The Upsides · Guide
A sourced side-by-side of Abu Dhabi's three major island communities. Yas apartment prices come from existing project pages on this site.
| Factor | Fahid Island | Saadiyat Island | Yas Island |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | Aldar | Aldar + others | Aldar + others |
| Masterplan unveiled | June 2025 | 2000s (established) | 2000s (established) |
| Total area | 2.7 million sqm | About 27 km² | About 25 km² |
| Gross development value | AED 40 billion+ | Multiple phases, total not a single figure | Multiple phases |
| Positioning | Coastal wellness, nature-first | Culture, luxury, arts | Entertainment, family, leisure |
| Beaches | 4.6 km | Multiple beaches including Saadiyat Beach | Yas Beach, smaller shoreline |
| Sustainability | Fitwel 3-Star, LEED Platinum pre-cert, Estidama 3 Pearl (target) | Estidama-rated buildings; cultural sustainability focus | Green building standards |
| Current apartment price range on this site | From AED 1.8M (The Beach House) to AED 3.6M+ (Beach Terraces) | AED 6.2M+ (Mandarin Oriental Residences) to AED 93.5M+ branded mansions in destination copy | From about AED 1.65M (The Canopies at Yas Point by Aldar) to AED 5.9M+ remaining duplexes at Sama Yas by Aldar |
| Property types available now | Apartments, with villas in pre-launch registration | Branded residences, waterfront apartments, villas | Apartments, villas, townhouses |
| Cultural attractions | Coral Drive, beach club (planned) | Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena, Guggenheim (coming), Zayed National Museum (coming) | Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld, Disneyland Abu Dhabi (coming) |
| Key distinction | Wellness-first design, world's first Fitwel island | Cultural capital of Abu Dhabi | Entertainment capital of Abu Dhabi |
| Stage | Emerging (first handovers from Q2 2029) | Established + new phases | Established + new phases |
| Freehold | Yes, all nationalities | Yes, all nationalities | Yes, all nationalities |
Saadiyat Island suits buyers who want an established cultural waterfront, museum-district adjacency, and branded residences. Ticket sizes on this site start higher than Fahid or Yas apartment entries.
Yas Island suits buyers who want attractions, park-centred apartments, and a faster hop to Zayed International Airport. Published entry on this site starts from about AED 1.65M at The Canopies at Yas Point, with remaining Sama Yas duplexes from AED 5,905,725.
Fahid Island suits buyers who want a 2025 wellness masterplan between the two established islands, with first handovers from Q2 2029. It is the newest of the three, so resale history is not yet a published district median.
Continue to the Fahid Island hub, Saadiyat Island, or Yas Island.
Questions
Fahid Island is Aldar's 2025 coastal wellness masterplan between Yas and Saadiyat, with first handovers from Q2 2029. Saadiyat Island is the established cultural waterfront, with museums, branded residences, and later-phase releases such as Marsa Al Saadiyat.
Neither island is a guaranteed better investment. Fahid is an emerging off-plan market with launch sales already in ADREC's four-market off-plan concentration. Yas is an established entertainment island with live Aldar stock on this site from about AED 1.65M at The Canopies at Yas Point. Compare holding period, ticket size, and lifestyle, then confirm figures before you commit.
On this site, Yas Island currently shows the lowest published apartment entry among the three, from about AED 1.65M at The Canopies at Yas Point. Fahid launch guidance starts from AED 1.8M at The Beach House. Saadiyat branded stock on this site starts higher, from AED 6.2M+ at Mandarin Oriental Residences.
Fahid Island and Yas Island both sit about 15 minutes from Zayed International Airport on Aldar's published drive times. Saadiyat Island is typically a longer hop depending on gate and traffic.
Hot launch
Aldar Properties launched its landmark waterfront master plan on Saadiyat Island on 22 July 2026. Priority registration is open ahead of first residential sales expected in H2 2026. Its first villa release, Talay, is now revealed.
Hot launch · Saadiyat Island · July 2026
Beaches, marina neighbourhoods, and the closing chapter of the Saadiyat Island masterplan sit behind this release. Layouts, unit sizes, prices, and payment plans have not yet been released by Aldar. Register now so The Upsides can send release notices when chapters go live.
General information only, not investment advice. Prices, availability, specifications and charges are subject to change. The Upsides is a trading name of a licensed Abu Dhabi real estate brokerage holding authorised agency agreements with the respective developers for the projects referenced on this site (including Aldar Properties and Eagle Hills). This is not an official Aldar Properties PJSC or Eagle Hills website. Confirm details with us and licensed advisors before you commit. Forward-looking statements are subject to official confirmation by the relevant developer.
See also the Disclaimer.
