Perla 1

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A single-facade tower where every unit faces the sea

Perla 1 counts 190 units, and not one of them is a standard single-level apartment. Reportage Properties is building only duplexes, three-level townhouses and a single five-bedroom duplex here. The building rises on the western side of Yas Island, on one of the two wings of Yas Bay, forming half of a twin-tower development. According to the developer's brochure, it is the first building in Abu Dhabi designed with a single elevation, meaning every unit can be oriented toward the water. Handover is set for December 2028, on a freehold basis.

One elevation, facing the bay

The architectural logic comes down to one simple idea. Rather than spreading units across four sides of the building, with some inevitably facing a car park or service area, the tower has only one main facade. The developer states that this gives every unit an equal share of sunlight and a direct water view. The design is described as Italian-inspired, with floor-to-ceiling glazing and balconies and terraces built into the facade itself. For a buyer, the practical implication is worth noting: in a conventional tower, the price gap between a sea-facing unit and a parking-facing one can be substantial, and this layout narrows that gap. It's still worth checking the actual sightline angle floor by floor on the plans, since a direct view from the 2nd floor won't carry the same reach as one from the 13th.

No simplex units: duplexes, triplexes and one five-bedroom layout

Typology is where this project really stands apart. The duplexes come with two or three bedrooms, the townhouses built into the tower span three levels with four bedrooms, and a single duplex goes up to five bedrooms. There are no studios or one-bedroom units, which rules out the small-ticket rental investor from the start. Duplex layouts within a residential tower remain uncommon on Yas Island, where supply is mostly split between standard apartments and standalone villas. Perla 1 is aiming for something in between: the floor area and separation of living spaces you'd get in a house, combined with the services of an apartment building. Each unit comes fitted with central air conditioning, fiber optic connectivity and satellite reception.

Thirteen residential floors, rooftop pools and gym

The massing is straightforward: two basement levels, a ground floor, 13 residential floors and a fitted-out rooftop. The basement levels hold 206 covered parking spaces, just over one space per unit. For family-sized duplexes with three or four bedrooms, that ratio may feel tight, and it's worth clarifying at reservation stage. The rooftop concentrates the amenities: a gym, an adult pool and a separate children's pool. At ground level there are landscaped gardens, a barbecue area, seating zones and pedestrian pathways, plus beach access.

Yas Bay, between Etihad Arena and the twofour54 campus

Perla 1 sits within Yas Bay, the mixed-use district the brochure splits into three zones. The Waterfront section includes the Hilton hotel, restaurants, a cinema, a beach club and Etihad Arena, five minutes away. The Yas Bay residential zone claims 19 parks, two schools and three mosques within walking distance. The Media Zone houses the new twofour54 campus, Abu Dhabi's media and entertainment hub, which represents a potential employment base for future tenants. Ferrari World is five minutes away, and Yas Mall, Yas Waterworld and Warner Bros World are ten minutes out. The brochure also lists 25 minutes to Saadiyat and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, 30 minutes to Al Reem Island and 45 minutes to Dubai.

A step up in positioning for Reportage

Reportage Properties has built its name as a private developer focused on affordable housing, with projects across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and now Egypt. Perla 1 marks a clear departure from that: larger unit typologies, a strong sea-view pitch and an address in the capital's main leisure hub. The developer already has a presence on the island and on Al Reem, where it has launched several family-oriented projects. The twin tower, positioned on the other wing of the bay, extends the group's footprint along this stretch of waterfront. For buyers, the late 2028 handover date leaves roughly three years of construction, a timeline in line with what's typical in Abu Dhabi for a tower of this height.

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