Aldar Properties PJSC was incorporated on 12 October 2004 and listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange the following year. The company operates two core businesses: Aldar Development, which builds and sells residential communities across Abu Dhabi, and Aldar Investment, which manages income-generating assets across retail, residential, commercial, logistics, and hospitality — a portfolio valued at over AED 42 billion. In 2025, Aldar reported record sales of AED 40.6 billion and a net profit of AED 8.8 billion, up 36% year on year.
Who is Aldar Properties?
Aldar Properties was founded in Abu Dhabi in 2004, around the time the UAE opened property ownership to foreign buyers, and was listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) in 2005. Its largest shareholder is Alpha Dhabi Holding, a government-linked investment company, with Mubadala also represented on the board. This puts Aldar in a unique position — a publicly listed company backed by strong government support.
The company is chaired by Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, who also leads Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism, and led by Group CEO Talal Al Dhiyebi since 2021. Under his leadership, Aldar has expanded beyond Abu Dhabi into Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Egypt, and the UK.
Today, Aldar operates across development, property management, education, and hospitality. Its portfolio includes retail, residential, commercial, and logistics assets, reaching AED 47 billion in assets under management by the end of 2025. Beyond development and sales, Aldar manages and operates the communities it builds — across residential, retail, commercial, and hospitality.
How Aldar builds
Master community development
Aldar functions as a master developer, acquiring large land parcels and planning full communities rather than individual towers. On Yas Island alone, the company built Yas Acres, West Yas, Water's Edge, and Ansam — each with its own schools, retail, parks, and community infrastructure. This approach means that when an Aldar project is delivered, residents move into a functioning neighbourhood, not an isolated building.
Publicly listed accountability
Aldar is the only major Abu Dhabi residential developer listed on a public stock exchange. That listing — on the ADX since 2005 — means quarterly financial reporting, audited accounts, disclosed shareholder structures, and regulatory oversight that private developers are not subject to. For buyers, this provides a level of transparency about the company's financial health that is uncommon in the regional market.
Consistent delivery record
With a development revenue backlog of AED 71.7 billion at the end of 2025, Aldar runs one of the largest active construction pipelines in the region. The company awarded AED 66 billion in construction contracts in 2025 alone, with 141 active sites across the UAE. Communities including Yas Acres, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Water's Edge, Al Bandar, and Saadiyat Grove Phase 1 have all been delivered in line with their stated timelines.
Branded and premium-tier partnerships
Aldar has built a portfolio of collaborations with internationally recognised hospitality brands. On Yas Island, the Waldorf Astoria Residences and Nobu Residences both carry globally recognised names. The Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences on Saadiyat Island were developed jointly with the museum itself. These branded projects represent a distinct tier within Aldar's portfolio — fewer units, higher price points, and built-in lifestyle associations that command premium resale and rental values.
Expansion beyond Abu Dhabi
Since 2021, Aldar has developed active projects in Dubai — including Haven in Dubailand — and in Ras Al Khaimah. Internationally, the company operates through SODIC in Egypt and London Square in the UK. In 2025, Aldar recorded AED 5.1 billion in international sales, and expatriate and overseas buyers accounted for 77% of total UAE sales, reflecting the company's reach well beyond its home market.
Yas Island: Aldar's largest and most established location
Yas Island is where Aldar has built the most — and where the company's track record is most visible. The developer was involved in creating the island's foundational infrastructure, including the Yas Marina Circuit (home to the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix), Yas Mall, and the original Yas Hotel. On the residential side, completed communities including Yas Acres, West Yas, Water's Edge, and Ansam represent thousands of delivered units with active resale markets.
Current projects on Yas Island range from apartments at entry-level price points — Gardenia Bay from AED 805,000 — through to branded villa communities like Yas Riva, where standalone villas start from AED 8.3 million. The island benefits from proximity to Abu Dhabi International Airport, Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World, and Yas Mall, all within a short drive.
Nobu Residences Abu Dhabi
One of the most exclusive projects in Aldar's current portfolio — only 88 units, developed in collaboration with the Nobu brand. Apartments span 1 to 3 bedrooms alongside 2-bedroom penthouses, with starting prices from AED 7.8 million. Nobu Residences brings one of the world's most recognised hospitality names to Saadiyat Island, with residents gaining access to Nobu's signature dining and lifestyle programming.
Waldorf Astoria Residences Yas Island
Branded residences on Yas Island, developed in partnership with Waldorf Astoria. Apartments and duplex units start from AED 3.8 million, with a 60/40 payment plan and a Q4 2028 handover. Residents gain access to Waldorf Astoria hotel services and amenities — a proposition aimed at buyers who want hotel-quality management alongside private ownership.
Yas Riva
A collection of 151 standalone villas on Yas Island, positioned at the premium end of Aldar's residential portfolio. Four to six-bedroom villas start from AED 8.3 million, on a 50/50 payment plan with Q3 2028 handover. Yas Riva sits within the wider Yas Island community, with direct access to the island's leisure, entertainment, and waterfront infrastructure.
Saadiyat Island: culture, beach, and Aldar's premium communities
Saadiyat Island is home to Abu Dhabi's Cultural District — anchored by Louvre Abu Dhabi, with Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum under construction nearby. Aldar has been one of the primary residential developers on the island, with completed communities including Mamsha Al Saadiyat and Jawaher Al Saadiyat alongside the newer Saadiyat Grove cluster of buildings that began handing over in late 2025.
Current Saadiyat projects cover a wide price range — from Manarat Living III apartments starting at AED 730,000 through to branded residences like Nobu at AED 7.8 million and above. The island's combination of beach access, proximity to world-class museums, and established school and retail infrastructure makes it consistently one of the most in-demand locations in Abu Dhabi.
The Row Saadiyat
Launched in Q4 2025 as one of Aldar's strongest-performing new releases, The Row Saadiyat offers apartments on Saadiyat Island starting from AED 3.7 million. The project is on a 65/35 payment plan with a Q1 2030 handover. Its location within the cultural heart of Saadiyat positions it alongside the island's museum corridor and within reach of Saadiyat Beach.
Mamsha Gardens
Located on Saadiyat Island, Mamsha Gardens builds on the established Mamsha Al Saadiyat beachfront community with a mix of 1 to 3-bedroom apartments and 2 to 3-bedroom townhouses. Starting from AED 3.1 million, the project is on a 65/35 payment plan with a Q2 2028 handover. The development occupies one of the more established parts of the island, with access to the Mamsha promenade, beach, and retail.
Fahid Island: Aldar's newest waterfront destination
Fahid Island is the newest addition to Aldar's Abu Dhabi portfolio — a waterfront address being built from the ground up off the Abu Dhabi coast. The developer has launched two projects on the island so far: Fahid Beach Terraces and Fahid Beach Residences. Both are positioned at the higher end of Aldar's apartment offering, with sea-facing units, direct beach access, and handover scheduled for 2029.
Fahid Beach Terraces
Launched in Q3 2025, Fahid Beach Terraces brings apartments, duplexes, and penthouses to Aldar's newest island development. Starting from AED 3.6 million, the project is on a 65/35 payment plan with a 2029 handover. The terraces format offers sea views from a waterfront setting — Fahid Island's defining characteristic as an emerging address in Abu Dhabi.
Aldar beyond Abu Dhabi
Aldar's development activity is no longer limited to the islands of Abu Dhabi. Since 2021, the company has expanded into other emirates and international markets — a direction that has accelerated significantly under Group CEO Talal Al Dhiyebi.
In Dubai, Aldar has launched several projects through a joint venture with Dubai Holding, including Haven in Dubailand — a community of townhouses and villas focused on wellness-led living — and Al Deem Townhomes in Al Bahyah. In Ras Al Khaimah, the company has developed Rosso Bay Residences and Nikki Beach Residences on Al Marjan Island, targeting the emirate's growing international investor base.
Internationally, Aldar holds a majority stake in SODIC, one of Egypt's most established listed developers, giving the company a significant presence in Cairo's premium residential market. In the United Kingdom, Aldar owns London Square, a residential developer focused on London, which has launched multiple projects and delivered over AED 1.1 billion in revenue in the first nine months of 2025 alone.
Across all markets combined, Aldar recorded AED 5.1 billion in international development sales in 2025 — a figure that points to how significantly the company has grown beyond its Abu Dhabi origins in a short space of time.
Facts about Aldar Properties
- Aldar is the master developer behind Yas Island — the company built the Yas Marina Circuit (home to the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix), Ferrari World (the world's first Ferrari-branded theme park, opened 2010), and Yas Mall, in addition to all major residential communities on the island.
- The Aldar HQ building on Al Raha Beach — widely known as "The Coin" — is the world's first circular skyscraper. Completed in 2010, it remains one of Abu Dhabi's most recognisable architectural landmarks and serves as the company's corporate headquarters.
- In 2013, Aldar merged with Sorouh Real Estate, the other major Abu Dhabi listed developer, creating a combined entity with over AED 46 billion in assets. The merged company continued under the Aldar name.
- Aldar runs one of Abu Dhabi's largest private education networks through Aldar Education, with 31 owned and managed schools across the UAE — including Cranleigh Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island and Noya British School on Yas Island.
- The company's land bank covers approximately 65 million square metres, with the majority located in designated investment zones open to buyers of all nationalities.
- In 2022, Aldar secured a USD 1.4 billion investment from Apollo Global Management — one of the largest foreign direct investments into Abu Dhabi's private sector at the time.
- Expatriate and overseas buyers accounted for 77% of Aldar's total UAE sales in 2025, reflecting the developer's sustained appeal to international investors.
- Aldar has delivered Abu Dhabi's first Tesla Experience Centre on Yas Island — a 5,000 sqm facility combining a showroom, service centre, and delivery operations, the first of its kind in the UAE.
- Through its majority stake in SODIC, one of Egypt's leading developers, Aldar entered the Egyptian market — adding international development to a portfolio that now also includes the UK through London Square.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Aldar Properties, its structure, and buying property in an Aldar development.
Who is Aldar Properties?
Aldar Properties PJSC is Abu Dhabi's largest listed real estate developer, incorporated in October 2004 and listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in 2005. The company is led by Chairman H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak and Group CEO Talal Al Dhiyebi and operates across development, investment, education, hospitality, and property management.
Is Aldar a government-owned developer?
Aldar is a publicly listed company on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange — not fully government-owned, but with strong government-linked institutional backing. Its largest shareholder is Alpha Dhabi Holding PJSC, an Abu Dhabi government-linked investment company, and Mubadala Investment Company has board representation through its Deputy CEO serving as Vice Chairman. This structure gives Aldar a degree of institutional stability and government alignment while operating under the disclosure and governance requirements of a publicly traded company.
What is Aldar's delivery track record?
Aldar has one of the stronger delivery records among UAE developers. The company manages 141 active construction sites across the UAE and committed to delivering more than 3,500 residential units in 2026 alone. Completed communities include Yas Acres, West Yas, Water's Edge, Ansam, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Al Bandar, Jawaher Al Saadiyat, and the first phases of Saadiyat Grove — all delivered and with active secondary markets. As a publicly listed company, Aldar is required to disclose its financial position and project progress quarterly, providing buyers with more transparency than is typical in the market.
Can foreigners buy property in Aldar developments?
Yes. The majority of Aldar's residential projects are located within designated investment zones open to foreign nationals on a freehold basis. This includes projects on Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Fahid Island, Al Raha Beach, and Al Reem Island. Aldar holds a land bank of approximately 65 million square metres, with the majority of investment-zone assets available to buyers of all nationalities. Foreigners who purchase a property valued at AED 2 million or more may also be eligible for the UAE 10-year Golden Visa.
What is the price range for Aldar properties in Abu Dhabi?
Aldar's current Abu Dhabi portfolio covers a wide range. Entry-level apartments — such as Manarat Living III on Saadiyat Island and Gardenia Bay on Yas Island — start from around AED 730,000–805,000. Mid-market options include Aldar Yas Living from AED 980,000 and The Beach House Fahid from AED 1.8 million. At the premium end, The Row Saadiyat starts from AED 3.7 million, Waldorf Astoria Residences from AED 3.8 million, Yas Riva villas from AED 8.3 million, and Nobu Residences Abu Dhabi from AED 7.8 million.
What payment plans does Aldar offer?
Aldar's payment structures vary by project. The most common plans across current launches are 65/35 (65% during construction, 35% on handover) and 50/50 or 60/40 splits. Booking fees typically start from 5% to 10% of the purchase price. Specific terms are confirmed per project and per phase — the figures on this site reflect the terms at the time of listing, and should be verified directly with Aldar or an authorised agent for the most current information.
Does Aldar build outside Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Aldar has expanded significantly beyond Abu Dhabi since 2021. In Dubai, the company has launched Haven in Dubailand and projects under a joint venture with Dubai Holding. In Ras Al Khaimah, Aldar has developed Rosso Bay Residences and Nikki Beach Residences on Al Marjan Island. Internationally, the company operates in Egypt through its majority stake in SODIC, one of Egypt's leading developers, and in the United Kingdom through London Square, a residential developer focused on London. In 2025, Aldar recorded AED 5.1 billion in international development sales.