabi island developments have replaced natural habitats with engineered waterfront. Fahid Island’s commitment to ecosystem preservation reflects the broader Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 emphasis on environmental sustainability alongside economic development.
Residential Communities
Three residential communities launched on Fahid Island in 2025. All are off-plan with handovers expected from 2029. All are freehold for all nationalities. All prices are indicative only, marked with (*), and subject to change.
Fahid Beach Residences
Fahid Beach Residences is Fahid Island’s inaugural residential launch — Phase 1 of the masterplan’s residential programme, comprising 464 units across seven mid-rise buildings. Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Koichi Takada, the buildings feature cantilevered white balconies that echo the visual rhythm of ocean waves, maximising natural light and Arabian Gulf views from every floor. Units span one-bedroom apartments from 92 square metres through to a single five-bedroom penthouse of 278 square metres. Launch prices for one-bedroom apartments begin from approximately AED 3,500,000*, with four-bedroom-plus-maid configurations reaching approximately AED 10,500,000*. The payment plan structure requires a 10% booking fee followed by a construction-linked payment schedule, with handover targeted for 2029. All prices are indicative and subject to change.
Fahid Beach Terraces
Fahid Beach Terraces was announced on 12 August 2025 and opened for sale to buyers of all nationalities from 27 August 2025. The community comprises six beachfront buildings containing 501 homes — one to four-bedroom apartments, duplexes, and six five-bedroom penthouses — anchored by a dedicated beachfront clubhouse. The clubhouse offers a sea-view gymnasium, spa treatments, cold-plunge facilities, private dining, and a cinema lounge, creating a residential experience that is explicitly wellness-hotel-in-character. Terraces frame long water views across the Arabian Gulf, and the design aesthetic throughout reads as intimate and tactile rather than monumental — a considered counterpoint to the large-scale amenity blocks of some comparable developments. Fahid Beach Terraces represents the “slower, more restorative” layer of the Fahid Island residential proposition.
Fahid Beach House
Fahid Beach House is the second residential release on Fahid Island, positioned as the social and community heartbeat of the development — a more animated, communally active counterpart to the quieter, more restorative character of Fahid Beach Terraces. Together, the three launched communities — Fahid Beach Residences as the architectural foundation, Fahid Beach House as the social core, and Fahid Beach Terraces as the wellness sanctuary — sketch the intended character of life on Fahid Island: active, health-conscious, community-oriented, and directly connected to a high-quality natural coastal environment.
Beaches, Coastline and the Natural Environment
Fahid Island’s 11-kilometre coastline is its most fundamental asset. The 4.6 kilometres of private white-sand beach on the island’s northern and western faces are sheltered Gulf waters with the water clarity and warmth characteristic of the inner Gulf coast. The southern shoreline is defined by protected mangrove lagoons — an ecologically significant natural environment that provides a contrasting, quieter coastal character to the open-water beach faces. Together, the dual-waterfront nature of the island — active white-sand beach to the north and west, mangrove lagoon to the south — creates a coastal diversity within a single island that very few comparable developments can offer.
The masterplan’s commitment to beach and natural environment preservation extends beyond the standard green space allocation. The 10-kilometre protective berm mentioned in the masterplan programme is designed to actively safeguard the island’s coastal habitats from erosion and environmental degradation, ensuring that the natural quality of the beach and mangrove environments is maintained not just at launch but over the long-term life of the community. Running tracks, cycling routes, mangrove boardwalks, and beach promenades are all integrated into the landscape infrastructure — designed as daily-use community assets rather than show-home marketing amenities.
Education
King’s College School Wimbledon — the Abu Dhabi campus of the celebrated 700-year-old London independent school — is located on Fahid Island itself, within walking distance of all three current residential communities. The King’s College School brand is one of the most internationally recognised in British independent education, consistently ranked among the UK’s top schools at both prep and senior levels. Its presence on the island eliminates the off-community school commute that most Abu Dhabi island families must undertake, and is a significant factor in the investment case for family buyers considering Fahid Island as a long-term home. The school accepts students across the international curriculum.
For secondary and additional school options, Al Bateen Academy — an IB World School on Abu Dhabi’s mainland — is accessible within approximately 15–20 minutes by car. Repton School Abu Dhabi — Outstanding ADEK-rated British curriculum, K-13 — is on Al Reem Island, approximately 20 minutes away.
Healthcare
The most significant healthcare facility near Fahid Island is Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) — Abu Dhabi’s largest government hospital complex, a multi-speciality academic medical centre providing the full range of primary, specialist, and emergency care. SKMC is accessible within approximately 15–20 minutes by car. Corniche Hospital — specialising in maternity and paediatrics — is similarly accessible. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah Island provides world-class specialist and emergency care within approximately 20–25 minutes by car. The island’s masterplan includes provision for primary healthcare and medical facilities within the community as it develops.
Transport and Accessibility
Fahid Island’s primary road connections are via the E12 Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Highway and the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge network, providing direct access to all major Abu Dhabi destinations. Journey times by car: Yas Island entertainment cluster approximately 5 minutes; Abu Dhabi International Airport approximately 15 minutes; Saadiyat Cultural District approximately 15 minutes; Downtown Abu Dhabi approximately 20 minutes; Dubai approximately 1 hour via the E10.
Nearby Attractions and Leisure Activities
Fahid Island’s position between Yas Island and Saadiyat Island means that some of the UAE’s most impressive leisure and cultural destinations are within a very short drive. Yas Island‘s entertainment cluster — Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and Yas Mall — is approximately 5 minutes by car. The Saadiyat Island Cultural District — Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (expected late 2026), Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi — is approximately 15 minutes. Corniche Beach and the Abu Dhabi Corniche waterfront are approximately 20 minutes.
The Jubail Mangrove Park on adjacent Al Jubail Island — one of Abu Dhabi’s most celebrated guided nature experiences, with kayaking and boardwalk paths through protected mangroves — is approximately 25 minutes by car and directly relevant to the nature-oriented lifestyle profile of Fahid Island residents. Al Hudayriat Island’s sports cluster — Surf Abu Dhabi, Velodrome Abu Dhabi, and 220 km of cycling track — is approximately 20 minutes away, extending the active outdoor leisure options accessible to Fahid Island residents without needing to leave the broader Abu Dhabi coastal ecosystem.
Investment Case
Property Prices — For Sale
All prices are indicative only, derived from market research and launch data at the time of publication, and marked with (*). Fahid Island is entirely off-plan at this stage; secondary market resale data will emerge as handovers begin from 2029. All figures should be independently verified before any purchase decision.
Fahid Beach Residences (Phase 1)
1-bedroom apartments (from 92 sq m): from approximately AED 3,500,000*
2-bedroom apartments: from approximately AED 5,500,000*
3-bedroom apartments: from approximately AED 7,500,000*
4-bedroom apartments plus maid: from approximately AED 9,500,000*–10,500,000*
5-bedroom penthouse: single unit, premium pricing
Payment plan: 10% booking fee + construction-linked instalments | Handover: 2029
Fahid Beach Terraces
1-bedroom apartments: pricing aligned with Fahid Beach Residences launch range
1–4BR apartments and duplexes: full range enquire directly
5-bedroom penthouses: 6 units available, premium above standard configurations
Sales launched: 27 August 2025 | Open to all nationalities
Fahid Beach House
Pricing available on application — enquire with Address Point Properties for current inventory and pricing.
All Fahid Island properties are freehold for all nationalities. All units are priced above the AED 2,000,000* UAE Golden Visa threshold. All figures are indicative only.
Investment Case: Fahid Island
Position Between Abu Dhabi’s Two Most Appreciated Island Markets
Fahid Island’s geographic position — between Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, the two best-performing island property markets in Abu Dhabi — is its most immediately compelling investment characteristic. Saadiyat Island villas rose approximately 28%* year-on-year in 2025; Saadiyat apartments approximately 32%* year-on-year by April 2026. Yas Island properties rose approximately 7.8%* per square foot in 2024. Fahid Island at 2025 launch pricing is positioned below its more established island neighbours on a per-square-metre basis, creating the kind of gap that comparable island residential launches in the region have historically closed as communities mature and deliver.
The Wellness Premium — First-Mover Advantage in a Growing Global Category
The global wellness real estate market is one of the fastest-growing segments in premium property globally — in markets from Miami to Lisbon to Singapore, health and wellbeing-certified communities consistently achieve pricing premiums of 15%–35%* above comparable non-certified properties. Fahid Island’s Fitwel 3-Star and LEED Platinum distinction gives it a unique positioning claim in this market: no other island residential development in the world has achieved both certifications simultaneously. For the growing global audience of health-conscious buyers — corporate executives on extended UAE assignments, internationally mobile professionals and families — this distinction may command a structural premium over time that conventional investment metrics alone do not capture.
Aldar Properties Track Record and AED 40 Billion Commitment
Fahid Island is being delivered by Aldar Properties — Abu Dhabi’s largest and most established developer, with a portfolio of delivered island communities including Yas Island’s residential portfolio, Saadiyat Island’s major residential projects, and Al Raha Beach. The AED 40 billion* masterplan investment is one of the largest single-developer island commitments in Abu Dhabi’s history. For off-plan buyers with 2029–2032 handover horizons, Aldar’s track record of delivery provides institutional confidence that a purely commercial off-plan developer cannot match.
Limited Supply and Protected Natural Environment
Fahid Island’s commitment to preserving 30% of all land as natural space, combined with the lower-density residential masterplan, means that the total number of units is deliberately constrained relative to the island’s total land area. Approximately 6,000 units on 340 hectares gives a density far below comparable UAE island developments. This supply restraint, combined with the 4.6 kilometres of private beach — a finite, non-replicable asset — creates the structural conditions for sustained capital appreciation over the long term. All investment projections are indicative only.
Frequently Asked Questions — Fahid Island
What is Fahid Island?
Fahid Island is a new island masterplan in Abu Dhabi, developed by Aldar Properties for an investment of AED 40 billion*, positioned between Yas Island and Saadiyat Island. Spanning 2.7 million square metres (340 hectares), the island features 11 kilometres of coastline including 4.6 kilometres of private white-sand beach, protected southern mangrove lagoons, and a masterplan that reserves 30% of all land for parks, lagoons, and promenades. It is the world’s first island community to receive preliminary LEED City and Communities Platinum certification and Fitwel 3-Star certification simultaneously. Three residential communities launched in 2025: Fahid Beach Residences (464 units), Fahid Beach Terraces (501 units), and Fahid Beach House. King’s College School Wimbledon is planned within the island. Handovers are expected from 2029, with full completion by 2032.
Who develops Fahid Island?
Fahid Island is developed by Aldar Properties — Abu Dhabi’s largest publicly listed real estate developer, listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and backed by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investment infrastructure. Aldar acquired the Fahid Island site in January 2023 and unveiled the masterplan publicly in summer 2025. Aldar’s portfolio of delivered island communities includes Yas Island’s residential developments, Saadiyat Island’s major residential programme, and Al Raha Beach — providing strong institutional delivery credentials for buyers committing to the 2029–2032 handover horizon.
What is the Fitwel certification and why does it matter?
Fitwel is an internationally recognised, evidence-based building and community certification system that rates developments on their contribution to human health and wellbeing through urban design. Achieving 3 Stars — the highest available tier — means that Fahid Island’s masterplan has been independently verified to actively promote physical and mental health through design decisions including proximity to parks and waterfront, pedestrian infrastructure, air quality management, access to healthy food, and physical activity programming. No other island community anywhere in the world had achieved 3-Star Fitwel certification at the time of Fahid Island’s preliminary certification. Combined with preliminary LEED City and Communities Platinum (also a first for any island development), these certifications give Fahid Island an internationally verifiable sustainability and wellness positioning that is unique in Abu Dhabi real estate.
What are the launched residential communities on Fahid Island?
Three communities launched in 2025. Fahid Beach Residences (Phase 1, 464 units, 7 mid-rise buildings, architect Koichi Takada, 1–5BR, from approximately AED 3.5 million*, handover 2029). Fahid Beach Terraces (announced August 2025, 501 homes across 6 buildings, 1–4BR apartments and duplexes plus six 5BR penthouses, beachfront clubhouse with spa and wellness facilities, sales from 27 August 2025). Fahid Beach House (the community’s social hub residential product). All are freehold for all nationalities, all are off-plan with 2029 handover, and all are priced above the AED 2,000,000* Golden Visa threshold.
What are property prices on Fahid Island?
Launch pricing for Fahid Beach Residences (Phase 1) starts from approximately AED 3,500,000* for one-bedroom apartments, with the range extending to approximately AED 10,500,000* for four-bedroom-plus-maid configurations. The payment structure requires a 10% booking deposit followed by construction-linked instalments. Fahid Beach Terraces pricing is broadly aligned with the Fahid Beach Residences launch range. All prices are indicative and should be independently verified. As an entirely off-plan development, no secondary market data exists at the time of publication.
What school is on Fahid Island?
King’s College School Wimbledon — the Abu Dhabi campus of one of the UK’s most celebrated independent schools — is planned within the Fahid Island masterplan, within walking distance of the residential communities. This on-island school provision eliminates the off-community school commute that most Abu Dhabi island families must manage. Additional school options include Al Bateen Academy (IB World School, mainland, approximately 15–20 minutes) and Repton School Abu Dhabi (Outstanding ADEK-rated British curriculum on Al Reem Island, approximately 20 minutes).
When will Fahid Island be completed?
The first phase of Fahid Island residential delivery is targeted for handover in 2029. Full development of all planned phases is expected between 2029 and 2032. During the 2025–2029 construction period, the island is under active development. The leisure, school, retail, and community infrastructure are expected to open progressively alongside or shortly after the first residential handovers, following the phased activation model that Aldar has used across its other island masterplans.
How does Fahid Island compare to Saadiyat Island and Yas Island?
All three islands are between 5 and 15 minutes of each other by car, and all are developed or co-developed by Aldar Properties. Saadiyat Island is the cultural capital — museums, luxury beach hotels, premium villas; established secondary market with documented appreciation. Yas Island is the entertainment capital — theme parks, Formula 1, strong rental yields; deep secondary market. Fahid Island is the wellness capital — Fitwel-certified, lower-density, 4.6 km private beach, on-island school, off-plan 2029 delivery. For buyers who want the established market, Saadiyat and Yas offer immediate secondary market access. For buyers who want the earliest stage entry into a new wellness-positioned island with the full Aldar delivery backing, Fahid Island offers the opportunity that Saadiyat’s early buyers had in 2010–2015.
Is Fahid Island freehold for all nationalities?
Yes. Fahid Island is a freehold development open to buyers of all nationalities. All three launched residential communities — Fahid Beach Residences, Fahid Beach Terraces, and Fahid Beach House — are freehold. All launched properties are priced above the AED 2,000,000* minimum required for UAE Golden Visa eligibility, qualifying buyers for the 10-year renewable UAE residency visa covering the investor and immediate family members.
What healthcare is near Fahid Island?
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City — Abu Dhabi’s largest government hospital and academic medical centre — is approximately 15–20 minutes by car. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah Island is approximately 20–25 minutes for world-class specialist and emergency care. Corniche Hospital — specialising in maternity and paediatrics — is approximately 15–20 minutes. The island’s own masterplan includes provision for healthcare facilities as the community develops.
Summary
Fahid Island is Abu Dhabi’s most recently announced and most environmentally distinguished island masterplan — the world’s first island community with preliminary LEED City and Communities Platinum and Fitwel 3-Star certification, positioned between Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, developed by Aldar Properties for AED 40 billion*, spanning 2.7 million square metres with 11 km of coastline, 4.6 km of private beach, protected mangroves, King’s College School Wimbledon on-island, and a future metro connection. Three residential communities have launched: Fahid Beach Residences (from AED 3.5 million*, 1BR), Fahid Beach Terraces (501 units, 1–5BR, opened August 2025), and Fahid Beach House — all freehold for all nationalities, all off-plan with 2029 handover, all Golden Visa eligible. The Al Reem Island comparison makes the investment case simply: Fahid Island is to 2025 what Al Reem Island was to 2008 — an Aldar-backed island between two established markets, at an earlier stage of build-out, with the institutional delivery track record and government strategic backing that convert an off-plan commitment into a credible long-term asset. Contact Address Point Properties via WhatsApp to discuss current availability.
* All pricing and market figures are indicative only and derived from market research at the time of publication. All figures are subject to change without notice. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. By using this page you accept our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
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