• Hidd Al Saadiyat is located on a long thin spit of land at the far end of the capital’s cultural district Saadiyat Island. Pawan Singh / The National
    Hidd Al Saadiyat is located on a long thin spit of land at the far end of the capital’s cultural district Saadiyat Island. Pawan Singh / The National
  • An aerial view of Hidd Al Saadiyat on Saadiyat Island. Project manager LEED has built a series of stone flood defences to enable the homes to be built along the beach without fear of them getting washed away. Flood defences also include a long groyne of rock which means that the sand from further up the island is retained. Courtesy Saadiyat Development and Investment Company
    An aerial view of Hidd Al Saadiyat on Saadiyat Island. Project manager LEED has built a series of stone flood defences to enable the homes to be built along the beach without fear of them getting washed away. Flood defences also include a long groyne of rock which means that the sand from further up the island is retained. Courtesy Saadiyat Development and Investment Company
  • The largest villas in Hidd Al Saadiyat measure more than 29,000 square feet. Pictured is a seven bedroom villa. Pawan Singh / The National
    The largest villas in Hidd Al Saadiyat measure more than 29,000 square feet. Pictured is a seven bedroom villa. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Some of the largest villas in the development have been custom built with 2,000 square metre basements including salons, barber shops and private cinemas. Pawan Singh / The National
    Some of the largest villas in the development have been custom built with 2,000 square metre basements including salons, barber shops and private cinemas. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Construction of a second phase including a marina for 110 boats is currently under way. Pictured, the inside view of the type 4 seven bedroom villa. Pawan Singh / The National
    Construction of a second phase including a marina for 110 boats is currently under way. Pictured, the inside view of the type 4 seven bedroom villa. Pawan Singh / The National
  • SDIC says it has sold all but around 50 of the villas in the first phase of the project. However, the majority of those left are the ones in the cheaper price bracket because it has built more of them. Pawan Singh / The National
    SDIC says it has sold all but around 50 of the villas in the first phase of the project. However, the majority of those left are the ones in the cheaper price bracket because it has built more of them. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The bathroom in the type 8 four bedroom villa. Measuring 4,725 square feet on a 6,780 square foot plot it includes a reasonably sized garden and a barbecue deck. The bedrooms are all en-suite with a sizeable rain shower and wet room in the master bathroom and all the bedrooms include large built in cupboards. Pawan Singh / The National
    The bathroom in the type 8 four bedroom villa. Measuring 4,725 square feet on a 6,780 square foot plot it includes a reasonably sized garden and a barbecue deck. The bedrooms are all en-suite with a sizeable rain shower and wet room in the master bathroom and all the bedrooms include large built in cupboards. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The drawing room in the type 4 seven bedroom villa. Pawan Singh / The National
    The drawing room in the type 4 seven bedroom villa. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The four-bed villa includes a maid’s room, a double garage and the kitchen is fully fitted to include Miele appliances and the house is fitted with whizzy controls which enables its inhabitants to remotely change the temperature and lighting and even open the curtains. Pawan Singh / The National
    The four-bed villa includes a maid’s room, a double garage and the kitchen is fully fitted to include Miele appliances and the house is fitted with whizzy controls which enables its inhabitants to remotely change the temperature and lighting and even open the curtains. Pawan Singh / The National
  • One of the bathrooms in the type 4 seven bedroom villa. Pawan Singh / The National
    One of the bathrooms in the type 4 seven bedroom villa. Pawan Singh / The National
  • All villas come with a partial sea view. Pawan Singh / The National
    All villas come with a partial sea view. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The kitchen in the type 4 seven bedroom villa. Pawan Singh / The National
    The kitchen in the type 4 seven bedroom villa. Pawan Singh / The National
  • This week the developer announced that the project’s key infrastructure work was nearly finished with all the underground services including water, sewerage and electrical cables installed., All electrical substations and lifting stations are completed, the main roads have all been paved and all light pole bases and electrical cables have been fitted. Pawan Singh / The National
    This week the developer announced that the project’s key infrastructure work was nearly finished with all the underground services including water, sewerage and electrical cables installed., All electrical substations and lifting stations are completed, the main roads have all been paved and all light pole bases and electrical cables have been fitted. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The four-bed villa includes a maid’s room, a double garage and the kitchen is fully fitted to include Miele appliances and the house is fitted with whizzy controls which enables its inhabitants to remotely change the temperature and lighting and even open the curtains. Pawan Singh / The National
    The four-bed villa includes a maid’s room, a double garage and the kitchen is fully fitted to include Miele appliances and the house is fitted with whizzy controls which enables its inhabitants to remotely change the temperature and lighting and even open the curtains. Pawan Singh / The National

Abu Dhabi’s breathtaking new beachfront housing estate – in pictures


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From December, Hidd Al Saadiyat residents and a few nesting turtles will be the only people entitled to cavort on seven kilometres of stunning private beaches backed by 461 mansions.