In Abu Dhabi, foreigners can buy freehold property in designated investment zones. This guide compares their prices, gross yields, price growth and the developers building there.
On this page
- Where to invest in Abu Dhabi as a foreigner?
- Comparing investment zones: price per sq ft and gross yield
- Which zones have grown most? Price changes over 12, 36 and 60 months
- Worked example: AED 1.5M invested on Yas Island, Al Maryah or Saadiyat
- Who builds in each zone? The active developers
- Pitfalls to avoid when choosing a zone in Abu Dhabi
If you're wondering where to invest in Abu Dhabi as a foreigner, the answer is the designated investment zones listed on the u.ae portal (property purchases by expatriates): Reem Island, Yas Island, Saadiyat and Al Maryah are among them. Across the neighbourhoods tracked by Bayut in 2026, calculated gross yields range from 2.4% to 6.8%.
These zones don't all serve the same purpose. A business island with strong rental demand plays a different role from a prestigious cultural address or a coastline still under construction. Lucretia examines each zone in turn, with its strengths, prices and projects, to steer every budget towards the right location.
Where to invest in Abu Dhabi as a foreigner?
Foreigners can buy in Abu Dhabi within designated investment zones such as Al Reem, Yas or Saadiyat, according to DARI, the emirate's official land platform. In these investment zones, purchases are freehold, meaning full ownership.
The list published by u.ae includes Yas Island, Saadiyat, Reem, Mariya, Lulu, Al Raha Beach, Sayh Al Sedairah, Al Reef and Masdar City. The projects we list are spread across the following areas: Reem Island, Al Saadiyat Island, Al Rahah, Al Jurf Gardens, Yas Island, Al Bahyah, Fahid Island, Al Maryah Island, Ghantout, Al Layyan and Al Hudayriat Island.
Al Jurf Gardens, Ghantout, Fahid Island, Al Hudayriat Island, Al Bahyah and Al Layyan are not on the u.ae list, yet projects there are marketed to foreign buyers. Their status should therefore be checked on DARI, project by project, before paying any deposit.
In total, our catalogue brings together 69 published projects from 24 developers, with handovers spanning 2013 to 2031.
Three families of zones
- Central islands (Reem, Maryah): bought mainly for rental income, in the heart of the business district.
- Tourist and cultural islands (Yas, Saadiyat): bought first for the long-term value of the address.
- Emerging coastline (Al Jurf, Ghantout, Fahid, Hudayriat, Bahyah): a bet on capital growth, with less rental history and a status to confirm on DARI.
Comparing investment zones: price per sq ft and gross yield
According to Bayut data (latest point: August 2026), the 10 neighbourhoods tracked in Abu Dhabi show a median price of AED 1,792/sq ft and a median calculated gross yield of 5.7%. The range runs from 2.4% in Al Jurf Gardens to 6.8% on Al Maryah Island, with median price growth of +6.1% over 12 months.
| Zone | Sale price (AED/sq ft) | Rent (AED/sq ft/year) | Calculated gross yield | Bayut month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reem Island | 1,497 | 102 | 6.8% | March 2026 |
| Al Maryah Island | 2,043 | 138 | 6.8% | March 2026 |
| Yas Island | 1,922 | 112 | 5.8% | March 2026 |
| Al Rahah | 1,691 | 97 | 5.7% | February 2026 |
| Al Bahyah | 858 | 45 | 5.2% | April 2026 |
| Al Saadiyat Island | 2,714 | 117 | 4.3% | March 2026 |
| Ghantout | 1,546 | 61 | 3.9% | March 2026 |
| Al Jurf Gardens | 1,603 | 39 | 2.4% | March 2026 |
The table shows three tiers. Reem and Maryah offer the best gross yields, with Reem having the lowest entry price of the central islands, an advantage covered in our guide to investing on Al Reem Island. Yas, Al Rahah and Al Bahyah form a middle group. Saadiyat, Ghantout and Al Jurf rent for less relative to their price: these are wealth-preservation or capital-growth zones.
Which zones have grown most? Price changes over 12, 36 and 60 months
Over five years, Al Jurf Gardens and Saadiyat post the strongest gains among zones with a complete data series: +74.8% and +67.2% respectively over 60 months, according to Bayut data from March 2026.
A project in mind?
Talk to a Lucretia adviser
Tailored guidance, no obligation.
The established islands
Behind Saadiyat come Al Maryah (+63% over 60 months) and Yas (+58.9% over 60 months, including +43% over 36 months), a trajectory covered in our guide to investing on Yas Island. Reem is up +44% over 60 months. Al Rahah follows with +40% over the same period (Bayut, February 2026).
The emerging coastline
Al Jurf Gardens gained +59.6% over 36 months, Ghantout +50.2%. Fahid Island has the highest price in the panel: AED 3,844/sq ft in March 2026, after +186.4% over 36 months, but only +1.8% over 12 months.
Bayut does not yet publish rents for this island, so its yield cannot be calculated. Projects there include Fahid Beach Residences, Fahid Beach Terraces and The Beach House Fahid, all three by Aldar Properties.
Al Hudayriat Island follows a different path: AED 1,792/sq ft in August 2026, +15.6% over 12 months but only +3.5% over 36 months. Its flagship project is Hudayriyat Golf Estates, by Modon, due for handover in August 2030.
Al Layyan has no Bayut series. We therefore quote no market figures there, only Aldar's projects: Al Ghadeer Gardens (from AED 1.9M, handover December 2030) and Al Ghadeer Parks (from AED 2M, handover June 2031).
Worked example: AED 1.5M invested on Yas Island, Al Maryah or Saadiyat
With AED 1.5M, the median ticket of the 17 projects with a published price that we list (from AED 500,000 to AED 2M), you buy roughly 780 sq ft on Yas, 734 sq ft on Al Maryah or 553 sq ft on Saadiyat, according to Bayut data from March 2026.
| Zone | Area (1,500,000 ÷ price per sq ft) | Annual gross rent (area × rent per sq ft) | Gross yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yas Island | 1,500,000 ÷ 1,922 ≈ 780 sq ft | 780.4 × 112 ≈ AED 87,409 | 5.8% |
| Al Maryah Island | 1,500,000 ÷ 2,043 ≈ 734 sq ft | 734.2 × 138 ≈ AED 101,322 | 6.8% |
| Al Saadiyat Island | 1,500,000 ÷ 2,714 ≈ 553 sq ft | 552.7 × 117 ≈ AED 64,665 | 4.3% |
Whatever the zone, the transfer fee is 2% of the purchase price, paid through ADREC and DARI: AED 30,000 on AED 1.5M. After that, the rent is entirely yours. According to the taxation page of the u.ae portal, individuals pay no income tax (0%): neither on rent nor on capital gains.
On Yas, this budget targets projects such as Sama Yas, Yas Riva, Waldorf Astoria Residences Yas or Perla 1 by Reportage Properties. On Al Maryah, look at Reportage Tower and The St. Regis Residences by SAAS Properties, due for handover in December 2028.
Many of these projects are still sold off-plan. The steps, from reservation agreement to handover, are set out in our guide to buying off-plan in Abu Dhabi.
At Lucretia, we find that our clients rarely decide on gross yield alone. Those seeking income choose Al Maryah. Those planning to pass the property on accept Saadiyat's smaller floor area for the rarity of the address, a trade-off explored in our guide to investing on Saadiyat Island. Those who will live there look first at lifestyle, compared in our selection of the best Abu Dhabi neighbourhoods for families.
Who builds in each zone? The active developers
Aldar Properties is the leading developer among the projects we list. It is present in almost every zone, and its portfolio is densest on Saadiyat. Here is who builds where.
- Saadiyat: Aldar, with Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences, The Row Saadiyat and Mamsha Palm.
- Yas, Fahid and Al Layyan: Aldar, with the projects mentioned above.
- Al Bahyah: Aldar, with Yas Riva Reserve.
- Reem Island (1/2): IMKAN Properties (The Artery Residences, Sunstone) and Radiant (Radiant Bridges, Radiant Terrace).
- Reem Island (2/2): Reportage (The District, Marlin 2), DAMAC Properties (Oceanscape and Marina Bay, completed in 2013) and GAF Property (Flow25).
- Al Rahah: Reportage (Baia), ICTReD (Juman 1, Juman 2, Juman 3) and Burtville Developments (Bab Al Qasr Sea View 51).
- Al Jurf: Ohana Development (Jacob & Co. Beachfront Living, Ohana By The Sea) and IMKAN (Naseem Al Jurf, Kayan).
- Ghantout: Ora Developers (Bayn Lagoon 2).
Some projects sit outside the neighbourhoods tracked by Bayut, such as Bloom Living Granada 2 in Zayed City, Al-Reeman Gate in Al Shamkhah, Sila in Masdar City or Reportage Village Abu Dhabi in Khalifa City. No price data is available for these areas: their value has to be assessed project by project.
The developer directory covers all the other players in the market.
Pitfalls to avoid when choosing a zone in Abu Dhabi
The first pitfall is buying outside an investment zone. Check the plot's status on DARI before paying any deposit, even when the project is marketed to foreigners, and especially in zones missing from the u.ae list.
Free guide, delivered on WhatsApp
Get our investment guide
Taxation, visas, financing, buying steps: 14 pages sent to your WhatsApp within minutes.
- Confusing growth with income. Al Jurf Gardens posts the strongest five-year rise among zones with a complete series, yet its gross yield tops out at 2.4%.
- Extrapolating a volatile series. Al Bahyah shows +44.4% over 12 months, but −8.6% over 36 months and +116.2% over 60 months, from a low base of AED 858/sq ft (April 2026).
- Comparing different months. Bayut data points don't all date from the same month: check the "Bayut month" column in the table before comparing two zones.
On the ground, I often see buyers choose a zone on the strength of a brochure, without having looked at the rental history. We always start with that data.
— Léonard ARZOUNI, Real Estate Consultant
The 10-year Golden Visa requires a property investment of at least AED 2,000,000, according to the Golden Visa page of the u.ae portal. That threshold exceeds the AED 1.5M median ticket, but some projects reach it at entry level, such as Al Ghadeer Parks from AED 2M. Sold off-plan, it follows the steps described in our off-plan buying guide.
For a selection of zones tailored to your goals, visit our Abu Dhabi market page or explore our advisory services.
In this guide
Articles in this guide
This article is part of our guide
Abu Dhabi Property Investment Guide: Buy, Let and Resell with Confidence
About the author
Léonard ARZOUNI
Real Estate Consultant
Léonard is a luxury real estate consultant with more than six years of experience in the high-end market. He is fluent in French and English and assists an international clientele in the acquisition and management of exceptional properties, both residential and investment-oriented. His expertise covers property valuation, portfolio management and strategic negotiation, enabling him to develop tailor-made solutions adapted to each client's wealth objectives. He is appreciated for his rigour and attention to detail. Outside of work, Léonard is passionate about contemporary art, collecting works by emerging artists. He is a curious traveller who loves discovering new cultures.
