Saadiyat Island Off-Plan — Every Project, Price and Payment Plan
Saadiyat Island opened its museums, its universities and its schools before its residential districts.
Here is every off-plan project we sell on the island, with the price, the payment plan and the handover on each, and what it costs to buy in Abu Dhabi.
The island, and the order it was built in
Saadiyat Island sits off Abu Dhabi's north-eastern shore, joined to the mainland by bridges. Its institutions opened first. The Louvre Abu Dhabi opened in 2017, and NYU Abu Dhabi's campus is on the island. The residential districts came after them.
Every off-plan project we cover on the island is by Aldar, a government developer. Its districts here are the Saadiyat Cultural District and Marsa Al Saadiyat.
Property on Saadiyat Island is freehold to all nationalities. Registration is 2% of the price to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre plus the AED 450 DARI fee, and off-plan payments go into a registered escrow account.
Homes on the island sold AED 13.3 billion in the first half of 2026, second only to Hudayriyat across the emirate.
The institutions, and how close they are
From the Saadiyat Cultural District the island's institutions sit inside a seven-minute drive. From Marsa Al Saadiyat, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum are within walking distance.
| Landmark | Distance (km) | Drive (min) |
|---|---|---|
| Abrahamic Family House | 1.0 | 3 |
| Manarat Al Saadiyat | 1.2 | 4 |
| Zayed National Museum | 1.3 | 4 |
| Berklee Abu Dhabi | 1.4 | 5 |
| Natural History Museum | 1.5 | 5 |
| teamLab Phenomena | 1.6 | 7 |
| Louvre Abu Dhabi | 1.7 | 5 |
| Saadiyat Grove | 2.0 | 5 |
| Guggenheim Abu Dhabi | 2.3 | 7 |
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, Muna British Academy, the American Community School, Lycée Théodore Monod, NYU Abu Dhabi and Berklee Abu Dhabi are on the island, with Harrow Abu Dhabi to come.
And inside the districtsA school is planned within the Talay community. Marsa Al Saadiyat plans three schools, six nurseries and two clinics of its own.
And the concert hallDar Al Funoon Abu Dhabi, designed by Frank Gehry, opens inside Marsa Al Saadiyat in 2030, with four venues and more than 6,000 seats.
Ask an advisor about the homes in this area.
Speak to an advisorThe off-plan we sell on the island
Four addresses selling now, and the district still releasing. All are freehold to all nationalities, and the developer pays us, so you pay no commission.
| Project | District | Type | From (AED) | Booking | Plan | Handover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vida Residences Saadiyat Island | Saadiyat Island | Apartments | 2,850,000 | 10% | 10 / 30 / 60 | Q2 2028 |
| Sei Saadiyat | Saadiyat Cultural District | Apartments, lofts | 2,950,000 | 5% | 50/50 | Q4 2030 |
| Talay and Talay Beach | Marsa Al Saadiyat | Villas | 13,500,000 | 5% | 50/50 | Q4 2029 – Q4 2030 |
| Four Seasons Private Residences Abu Dhabi at Saadiyat Beach | Saadiyat Beach | Villas | 69,900,000 | 5% | 5 / 35 / 60 | Q4 2029 |
| Marsa Al Saadiyat | The district | Mansions, villas, apartments, branded residences | By release | — | — | — |
One hundred and twenty-one furnished homes by ALAIN Properties, in a single block of six floors above a podium. One, two and three bedrooms across ten layouts, with a pool deck, a gym, a club lounge and a dog park on the podium, and a plaza of shops and cafés at street level. Sixty per cent of the price falls due on handover.
Four towers of 513 homes, the tallest rising 17 floors, with architecture by Jacobs and interiors by Kettle Collective. One and two bedroom apartments, two bedroom Kanso Lofts over two floors and three bedroom Kanso Residences, from 753 to 2,239 sq ft. Prices, the homes and the plan.
351 standalone villas in two gated communities. Talay holds 167 and Talay Beach 184. Four, five and six bedrooms over two floors, each with a private backyard, covered parking and a choice of two interior palettes. Prices, the villas and the plan.
A gated beachfront community of 56 villas and 60 suites, developed by ALAIN Properties under a licence from Four Seasons and run by a Four Seasons team. Garden Villas are available in five and six bedrooms.
Aldar's final district on Saadiyat, and the launchpad for each release inside it. Private mansions, luxury villas, waterfront apartments and branded residences are the four categories it names. The district, and what has priced so far.
The payment plans side by side
| Vida Residences Saadiyat Island | Sei Saadiyat | Talay and Talay Beach | Four Seasons Private Residences | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On booking | 10% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Across the build | 30% in three payments during construction | 45% during construction | 45% across six dated instalments | 35% during construction |
| On handover | 60% | 50% | 50% | 60% |
| Handover | Q2 2028 | Q4 2030 | Q4 2029 · Talay Beach Q4 2030 | Q4 2029 |
Sei Saadiyat spreads forty-five per cent across construction. Talay runs six dated instalments, the last of them on 1 June 2029, and each project page carries its schedule in full.
Marsa Al Saadiyat, the district still releasing
Aldar's final district on Saadiyat covers 6.4 million square metres, with a gross development value of AED 100 billion, of which Aldar builds AED 60 billion. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi unveiled it on 22 July 2026.
Eight kilometres of coastline, of which 5.6 kilometres is beach. A marina of 177,000 square metres with 350 berths, a one-kilometre promenade of restaurants, retail and a yacht club, and two luxury hotels on the same stretch.
A Central Park of 73,800 square metres, inside 73.8 hectares of green space across the district. It carries 46 km of cycling track and around 140 km of walking path. The district is drawn for more than 58,000 residents.
And the railAn Etihad Rail station in the district puts Dubai thirty minutes away.
Aldar names four categories of home for the district: private mansions, luxury villas, waterfront apartments and branded residences. Talay and Talay Beach are the first of them to reach the market, and every release inside the district is set out on our Marsa Al Saadiyat page.
What it costs to buy
| On Saadiyat Island | |
|---|---|
| Registration | 2% of the price to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre |
| Plus | The AED 450 DARI fee, paid once with the booking |
| Payments | Into a registered escrow account |
| Mortgage cap, off-plan | 50% of the price |
| Golden Visa threshold | AED 2,000,000 |
| Commission to us | Zero |
Every home here is freehold to all nationalities, and Abu Dhabi's registration is 2% where Dubai's is 4%. The full comparison is in our Dubai vs Abu Dhabi off-plan costs guide, and every Abu Dhabi project we cover sits on our Abu Dhabi off-plan hub.
Which one suits which buyer
Talay and Talay Beach: four, five and six bedrooms over two floors, from AED 13,500,000. Average plots run 736 to 883 sqm.
Talay hands over from Q4 2029, and carries the Landmark Fountain and a school planned inside the community.
Sei Saadiyat: one and two bedroom apartments, two bedroom Kanso Lofts over two floors and three bedroom Kanso Residences, from AED 2,950,000.
The larger communityTalay Beach holds 184 villas with padel courts, a multi-purpose court and the Harvest Garden, and hands over from Q4 2030.
Weighing a Saadiyat villa against one on another island? We put Talay head to head with Wadeem Gardens on Hudayriyat in Talay vs Wadeem Gardens, and every Aldar project we cover is on our Aldar page.
Weighing Saadiyat against Yas? Our Yas Island vs Saadiyat Island guide sets the two side by side.
Saadiyat Island Off-Plan — Questions buyers ask
What off-plan projects are selling on Saadiyat Island?
We sell Sei Saadiyat in the Saadiyat Cultural District, and Talay and Talay Beach at Marsa Al Saadiyat. Marsa Al Saadiyat carries further categories of home that Aldar has named.
What is the cheapest way into Saadiyat off-plan?
Sei Saadiyat, from AED 2,950,000 on five per cent down.
What do the villas cost?
Talay and Talay Beach start at AED 13,500,000 at four bedrooms. Five bedrooms start at AED 15,500,000, and six at AED 17,200,000.
What are the payment plans?
Sei Saadiyat takes five per cent on booking, forty-five per cent during construction and half on handover. Talay and Talay Beach take five per cent on booking, six dated instalments to forty-five per cent, and half on handover.
When do they hand over?
Talay from Q4 2029. Sei Saadiyat and Talay Beach from Q4 2030.
Who is the developer?
Aldar on all of them, a government developer and Abu Dhabi's largest.
Can foreigners buy on Saadiyat Island?
Yes. Property here is freehold to all nationalities.
What do buyers pay in fees?
Registration is 2% of the price to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, plus the AED 450 DARI fee. There is no agency commission through NARVA.
What schools are on the island?
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, Muna British Academy, the American Community School, Lycée Théodore Monod, NYU Abu Dhabi and Berklee Abu Dhabi, with Harrow Abu Dhabi to come. A school is planned within the Talay community.
What museums are on Saadiyat Island?
The Louvre Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2017, Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum, Manarat Al Saadiyat, teamLab Phenomena and the Abrahamic Family House. Dar Al Funoon Abu Dhabi opens inside Marsa Al Saadiyat in 2030.
How far is Dubai?
An Etihad Rail station in Marsa Al Saadiyat puts Dubai thirty minutes away.
Is there a marina?
Marsa Al Saadiyat has a marina of 177,000 square metres with 350 berths, and a one-kilometre promenade beside it.
Does a purchase qualify for the Golden Visa?
A purchase of AED 2,000,000 or more can qualify a buyer for the UAE's ten-year Golden Visa, subject to the rules applying at the time of purchase.
Can I sell before handover?
Yes, once you have paid the developer's threshold and hold a no-objection certificate.
Do you charge commission?
No. Aldar pays us, so you pay nothing.
Buying off-plan on Saadiyat Island?
Tell us which district you want and what you need from the home. Aldar pays us, so you pay no commission.