On 29 September 2026, Aldar Properties announced more than AED 5 billion ($1.36 billion) in sales across two Abu Dhabi launches: Talay on Saadiyat Island and Yas Riva Reserve on Yas Island. Expatriates and foreign investors account for 69% of buyers.
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On Tuesday 29 September 2026, Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi's leading listed developer, told the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange that its Aldar Talay Saadiyat launch and a second residential project had together passed AED 5 billion ($1.36 billion) in sales. The first is Talay: 351 standalone villas and the first community in Marsa Al Saadiyat, an AED 100 billion waterfront on Saadiyat Island. The second is Yas Riva Reserve: 292 villas in a gated community on Yas Island. The sales were made in the week before the Livex Abu Dhabi show. Both projects launched in September 2026.
Key points
- On 29 September 2026, Aldar Properties announced more than AED 5 billion ($1.36 billion) in sales across its Talay and Yas Riva Reserve projects in Abu Dhabi.
- Talay comprises 351 standalone villas. It is the first community in Marsa Al Saadiyat, an AED 100 billion waterfront on Saadiyat Island planned for more than 58,000 residents.
- Yas Riva Reserve is a gated community of 292 four-, five- and six-bedroom villas on Yas Island.
- Emirati nationals make up 31% of buyers across the two projects. The remaining 69% are expatriates and foreign investors, led by British, Russian, Jordanian and Indian nationals.
- According to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, Abu Dhabi property transactions reached AED 117 billion in the first half of 2026, up 112% year on year, across 16,838 deals (+61.7%).
Marsa Al Saadiyat opens with Talay, Aldar's first villa community on the new Saadiyat waterfront
Talay is Aldar's first commercial release in Marsa Al Saadiyat, an AED 100 billion masterplan on Saadiyat Island designed to house more than 58,000 residents once complete. Its 351 standalone villas are therefore the first homes to go on sale on this new waterfront.
For an investor, buying into the first phase of an Aldar masterplan is a strategic decision. Early buyers commit before the amenities, retail and later phases give the neighbourhood its final shape. Saadiyat Island is already one of Abu Dhabi's most sought-after addresses, with its cultural district and beaches.
Yas Riva Reserve adds to the family villa supply on Yas Island
On Yas Island, Yas Riva Reserve offers 292 four- to six-bedroom villas in a gated community. These large homes are aimed at families relocating to Abu Dhabi and at investors targeting a stable, high-end tenant base.
The project extends Yas Riva and confirms Aldar's strategy on the island: residential villas alongside the theme parks, the Formula 1 circuit and the leisure hubs that already underpin Yas Island's rental appeal.
69% foreign buyers in a market that keeps accelerating
Aldar's published figures point to a market that is wide open to international buyers:
- 69% of buyers are expatriates or foreign investors, led by the United Kingdom, Russia, Jordan and India;
- 54% are buying from Aldar for the first time, a sign that the developer is drawing in new investors;
- in the first half of 2026, the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre recorded AED 117 billion in transactions, up 112% year on year.
The results also rest on Aldar's financial strength. In the second quarter of 2026, its net profit rose 10% year on year to AED 2.16 billion.
What this means for investors
For us, the headline is the opening of Marsa Al Saadiyat. The early phases of a major masterplan offer the widest choice of plots and positions, and those who come in first watch the neighbourhood take shape around them. The strong presence of British and European buyers alongside Emirati purchasers adds depth to the resale market. That said, any capital growth depends on when the later phases are delivered. We assess it project by project and never treat it as a given.
On Yas Island, the Yas Riva Reserve villas target families: the case rests on long tenancies and tenant quality rather than turnover. Individuals pay no personal income tax in the UAE, and a property of this calibre may form part of a Golden Visa application. Eligibility is assessed case by case.
Aldar launches tend to sell out within days, so speed matters. Lucretia supports you throughout: choosing the unit, reading the payment plan, securing the reservation and shaping a rental strategy. To see these projects in the wider picture, read our guide Investing in Abu Dhabi.
Source: thenationalnews.com — 2026-09-29
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About the author
Mourad LACHAB
Real Estate Consultant
Originally from Strasbourg and after ten years in Paris, Mourad moved to Dubai. A former soldier in the French Army for five years, he developed discipline, rigor and a sense of responsibility — qualities he now puts to work for his clients. He started out in Dubai at an English-speaking agency specializing in the secondary market, then joined Lucretia to support French-speaking clients with a 360° view of the market: off-plan, resales, rentals, taxation, etc. A committed and passionate professional, Mourad stands out for his seriousness, transparency and determination. He also practices boxing, a sport that perfectly reflects his mindset.
