--- title: "Fahid Island vs Saadiyat Island" canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/compare/areas/fahid-island-vs-saadiyat-island markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/compare/areas/fahid-island-vs-saadiyat-island.md type: area-comparison description: "Fahid Island and Saadiyat Island compared on published prices, rental yields, new developments and drive times." last_verified: 2026-11-12 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." --- # Fahid Island or Saadiyat Island? ## Side by side | | [Fahid Island](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/fahid-island) | [Saadiyat Island](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island) | | --- | --- | --- | | Emirate | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi | | Tenure | freehold | freehold | | Price per sq ft | AED 3,899, [Bayut](https://www.bayut.com/property-market-analysis/index/sale/properties/abu-dhabi/fahid-island/), October 2026 | AED 3,003, [Bayut](https://www.bayut.com/property-market-analysis/index/sale/properties/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/), October 2026 | | Developments we list | 3 | 7 | | Drive to Yas Island | about 15 minutes | about 20 minutes | | Drive to Zayed International Airport | about 15 minutes | about 20 minutes | Each figure is shown as its publisher states it, with the period it covers; a row appears only where both areas have a figure. ## Where each one leads - **Lower price per sq ft**: Saadiyat Island averages AED 3,003 per sq ft against AED 3,899 in Fahid Island, about 23% less (Bayut, from advertised asking prices, October 2026). - **Lower entry price**: The lowest developer price we list in Saadiyat Island is AED 2,950,000 at Sei Saadiyat, against AED 4,588,027 at The Beach House Fahid in Fahid Island. - **Closer to Yas Island**: Fahid Island is about 15 minutes from Yas Island by car, against about 20 minutes from Saadiyat Island. ## Developments in Fahid Island - [The Beach House Fahid](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/fahid-island/the-beach-house-fahid): Aldar; Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q4 2029; from AED 4,588,027 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Fahid Beach Terraces](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/fahid-island/fahid-beach-terraces): Aldar; Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q4 2029; from AED 6,484,900 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Fahid Beach Residences](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/fahid-island/fahid-beach-residences): Aldar; Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q2 2029; from AED 6,637,310 (as of 2026-11-13) ## Developments in Saadiyat Island - [Sei Saadiyat](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/sei-saadiyat): Aldar; Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q3 2031; from AED 2,950,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Mandarin Oriental Residences, Saadiyat Cultural District](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/mandarin-oriental-residences-saadiyat): Aldar; Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q3 2028; from AED 7,285,952 (as of 2026-11-13) - [The Row Saadiyat](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/the-row-saadiyat): Aldar; Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q1 2030; from AED 7,648,800 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Mamsha Garden](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/mamsha-garden): Aldar; Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q1 2029; from AED 8,117,568 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Talay](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/talay): Aldar; Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi; launched; handover Q4 2029; from AED 13,500,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Baccarat Residences Saadiyat](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/baccarat-residences-saadiyat): Aldar; Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q3 2029; from AED 16,000,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Mamsha Palm](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/mamsha-palm): Aldar; Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi; under construction; handover Q1 2028; from AED 48,323,300 (as of 2026-11-13) ## What Fahid Island is like > A 2.7 million sq m island between Yas and Saadiyat that Aldar is developing as a wellness-themed beach community. Entirely off plan: first apartments are due in 2029. Who it suits: Buyers who want beach access between Yas and Saadiyat at lower prices than Saadiyat; Families attracted by King's College School Wimbledon; Investors willing to wait until 2029 or later for completion; Second-home buyers focused on outdoor and fitness amenities. In its favour: - Listed as a designated investment zone; sold freehold to foreign nationals - 11 km coastline with 4.6 km of beach, per Aldar's masterplan - Between Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, each within 15 minutes by car (Aldar) Worth weighing: - Nothing is complete. The first homes are due in 2029 and the island's school, hotels and retail will follow their own timetables - A single developer controls the island, its pricing, its service charges and the pace of future releases Full guide: [Fahid Island](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/fahid-island) ## What Saadiyat Island is like > Abu Dhabi's most expensive residential address: a natural island of beaches, museums and schools just off the city. Suits buyers paying a premium for culture, coastline and scarcity. Who it suits: Buyers who want beach and museums within walking distance; Families using Cranleigh, NYU Abu Dhabi and other island schools; Second-home owners with larger budgets; Long-term holders who value scarcity over yield. In its favour: - Designated investment zone: freehold ownership is open to foreign nationals - Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum and teamLab Phenomena are all open - AED 13.3 billion of residential sales in H1 2026 (ADREC) Worth weighing: - Premium pricing: entry prices are several times those on Al Reem Island or Yas Island, which compresses rental yields - Marsa Al Saadiyat is planned for more than 58,000 residents. It is a multi-year construction programme and a large future supply of homes Full guide: [Saadiyat Island](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island) ## Questions and answers ### Is Fahid Island or Saadiyat Island cheaper per square foot? Saadiyat Island is cheaper on the published figures: AED 3,003 per sq ft against AED 3,899 in Fahid Island (Bayut, from advertised asking prices, October 2026). Averages move with the mix of homes sold, so compare like with like before relying on the gap. ### Which is closer to Yas Island, Fahid Island or Saadiyat Island? Fahid Island, at about 15 minutes by car against about 20 minutes from Saadiyat Island. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic. ### Which is closer to Zayed International Airport, Fahid Island or Saadiyat Island? Fahid Island, at about 15 minutes by car against about 20 minutes from Saadiyat Island. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic. ### Can foreigners buy property in Fahid Island and Saadiyat Island? Fahid Island is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Saadiyat Island is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Sales in Abu Dhabi are registered with the ADREC. ### Which new developments can I buy in Fahid Island and Saadiyat Island? In Fahid Island: [The Beach House Fahid](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/fahid-island/the-beach-house-fahid) from AED 4,588,027, [Fahid Beach Terraces](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/fahid-island/fahid-beach-terraces) from AED 6,484,900 and [Fahid Beach Residences](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/fahid-island/fahid-beach-residences) from AED 6,637,310. In Saadiyat Island: [Sei Saadiyat](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/sei-saadiyat) from AED 2,950,000, [Mandarin Oriental Residences, Saadiyat Cultural District](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/mandarin-oriental-residences-saadiyat) from AED 7,285,952, [The Row Saadiyat](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/the-row-saadiyat) from AED 7,648,800 and [Mamsha Garden](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/abu-dhabi/saadiyat-island/mamsha-garden) from AED 8,117,568. --- Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/compare/areas/fahid-island-vs-saadiyat-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.