Abu Dhabi housing: what’s available where and for how much?

Confused on where to start when it comes to looking for a home? Whether it's a studio or a four-bedroom villa, here's our guide to finding the perfect match.

The go-to area for studios and one-bedrooms are on Reem Island. Ravindranath K / The National
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Studios and one-bedroom apartments

The go-to area is Reem Island. With new buildings becoming available and existing properties with natural churn, there are always options here. Another area to consider is Al Rowdhat, close to Zayed Sports City, which has mid-rise buildings and a few shops. It’s still under development, so the buildings are in a sandy lot, but the value and size of units trumps that. Off island, the new villa and apartment development at Bawabat Al Sharq offers spacious studios and one-bedroom apartments from Dh55,000 to Dh77,000 per year. It’s close to the mall and has good road connections to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Two-bedroom apartments

The mid-rise buildings around Mushrif Mall offer surprisingly spacious accommodation. Roof-top apartments here often have large balconies and views of the skyline. Annual rent is about Dh120,000. On the Corniche, Etihad Towers offers chic modern interiors and views of the city or Emirates Palace, with rent starting from Dh140,000. For city living, Abu Dhabi Commercial Properties manages multiple buildings. In Al Nahyan Camp, a two-bedroom unit rents for Dh105,000.

Three-bedroom apartments

Al Manaseer and Khalidiya both have units starting from Dh145,000 for three bedrooms and covered parking. Cheaper rental options are available in older buildings in areas such as Al Mushrif or Al Zahraa, but there’s only on-street parking. In downtown Abu Dhabi and on the Corniche, there’s a plethora of three-bedroom options, but parking is often in short supply in the local area.

Four-bedroom villas

On-island stand-alone villas in Al Musalla neighbourhood start from Dh170,000, while in Al Mushrif, terraced villas start from about Dh160,000. In Khalifa Park, villas in a compound start from Dh170,000, while properties in off-island Mohammed bin Zayed City start from Dh120,000.