UAE master developer Aldar has announced the launch of its landmark project - Marsa Al Saadiyat - in Abu Dhabi being set up at an investment of AED100 billion ($27.2 billion) on a 6.4-million-sq-m area.

The destination will be home to more than 58,000 residents, who will live in private mansions, luxury villas, waterfront apartments, branded residences, and a 22.5-m hillside community of standalone villas, each positioned to make the most of the surrounding landscape.

Unveiling the project, Aldar said the premium development boasts a mix of premium residences along with pristine beaches, 140 km of interconnected walking paths, and a 46-km cycling track.

The development spans across an 8-km waterfront, including 5.6 km of pristine beaches.

Aldar is the master developer of the project, which was earlier called Saadiyat Marina District. For the mega development, it will be fully responsible for overall design and the delivery of its primary infrastructure.

HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, who witnessed the launch of the project, directed its renaming from Saadiyat Marina District to Marsa Al Saadiyat.

Sheikh Khaled also visited the Marsa Al Saadiyat project site to review the masterplan and was briefed on the overall design, primary infrastructure, and the wider community and leisure amenities, including public parks, boat and yacht marinas, the waterfront promenade, walking paths, cycling tracks, and other services and facilities designed to the highest standards and specifications.

“This project reflects the UAE leadership’s commitment to investing in the development of integrated infrastructure that meets future aspirations and enhances the UAE’s global competitiveness as a leading destination offering a world-class living environment,” he stated.

Sheikh Khaled also highlighted that the project further reinforces the advanced development model the UAE epitomises, which combines quality of life, economic competitiveness, and sustainability for present and future generations.

Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group Chief Executive Officer at Aldar, said that Marsa Al Saadiyat is a landmark development for Abu Dhabi, reinforcing the emirate’s emergence as a powerful force in the global luxury landscape. With a development value of AED100 billion, the masterplan will add significant scale and character to the island, a destination already recognised as one of the most compelling cultural and lifestyle addresses in the world.

Marsa Al Saadiyat represents Aldar’s vision for Saadiyat Island, with a masterplan designed to offer a wide range of amenities that encourage active living in harmony with the island’s natural environment and exceptional quality of life.

Within the destination itself, a 1-km promenade of retail and dining options, a yacht club, and two luxury hotels provides its own social and commercial core, alongside a theatre district that will be anchored by Dar al Funoon, a performing arts venue with capacity for more than 6,000 guests to enjoy year-round musicals, live productions and international performances.

A scenic walkway connects Marsa Al Saadiyat directly to Saadiyat Cultural District, placing residents within easy reach of the island’s world-class museums, restaurants and five-star hospitality.

Aldar said Marsa Al Saadiyat was the next significant addition to that story, complementing a destination that already offers one of the world's top 20 beaches, protected natural habitats, and the greatest concentration of cultural institutions, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum, Zayed National Museum, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

Designed so that daily life unfolds within the community rather than outside it, the masterplan is woven together by a network of green linear parks, anchored by a landscaped central park that extends to the waterfront, children’s play areas, community clubhouses with outdoor pools, sports courts, premium healthcare, and three schools, ensuring that amenities are never more than a walk, cycle or short drive from home.

The development will be connected to Umm Yifeenah Island and Reem Island through a new integrated network of roads and tunnels, enhancing infrastructure efficiency and significantly reducing travel time to the heart of Abu Dhabi.

It will also feature an Etihad Rail underground high-speed rail station, strengthening connectivity between Abu Dhabi and the other emirates.

Aldar said the prime project will also be linked to an island being developed by Aldar off the coast of Saadiyat Island via a new bridge, expanding the destination’s footprint and further reinforcing its urban integration across the emirate.

Sales of the first homes at Marsa Al Saadiyat will begin soon, with site enabling and infrastructure works set to begin in Q3.-TradeArabia News Service