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Abu Dhabi is the economic, political, educational, and cultural hub in the UAE. It is also one of the safest cities in the world and a popular tourist destination. In Abu Dhabi, you can find freehold areas, where nationals of any country can purchase property and own it. Some of the most promising communities for buying villas and apartments are the islands of Saadiyat and Yas. Today, these communities are actively developing, so you can buy real estate on favorable terms directly from the developer.
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Yas Island
A large man-made island, Yas Island, separated from the mainland by a sea channel, is a key entertainment community in the capital of the UAE. It is home to many popular sites, including:
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, a Ferrari-branded theme park. Its main theme is auto racing and sports cars. Here you can also take a tour of the Ferrari factory and ride the fastest roller coaster.
- Yas Mall, the largest shopping mall in the city, with a wide range of branded boutiques, a cinema, an IKEA store, a food court, and entertainment centers for children and adults.
- SeaWorld, a theme park, where you can see various sea creatures.
- Yas Marina Circuit, the venue for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
- Yas Links Abu Dhabi, a golf course overlooking the sea channel.
- Yas Waterworld, the largest open-air water park in Abu Dhabi.
- Warner Bros World, the first Warner Bros. branded indoor theme park.
- Yas Marina with restaurants, cafes and bars.
The island also houses beach pavilions, recreational centers, parks, sports grounds and playgrounds for children.
Housing market on Yas Island
In Q3 2022, Yas Island became the most sought-after location for buying investment property in Abu Dhabi. The island offers a wide range of housing for every taste. Here you can find both apartments and studio units as well as luxurious villas and townhouses.
Prices for move-in ready 1-bedroom apartments start at AED 750,000 ($204,000). You can find apartments in off-plan projects. In this case, the starting price for a 1-bedroom apartment is AED 650,000 ($177,000). If you buy an off-plan property, you can take advantage of paying in instalments. Many developers offer flexible interest-free instalment plans so that you can pay for the property during construction and after the project is handed over.
Yas Island has a wide range of high-end properties that have been in high demand among foreign investors over the past few years. The starting price for a completed 3-bedroom villa is AED 3.3 million ($898,000). An off-plan 3-bedroom mansion can be purchased at a price of AED 2 million ($544,500).
Why is it profitable to invest in property on Yas Island?
The key advantages of buying a home on Yas Island include the following:
- The island's real estate has one of the highest ROIs in Abu Dhabi, up to 6.3% for apartments and 5.2% for villas.
- Rental housing on the island is popular with both tourists and local residents, which allows investors to easily find tenants and receive regular passive income.
- Good transport accessibility as the island is connected to the mainland by a 10-lane highway. Abu Dhabi’s city center can be reached within 25 minutes.
- Proximity to the beaches, with an area of one hectare and excellent infrastructure with popular shopping, entertainment and leisure centers.
Saadiyat Island
Connected to the mainland by two bridges, Saadiyat Island is a natural island located 5 to 10 minutes from the center of Abu Dhabi. This community is currently under development. In accordance with the development plan, the area will become the largest cultural and popular tourist center of the emirate. The key microdistrict of the island is Cultural District, which will house prestigious universities and eight museums, including Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
In addition to the listed facilities, Saadiyat Island also features long sandy beaches, hotels, restaurants and a seaside golf club with an 18-hole course.
Housing market on Saadiyat Island
The island’s market offers all types of apartments including luxury penthouses and duplex units, villas and townhouses. Buyers can choose both completed housing and units in off-plan projects.
Housing prices in the area are almost the same as for luxury new projects in Dubai. The starting price for a move-in ready 1-bedroom apartment is AED 900,000 ($245,000). A resale 4-bedroom villa can be bought for AED 5.5 million ($1.5 million). The price for a high-end 1-bedroom apartment under development starts at AED 1.2 million ($327,000). The price for luxury villas can go as high as AED 6 million ($1.6 million).
What are the benefits of buying an apartment or house on Saadiyat Island?
Buying a new apartment or luxury home on Saadiyat Island ensures you plenty of benefits, including:
- The property is located next to sandy beaches, which gives residents the opportunity to enjoy a resort lifestyle with walking and jogging along the Persian Gulf, swimming in the clearest sea and practicing various water sports.
- Saadiyat Island is being developed; therefore, housing prices have not peaked here. After the construction work is completed, the cost of apartments and villas will increase. Homeowners will be able to profitably resell their property or rent it out at any time.
- Investors who buy real estate to run a rental business can count on a stable income, as large museums, exhibitions, galleries will be open on the territory of Saadiyat Island, which will attract potential tenants and tourists.
- Return on investment in this island community reaches 7% per year, which is no less than most types of premium property in Dubai;
- When buying an off-plan unit, you can use an instalment plan from the developer and purchase a luxurious property at an attractive price.
Saadiyat and Yas Islands are some of the most popular locations for investing in Abu Dhabi housing. An important advantage of these two resort areas is the status of freehold zones. This means that on the territory of the islands there are no restrictions on property ownership for foreigners. If you are interested in purchasing buy-to-let or buy-to-live housing in these areas, on our website you can check out the latest property listings with real-time prices, photos, and technical characteristics.
