Al Reem
Island
Abu Dhabi's largest apartment island, a bridge from the business district.
Al Reem is the tower island beside the city centre and Al Maryah Island, home of the ADGM financial centre and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Since April 2023 Al Reem has fallen under ADGM's civil and commercial jurisdiction; for the 2026 rent freeze, check how your building's lease is treated (see the FAQ). ADREC counts 27,086 apartments and 410 villas here, the largest housing stock of any investment zone.
Daily life is in place. Reem Mall, with its indoor snow park, opened in 2024, and Repton School runs two campuses on the island. The Abu Dhabi terminus of the planned high-speed rail line to Dubai was announced as Reem Island; Etihad Rail targets 2030 and has published neither an exact site nor an official opening date.
Al Reem also trades more apartments than any other district: Cavendish Maxwell counted 4,471 apartment deals in H1 2026, the most in Abu Dhabi. ADX recorded 6,117 sales worth AED 18.77bn from 1 January to 2 October 2026, already above the 5,644 sales of all 2025, with 76% off-plan. New towers come from Modon (Tara Park and Muheira at Maysan), Imkan, MERED, Radiant and Royal Development, while ready buildings around Marina Square trade at a median AED 1.36M.
Al Reem recorded 6,117 sales worth AED 18.77bn from 1 January to 2 October 2026 (ADX), above the 5,644 sales of all 2025. ValuStrat put apartment values up 22% in the year to Q2 2026, and Cavendish Maxwell measured +17.3% in H1. Rents held up better than on Saadiyat or Yas: ADX's latest registered contracts were 2% to 6% higher quarter on quarter, while Cushman & Wakefield's Q2 average eased 5%. Renewals have been capped at 0% since 2 June 2026; ADREC excludes ADGM communities, which it describes as Al Maryah and the ADGM part of Al Reem, so check how a given building's lease is registered before you count on a rent increase.
Data as of October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this guide.
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Illustrative imageRight for you.
Not right for everyone.
Al Reem Island is a strong recommendation for the right profile. It's also wrong for investors whose objective doesn't match what the zone delivers. Here is our honest read.
- Your budget is AED 0.9M to 2.5M for a studio to two-bedroom flat (ADX medians, 2026)
- You want rental income now: 1,490 ready homes changed hands in 2026, and one and two-bedroom flats return 5.8% to 6.2% gross on ADX segment prices, which sit below 2026 off-plan medians
- Your tenants are likely to work in ADGM, the banks or Cleveland Clinic on Al Maryah next door
- You want a city apartment that also qualifies for the Golden Visa: the median two-bedroom sold for AED 2.48M (for an off-plan unit, at least AED 2M must already be paid)
- You prefer a deep resale market: Cavendish Maxwell ranked Al Reem first in Abu Dhabi for apartment deals in H1 2026
- You want a villa or a garden: Al Reem has 410 villas against 27,086 apartments
- You want a beach and low-rise living: Saadiyat or Al Hudayriyat suit that better
- You are uneasy about tower supply: ADREC counts 12,018 more apartments due by 2030
- You are counting on the 7.7% studio yield: it is measured on a segment price of AED 768K, below the 2026 studio median of AED 900K
What is selling
on Al Reem.
Prices are ADX medians per project from 1 January to 2 October 2026, all bedroom types, primary and resale. Modon publishes an average price for Tara Park on its own site, shown in the description.
What is being built,
and when.
- ADGM jurisdiction extended to Al Reem IslandSource24 Apr 2023Open
- Reem Mall, including Snow Abu DhabiSourceOfficial launch 29 May 2024Open
- Abu Dhabi to Dubai high-speed rail, Abu Dhabi terminus announced as Reem IslandSourceAnnounced 23 Jan 2025; Etihad Rail targets 2030, exact site and opening date not publishedUnder construction
- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, on neighbouring Al Maryah IslandSource2015Open
- Etihad Rail passenger service Abu Dhabi to Dubai (mainland stations at Abu Dhabi and Mohamed bin Zayed City; none on the islands)Source30 Sep 2026Open
What we actually think about Al Reem Island.
Al Reem is the most straightforward rental market in Abu Dhabi. It has the largest stock of apartments, the most deals and a tenant base that works on the island and next door in ADGM. ADX puts the average gross yield at 5.8%, above Yas (5.4%) and Saadiyat (4.6%), and registered rents were still rising in the latest quarter while other islands eased.
The headline studio yield of 7.7% needs context. ADX measures it on a studio segment price of AED 768K, while the 2026 studio median was AED 900K, much of it off-plan. Small units also tend to change tenants more often. The one and two-bedroom figures, 6.2% and 5.8%, are measured on segment prices of about AED 1.23M and AED 1.81M. The 2026 medians were AED 1.60M and AED 2.48M, much of it off-plan; at those prices the same rents give about 4.8% and 4.3% gross (our calculation). Ready flats bought near the segment prices are the ones we would plan on. Outside the ADGM part of the island, renewals are frozen at 0% while the cap lasts.
Prices have moved fast: ValuStrat measured apartment values 22% higher in a year. Ready towers such as those around Marina Square still trade at about AED 1,230 per sq ft, against about AED 1,750 to 2,020 for the new Modon, Imkan and MERED launches. For income we prefer ready or near-ready one and two-bedroom flats. Off-plan here makes sense for a buyer who wants a newer building and can hold to handover (Modon lists Tara Park for Q2 2030).
Can foreigners buy freehold on Al Reem Island?
Yes. Al Reem is one of the investment areas named on the official UAE government list, where foreign buyers can own freehold under Abu Dhabi Law No. 19 of 2005 as amended in 2019. Since April 2023 the island is also inside ADGM's civil and commercial jurisdiction. Sales are registered with a 2% fee on DARI; confirm with your conveyancer how buyer and seller split it.
How much does an apartment on Al Reem cost?
ADX medians from 1 January to 2 October 2026 were AED 900K for a studio, AED 1.60M for a one-bedroom, AED 2.48M for a two-bedroom and AED 3.04M for a three-bedroom, primary and resale combined. Ready towers around Marina Square sold at a median AED 1.36M; new Modon, Imkan and MERED projects at AED 2.4M to 2.75M.
What rental yield does Al Reem give?
ADX puts the average gross yield at 5.8%, measured on registered rent contracts against ADX's sale price for each segment in the latest quarter. One-bedroom flats returned 6.2% and two and three-bedroom flats 5.8%. Those are measured on segment prices of about AED 1.23M for a one-bedroom and AED 1.81M for a two-bedroom, below the 2026 medians of AED 1.60M and AED 2.48M. ADX divides registered rents by its own segment sale price, which can sit well below today's medians; at the median prices on this page the same rents give a lower gross yield. At the medians, the same rents give about 6.5% on a studio, 4.8% on a one-bedroom and 4.3% on a two-bedroom (our calculation). Studios showed 7.7%, measured on a segment price of about AED 768K, below the 2026 studio median of AED 900K. Gross yield is before service charges, maintenance and vacancy.
Does the 0% rent cap apply on Al Reem?
Abu Dhabi capped rent increases on renewal at 0% from 2 June 2026, until further notice. ADREC says ADGM areas, which include Al Maryah and the ADGM part of Al Reem, are exempt. Check which side of that line a building sits before you count on a rent increase.
Does an Al Reem apartment qualify for the Golden Visa?
Abu Dhabi grants the Golden Visa for property worth AED 2M or more. If it is mortgaged, AED 2M of equity must be held; for off-plan, at least AED 2M must already be paid. Confirm with ADREC before you rely on it. On Al Reem the 2026 two-bedroom median was AED 2.48M, so a two-bedroom flat or larger usually passes the value test.
Data as of October 2026
- ADX Interact area analysis: Al Reem Island (sales, bedroom medians, top projects), 1 Jan to 2 Oct 2026
- ADX Interact rental yields: Al Reem Island (registered rent contracts), Latest quarter as shown 4 Oct 2026
- ADREC Abu Dhabi Real Estate Market Report H1 2026 (averages, stock, pipeline, rent cap), H1 2026
- ValuStrat Abu Dhabi Real Estate Review Q2 2026, Q2 2026
- Cavendish Maxwell Abu Dhabi Residential Market Performance H1 2026, H1 2026
- Cushman & Wakefield MarketBeat Residential Abu Dhabi Q2 2026, Q2 2026
- Modon: Tara Park (average prices, unit mix, handover), Read 4 Oct 2026
- The National: Muheira at Maysan sells out on launch day, 23 May 2025
- Al Tamimi: ADGM expands into Al Reem Island, Apr 2023
- Good Schools Guide: Repton School Abu Dhabi, Read Oct 2026
- u.ae: Expatriates buying a property in the UAE (Abu Dhabi investment areas), Updated 28 Sep 2026
- Abu Dhabi Golden Visa for real estate investors (added.gov.ae), 24 Sep 2026
- DARI help centre: off-plan unit sale registration (2% fee), Read Oct 2026
- Construction Review Online: Abu Dhabi to Dubai high-speed rail enters construction, 2026
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