Al Reem Island

The natural island of Al Reem is located 600 metres off the northeast coast of Abu Dhabi. It is connected to the city via bridges. The community is close to Saadiyat and Yas islands, which can be reached in 30 minutes. Abu Dhabi International Airport is a 30-minute drive from Al Reem.

Al Reem is a mixed-use community, which has a lot to offer its residents. Picturesque waterfront developments, equipped with the latest technology and rich in amenities, attract representatives of all kinds of nationalities. Al Reem Island was one of the first developments in Abu Dhabi to offer property ownership to foreign nationals.

Dotted with numerous residential and commercial properties, the island has quickly become one of the most sought-after locations for buying apartments in Abu Dhabi. The prevailing style across Al Reem is clearly inspired by classical Moroccan and Spanish architecture. The neighbourhood boasts a wide range of property types including upscale penthouses, apartments, stunning waterfront villas, and family townhouses. Villas feature from one to five bedrooms, while apartments come as studios and one- to five-bedroom residences. The number of bedrooms in townhouses varies from two to five, and in penthouses, from three to five.

The island features the following residential developments:

• Shams Abu Dhabi
• Shams Gate
• Marina Square
• City of Lights
• Najmat Abu Dhabi
• Makers District
• Amaya Towers
• Hydra Avenue
• Julphar Residence
• Tamouh
• Yasmina Residence
• Sky Gardens Tower

All houses are located close to the road and a bus stop, so residents can easily move around the city.

Marina Square, Najmat Abu Dhabi, and Tamouh offer many villa and townhouse options. A number of the latter are also featured in City of Lights.

The most popular properties in Al Reem for buying and renting are currently Shams Abu Dhabi and Marina Square. These comfortable developments offer premium residences with a well-developed infrastructure near the house.

Shams Abu Dhabi is a large community in Al Reem, Abu Dhabi. The project occupies 25% of the island and was developed by Sorouh Real Estate. The community has many skyscrapers, most of which are residential. The tallest tower in the neighbourhood is the 83-storey Sky Tower, which is 389 metres high. Shams Abu Dhabi offers luxurious one- to four-bedroom apartments with breathtaking views of the Persian Gulf.

Marina Square ranks second in popularity. This impressive waterfront community consists of 14 upscale mixed-use towers offering 3,440 apartments as well as additional commercial, retail, and hospitality units. If you are planning to live in one of the high-rise towers of Marina Square, keep in mind that the annual rent for studios starts at AED 45,000 ($12,200).

The Shams Gate district is home to The Gate Towers, a Stonehenge-inspired development, which has become a distinctive architectural landmark on Al Reem Island.

The average property price on the island is AED 669,795 ($182,400) for a studio, AED 881,820 ($240,000) for a one-bedroom apartment, and AED 1.5 million ($414,000) for a two-bedroom apartment. The average cost of villas is AED 8.2 million ($2.2 million). However, when choosing a property in the community, you should consider not only the number of bedrooms and the type of property but also the total area, nearby amenities, and, of course, real estate sales trends in Al Reem: in some developments, apartments and houses can be more popular than in others, which also affects their cost. Some residential projects in Al Reem were completed a few years ago and are now being sold on the secondary market at higher prices.

Owners of real estate on the island can rent out their villas and apartments short- or long-term. The rental trends in Al Reem are as follows: an annual rent for a studio starts at AED 36,000 ($9,800), and for one-bedroom apartment, AED 55,000 ($15,000). If you choose this neighbourhood to rent a townhouse or villa in Abu Dhabi, you need at least AED 140,000 ($38,000) when paying for a year.

The average return on investment for studio apartments is 8.7%. This is followed by one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments with a return of 7.2% and 6.6% respectively. Three-, four-, and five-bedroom apartments have an ROI of 6.4%, 5.2%, and 5.6% respectively.

Those buyers who want to invest their funds in villas and townhouses should take into account that two-bedroom houses generate a return of 5%. Three- and four-bedroom houses guarantee an ROI of 6.1%.

The island has one of the largest mosques in Abu Dhabi, Al Aziz, which is located in the centre of the community and can accommodate more than 2,500 worshipers at once. Another attraction on the island is an educational institution—the prestigious Sorbonne University, located in the heart of Al Reem. Its impressive campus topped with a dome boasts a huge library, a student sports centre, and a huge cafeteria. This landmark appeals not only to applicants but also to tourists.

Saadiyat Island is a short drive from Al Reem and offers visitors a wealth of shopping, recreation, and leisure opportunities. It is home to the famous Louvre Abu Dhabi, an art museum with exhibits from different eras and civilizations. Moreover, people come to Saadiyat Island to visit the Ferrari theme park with its rides and family entertainment offerings. The beach closest to Al Reem Island is also located here.

In addition to the attractions above, another great place to visit is Corniche Beach, which is about a 20-minute drive away and offers free entry. Car owners will appreciate the large parking area nearby.

Shopping malls in Al Reem are popular locations among locals. The massive Reem Mall covers an area of more than 260,000 m². It features a Carrefour hypermarket, the world’s largest indoor snow park, 450 stores, 85 fast food and drink outlets, two food courts, and a multiplex cinema. The mall’s car park can accommodate up to 6,800 cars.

Residents can also shop at Shams Boutik Mall located near Sun and Sky Towers. It hosts a variety of retail outlets, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes. One of the best malls in Abu Dhabi, The Galleria, is located on Al Maryah Island, just a few minutes from the neighbourhood.

There are also supermarkets in Al Reem. Shams Boutik Mall has a Waitrose supermarket, which fully caters to the daily needs of residents. In addition, shoppers can find branches of the best supermarket and grocery chains in Al Reem: Al Maya, Carrefour Market, Zoom, and Geant, which are all conveniently located nearby.

There are also nurseries and schools in Al Reem. Parents can send their child to Mosaic Nursery, Hummingbird Nursery, or Playhouse Nursery. Repton Abu Dhabi, a UK curriculum school, was opened in 2013 and is considered one of the best in the capital. There is both a group for pre-schoolers and buildings for children of primary and secondary school age. The curriculum offers education up to Year 13.

If you ever need services of hospitals or clinics in Al Reem, you can always go to Burjeel Hospital located on the island. There are also many pharmacies in this neighbourhood, which are within walking distance of almost every residential development. In addition, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, one of the leading healthcare providers in the region, is located on Al Maryah Island, a 7-minute drive away. NMC Specialty Hospital is also just 7 minutes from the island.

Car owners do not need to worry about parking. Every villa, townhouse, and residential tower on the island offers its residents parking spaces. Alternatively, you can park your car in a mall’s car park or designated public parking lots for visitors in the community.

How to get to Al Reem by bus? This will not be a problem, as public transport in Al Reem is excellent. There are regular buses moving around the island. You can get to Al Reem from the mainland of Abu Dhabi by bus routes 101, 155, 44, 52, 56, and 7. The closest stops from where you can take these buses from the mainland are Zayed 1st Street / Al Muna School, Sultan Bin Zayed St, and Madinat Zayed.

A taxi rank is located at Shams Boutik Mall. If you want to travel to other emirates, you need to get to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, located 13–14 minutes away by car.

There are several hotels near Al Reem Island. Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi is a 5-star hotel popular with travellers and tourists. It offers 565 rooms, luxury suites, and serviced apartments. It is located on 10th Street in Abu Dhabi, an 8-minute drive away.

Le Méridien Abu Dhabi is another 5-star option located in the Tourist Club Area (TCA). The hotel has more than 200 rooms, including suites, and a solid conference room. Apart from standard services, it offers clothes care services. The hotel can be reached in 10 minutes.

Rosewood Abu Dhabi is located on Al Maryah Island. This 5-star hotel offers spacious rooms with panoramic windows overlooking the Persian Gulf and the Abu Dhabi skyline. You can also admire the towering skyscrapers of Al Reem Island from Rosewood Abu Dhabi.

Are there any restaurants in Al Reem? Yes, of course. There are some great eateries in different parts of the neighbourhood. The island has PizzaExpress (Italian restaurant), Super Poke (Hawaiian restaurant), and several other places for a quick bite. Shams Boutik Mall features great restaurants. Their visitors will be impressed by the wide selection of dishes from various cuisines of the world.

What to do in Al Reem? The neighbourhood offers a stunning Abu Dhabi waterfront lifestyle with access to restaurants, supermarkets, schools, mosques, churches, and attractions. The community is home to locations such as Geant and Carrefour supermarkets and Al Aziz Mosque. Reem Central Park and Reem Mall are other popular locations in the neighbourhood.

Al Reem is described as a community that offers a lifestyle reminiscent of a coastal resort. There really is a lot to do outdoors. Reem Central Park, a newly opened park in Abu Dhabi, is a popular leisure and entertainment destination. You can also walk along Al Reem by choosing a track that passes through the waterfront. There are many recreation spaces, a skate park, and a playground.

Primal Gym is a great option to work out. The gym offers yoga, Zumba, and cycling classes. You can also get martial arts training from world-class champions.