River Cove Residences

By Sobha Realty in Sobha City, Abu Dhabi

Price from: AED 4,530,000; about £928K or $1.23M
Payment plan: 20/40/40; 60% before handover
Handover: Q4 2029
Status: Under construction

Render of a waterfront promenade with cafe seating in front of terraced apartment buildings at River Cove Residences

Render of people walking along a planted waterfront promenade with cafes

Render of families swimming in a lagoon beach with palm trees and apartment buildings behind

Aerial render of curved terraces with plunge pools above a lagoon beach

Render at dusk of a boat on the water in front of a row of apartment buildings, with fireworks overhead

Render of an apartment living room with a sofa, ceiling light rings and floor-to-ceiling glazing

Render of a bedroom with full-height windows looking over water

Payment plan

20/40/40

60% due before handover

Down paymentOn booking20%AED 906,000
During construction40%AED 1,812,000
On handoverQ4 2029 ()40%AED 1,812,000
Paid before handoverAED 2,718,000

As listed by Property Finder.

Amounts are worked on a 3-bedroom apartment at its starting price of AED 4,530,000.

Model your own price How payment plans work

For 3-bedroom apartments

Homes and prices

River Cove Residences offers 1-bedroom apartments, 2-bedroom apartments, 3-bedroom apartments and 4-bedroom apartments. Open a home type for its payment schedule, buying costs and the nearest alternatives.

1-bedroom apartmentsLimitedOn request566 to 609 sq ft, Plans still published by Sobha, but its current listing shows three- and four-bedroom apartments only. Property Finder shows a launch price of AED 1.35 million.2-bedroom apartmentsLimitedOn request1,013 to 1,212 sq ft, Not on Sobha's current listing. Property Finder shows a launch price of AED 2.34 million.3-bedroom apartmentsFrom AED 4.53M1,813 sq ft, AED 2,499 per sq ft, Sobha's starting price and smallest size for the three- and four-bedroom release. Property Finder lists three-bedroom flats of about 2,040 sq ft and a 2,524 sq ft three-bedroom duplex.

4-bedroom apartmentsOn requestOn Sobha's current listing, which runs to AED 8.74 million and 3,429 sq ft. No separate four-bedroom price or plan is published.

Starting prices per the developer's price list, checked 12 November 2026. Sterling figures are indicative conversions. Ask for today's availability before relying on any figure.

Apartments
1 to 4 bed
566 to 1,813 sq ft
Freehold

Developer: Sobha Realty
Location: Sobha City, Abu Dhabi
Sales launched: April 2026
Golden Visa: Prices reach the AED 2 million threshold

Overview

Waterfront apartments on the promenade of Sobha City, Sobha Realty's first Abu Dhabi community at Al Bahiya. Sobha now lists three- and four-bedroom flats from AED 4.53 million; completion listed for December 2029.

River Cove Residences is the apartment component of the first release at Sobha City, the community Sobha Realty launched at Al Bahiya, in the north of Abu Dhabi, when it entered Abu Dhabi in April 2026. The National reported the wider project as a 38 million sq ft development with first-phase handover planned for the fourth quarter of 2029. River Cove sits on the community's promenade, with water on one side and cafes, shops and social spaces planned along the front.

The unit mix has shifted since launch. Sobha's page still publishes plans for one-bedroom flats of 566 to 609 sq ft and two-bedroom flats of 1,013 to 1,212 sq ft, every one with a powder room and the two-bedroom layouts with large balconies. But on 12 November 2026 Sobha's listing showed only three- and four-bedroom apartments, from AED 4.53 million to AED 8.74 million and from 1,813 to 3,429 sq ft, subject to availability. Property Finder, which marks the project as possibly sold out, shows the original launch prices of AED 1.35 million for one-bedroom and AED 2.34 million for two-bedroom flats, and lists three-bedroom flats of about 2,040 sq ft and a three-bedroom duplex of 2,524 sq ft. The smaller flats appear to have been taken up; what remains is larger, more expensive stock.

Property Finder lists the plan as 20% on booking, 40% during construction and 40% on handover, with completion in December 2029 and construction recorded from April 2026. Sobha's page gives no date.

River Cove suits a family buyer or an end user who wants a large waterfront apartment in a new Abu Dhabi community near Yas Island, from a developer known for finishing quality. Sobha gives about 13 minutes to Yas Mall, 14 to Zayed International Airport and 15 to Ferrari World and Etihad Arena.

Weigh three things. This is Sobha's first project in Abu Dhabi, so it has no local delivery record there. The community is at the very start of construction, and the promenade, lagoon beach and shops are all still to be built. And 40% of a four-to-eight-million-dirham price falls due at completion.

Buying costs

Government fees are paid on top of the purchase price. This is the position for the entry-level home; costs scale with price. In Abu Dhabi the registration authority is the ADREC.

Purchase priceEntry 3-bedroom apartment at River Cove ResidencesAED 4,530,000

Registration fee (2%)Paid to Abu Dhabi's real-estate registry (ADREC / DMT) when the sale is registered. The default is an equal split between the parties, but most contracts pass the full 2% to the buyer.AED 90,600

Estimated total to completeAED 4,620,600about £947K

Developers may add their own administration charge on off-plan sales. It is set by the developer, not the land department, so it is not included in this estimate: ask for it in writing before you reserve. Adjust the assumptions in the buying cost calculator.

Golden Visa. Every unit type here is priced above AED 2 million, the threshold for the 10-year visa by property. Check eligibility

Location

On the waterfront promenade of Sobha City at Al Bahiya, Abu Dhabi, about 13 minutes by car from Yas Mall on Sobha's figures.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Tiles Esri

View on map

Yas Mall: 13 min
Zayed International Airport: 14 min
Etihad Arena: 15 min
Ferrari World: 15 min
Disneyland Abu Dhabi (planned): 15 min
Yas Bay Waterfront: 18 min

Approximate drive times in normal traffic.

About Sobha City

About 13 minutes to Yas Mall and 14 to Zayed International Airport (Sobha)
Single developer in control of a 38 million sq ft master plan (The National)
Waterfront apartments and villa clusters sold separately
First homes listed for completion in December 2029 (Property Finder)

Sobha City area guide

Amenities

Waterfront promenade
Cafe and retail
Cycling trails
Mosque
Leisure decks
Community pavilion
Lagoon beach
Jogging track
Fitness centre
Family parks
Landscaped parks
Social lounges

Developer: Sobha Realty

Private luxury developer that designs, manufactures and builds in-house; best known for Sobha Hartland in Dubai, now also in Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Quwain.

Founded: 1976
Headquarters: Dubai, UAE
Ownership: Privately held. Part of Sobha Group, founded by PNC Menon; Ravi Menon is group chairman.

Sobha Realty profile and track record

Adviser's view

What works

Waterfront position on Sobha City's promenade, with a lagoon beach planned in the community
About 13 to 15 minutes by car to Yas Mall, Zayed International Airport and the Yas Island attractions, on Sobha's figures
Large family apartments: the current release starts at 1,813 sq ft
Sobha's in-house design and construction model
No post-handover instalments

What to weigh

Sobha's first Abu Dhabi project, with no local delivery record
Property Finder marks the project as possibly sold out and still shows launch prices for one- and two-bedroom flats that Sobha no longer lists
40% of the price, at least AED 1.8 million, is due at handover
Completion listed for December 2029 by Property Finder; Sobha's page gives no date
Sobha City is at the start of construction; the promenade, shops and community facilities are not yet built

Questions buyers ask

What is the starting price at River Cove Residences?

On 12 November 2026 Sobha Realty listed three- and four-bedroom apartments from AED 4.53 million to AED 8.74 million, subject to availability. Property Finder still shows launch prices of AED 1.35 million for one-bedroom and AED 2.34 million for two-bedroom flats, which Sobha no longer lists.

When will River Cove Residences be completed?

Property Finder lists December 2029, with construction recorded from April 2026. The National reported first-phase handover at Sobha City for the fourth quarter of 2029.

What is the payment plan?

20% on booking, 40% during construction and 40% on handover, according to Property Finder.

Where is River Cove Residences?

In Sobha City at Al Bahiya, Abu Dhabi. Sobha gives about 13 minutes to Yas Mall and 14 minutes to Zayed International Airport by car.

Can foreigners buy at River Cove Residences?

Property Finder lists the project as freehold. Ask Sobha to confirm the title type and registration in writing before booking.

Who is the developer of River Cove Residences?

River Cove Residences is being developed by Sobha Realty. About Sobha Realty: Private luxury developer that designs, manufactures and builds in-house; best known for Sobha Hartland in Dubai, now also in Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Quwain.

What fees are payable on top of the price at River Cove Residences?

The main cost is the registration fee (2%). On the entry price of AED 4,530,000 that comes to about AED 90,600, plus small administration charges. There is no stamp duty, no annual property tax and no tax on rental income for individuals in the UAE, though your home country may tax you. Our buying cost calculator itemises it.

Sources and verification

Facts on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026. Prices, availability and payment plans are set by the developer and can change without notice; treat them as a guide until you have a current offer in writing.

Start your enquiry

Starting prices are from the developer's list, checked 12 November 2026.

Choose a home type

3-bedroom apartments

20/40/40 plan

Due on booking: AED 906,000
Paid before handover: AED 2,718,000 (60%)
Registration fees, estimate: AED 90,600
Total to complete: AED 4,620,600

Fees are the published registration charges. Developers usually collect them at or soon after booking and can add their own administration charge. Every stage