--- title: "Yas Island, Abu Dhabi" canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/yas-island markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/abu-dhabi/yas-island.md type: area description: "Abu Dhabi's leisure island: theme parks, the Formula 1 circuit and Yas Mall, with a growing stock of Aldar villas and mid-rise apartments. Suits families and buyers who want to be near the airport." last_verified: 2026-11-12 sources: 7 publisher: "UAE Property Agents (Omnia)" language: en-GB usage: "You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting." --- # Yas Island: property and area guide > Abu Dhabi's leisure island: theme parks, the Formula 1 circuit and Yas Mall, with a growing stock of Aldar villas and mid-rise apartments. Suits families and buyers who want to be near the airport. Facts last verified 12 November 2026 against the sources listed at the end. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Emirate | [Abu Dhabi](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi) | | Area type | island | | Tenure | Freehold for all nationalities | | Also known as | Yas, Yas Island Abu Dhabi | | Coordinates | 24.49, 54.6 | | Developments covered | 5 | | Wikidata | [Q1274177](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1274177) | ## Overview Yas Island is a 25 sq km island on the north-eastern edge of Abu Dhabi, beside the E11 motorway to Dubai and a short drive from Zayed International Airport. Development began in 2006. It is best known for its visitor attractions: Yas Marina Circuit has hosted the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009, Ferrari World opened in 2010, Warner Bros. World in 2018 and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi in 2023, alongside Yas Mall, Yas Waterworld, Yas Links golf course and Etihad Arena at Yas Bay. A Disney theme park was announced in May 2025 and a Sphere venue has been confirmed, with completion reported for 2029. Housing came later than the attractions and is still being built out. [Aldar](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/developers/aldar) is the dominant residential developer. Its website listed 19 communities on the island in November 2026, ranging from completed villa and townhouse neighbourhoods such as Yas Acres and Noya to apartment schemes due between 2028 and 2031. The newest district is Yas Point, a 600,000 sq m waterfront masterplan on the northern shore that Aldar unveiled in July 2026 with 1,600 planned homes, a hotel, a school and the first beach on the north side of the island. Other developers also sell here, including branded residences near the marina. Yas is one of Abu Dhabi's designated investment zones, so foreign nationals can buy with freehold title. Official figures show the pull: the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) recorded AED 7.3 billion of residential sales on Yas Island in the first half of 2026, and Yas ranks behind only Al Reem Island and Al Raha for the number of homes in investment zones. Aldar reported that 60% of sales at its July 2026 launch of The Canopies went to expatriate residents and overseas buyers, with the UK among the top nationalities. The island works best with a car: most daily errands involve a drive to Yas Mall or the mainland. Abu Dhabi's city centre is about half an hour away and Dubai roughly an hour via the E11. ## Who it suits - Families who want villas near schools and leisure - Buyers who travel often through Zayed International Airport - Investors targeting short-stay and leisure-led rental demand - Commuters splitting time between Abu Dhabi and Dubai ## Highlights - Designated investment zone: freehold ownership is open to foreign nationals - Four theme parks, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Mall and Etihad Arena on the island - Disney Abu Dhabi announced in May 2025; Sphere Abu Dhabi confirmed - AED 7.3 billion of residential sales in H1 2026 (ADREC) - Yas Point, a new AED 6 billion northern waterfront district, launched in July 2026 - About 15 minutes by car to Zayed International Airport ## Considerations - A large off-plan pipeline: Aldar alone lists apartment and villa schemes completing between 2028 and 2031, which will add resale and rental competition - One developer dominates. Pricing, service charges and community management are largely set by Aldar - Daily life depends on the car and on the E11 motorway. Ask about public transport before assuming a car-free routine is possible - Event days at the circuit and arena bring traffic and noise to parts of the island - New launches have sold fast to first-time Aldar buyers, so recent launch prices have little resale evidence behind them yet - The resale market is thinner than in comparable Dubai communities, which can lengthen exit times ## Drive times - Zayed International Airport: about 15 minutes - Abu Dhabi city centre: about 30 minutes - Dubai (via E11): about 60 minutes ## Developments in Yas Island - [Sama Yas](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/yas-island/sama-yas): Aldar; Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q2 2028; from AED 5,905,725 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Yas Park Place](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/yas-island/yas-park-place): Aldar; Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q1 2030; from AED 1,390,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [The Canopies at Yas Point](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/yas-island/the-canopies-at-yas-point): Aldar; Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q3 2030; from AED 1,650,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Yas Riva Reserve](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/yas-island/yas-riva-reserve): Aldar; Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q3 2030; from AED 7,900,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [The Orchids at Yas Acres](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/yas-island/yas-acres-the-orchids): Aldar; Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q1 2031; from AED 3,350,000 (as of 2026-11-13) ## Nearby areas - [Fahid Island](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/fahid-island) - [Ramhan Island](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/ramhan-island) - [Saadiyat Island](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island) - [Masdar City](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/masdar-city) ## Questions and answers ### Can foreigners buy property on Yas Island? Yes. Yas Island is one of Abu Dhabi's designated investment zones, where non-UAE nationals can buy freehold property. Purchases are registered with the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre and a 2% registration fee applies. ### Who builds homes on Yas Island? [Aldar](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/developers/aldar) is the main developer, with 19 communities listed on its website in November 2026. Other developers sell branded and mid-market apartments, but most villas and the newest masterplans, including Yas Point, are Aldar's. ### How far is Yas Island from Abu Dhabi city and the airport? Zayed International Airport is about 15 minutes by car and Abu Dhabi's city centre about 30 minutes. Dubai is roughly an hour away on the E11. These are developer and listing estimates for normal traffic. ### What is being built on Yas Island next? Aldar unveiled Yas Point in July 2026: a 600,000 sq m waterfront district on the northern shore with 1,600 homes, a five-star hotel, an international school and a 700-metre promenade. Disney Abu Dhabi and Sphere Abu Dhabi have also been announced for the island. ### How much does new property in Yas Island cost? Among the developments we cover in Yas Island, prices start from AED 1,390,000 at [Yas Park Place](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/yas-island/yas-park-place). The highest entry price is AED 7.9M at Yas Riva Reserve. ### What are property prices in Yas Island per square foot? Published figures for Yas Island: AED 2,216 per sq ft for all homes (average advertised price per sq ft; Bayut, from advertised asking prices, October 2026). Averages move with the mix of homes sold, and asking prices usually sit above prices paid. Compare areas in our [price per sq ft table](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/data/area-prices). ### What is the rental yield in Yas Island? The published average gross rental yield in Yas Island is 5.6% for apartments (Bayut, from registered tenancy contracts, Q3 2026) and 4.6% for villas (Bayut, from registered tenancy contracts, Q3 2026). Gross yield is before service charges, empty months, management and fees, so the net figure is lower: work it out for a specific home with the [rental yield calculator](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/tools/rental-yield-calculator), or compare areas on [rental yields by area](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/data/area-yields). ## Sources Facts on this page were last checked against these sources on 12 November 2026. - [Aldar: Yas Island communities](https://www.aldar.com/properties/en/uae/yas-island/) - [Aldar press release: Yas Point unveiled (10 July 2026)](https://www.aldar.com/en/news-and-media/aldar-unveils-yas-point-aed-6-billion-waterfront-destination-on-the-northern-shore-of-yas-island) - [Aldar press release: The Canopies launch sales (31 July 2026)](https://www.aldar.com/en/news-and-media/aldar-generates-aed-1-5-billion-in-sales-during-launch-of-the-canopies-at-yas-point) - [Zawya: ADREC H1 2026 residential market data](https://www.zawya.com/en/business/uae-realty-market/abu-dhabi-residential-sales-hit-19.2bln-in-h1-on-strong-off-plan-demand-460223) - [The National: designated investment zones in Abu Dhabi (April 2019)](https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/property/where-foreign-investors-can-now-buy-freehold-property-in-abu-dhabi-1.851941) - [Wikipedia: Yas Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yas_Island) - [Property Finder: The Canopies (drive times)](https://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/new-projects/aldar-properties-pjsc/the-canopies) --- Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/yas-island. Published by UAE Property Agents, Omnia Capital Group. You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting.