Should you buy on Al Reem Island?

Apartment towers next to the city centre and ADGM, with a deep pool of tenants. Here's what the numbers look like.

The short answer

Al Reem is the rental-income island. Apartments are advertised at around Dh1,690 per square foot, with gross yields of 6.34%, the highest of the islands we cover. [1]

Updated November 2026 2 min read
Dh1,690Average asking price per sq ft, apartmentsBayut, H1 2026
6.34%Gross rental yield, apartmentsBayut, H1 2026
Dh10.5bnHome sales with Al Maryah, first half of 2026ADREC, H1 2026
01

What is Al Reem Island like?

A dense island of apartment towers, a short drive from downtown Abu Dhabi and the ADGM financial district. Almost everything is apartments, with very few villas. [3]

Shams Abu Dhabi

The busiest, most established district, home to the Gate Towers, the Sun and Sky Towers and Reem Central Park. [3]

Marina Square

Quieter towers around a private marina. Older buildings mean lower prices to get in. [3]

City of Lights

Newer towers along a waterfront canal, with some construction still going on. [3]

Shopping and schools

Reem Mall (over 450 stores), Shams Boutik, Repton School and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. [3]

02

Why do tenants want to live here?

Jobs next door. In 2024, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) took over the island, giving companies there free-zone status and pulling in office tenants. [4] In mid-2025, one-bedroom flats rented for about Dh70,000 to Dh90,000 a year, and two-bedrooms for Dh110,000 to Dh120,000. [4]

03

What does it cost to buy?

Average asking prices on Bayut in the first half of 2026: [1]

Home type Average asking price per sq ft Gross rental yield
Apartments Dh1,690 6.34%

At that average, a 1,000 sq ft apartment would be advertised at about Dh1.7 million. Service charges usually run Dh25 to Dh45 per sq ft a year, so roughly Dh25,000 to Dh45,000 on the same flat. [3]

How does Al Reem Island's yield compare?Gross rental yield on apartments, before costs. Bayut, H1 2026. Hover or tap for asking prices.
  1. Al Reef8.92%Dh895,000 average asking, one-bedroom
  2. Masdar City7.63%Dh979,000 average asking, one-bedroom
  3. Al Reem Island6.34%Dh1,690 per sq ft, average asking, apartments
  4. Yas Island5.94%Dh2,393 per sq ft, average asking, apartments
  5. Al Raha Beach5.72%Dh1,859 per sq ft, average asking, apartments
  6. Saadiyat Island3.51%Dh3,893 per sq ft, average asking, apartments
04

How busy is the market?

Al Reem, together with neighbouring Al Maryah Island, saw Dh10.5 billion of home sales in the first half of 2026, according to the official registry, ADREC. [2]

05

Is buying here any different?

Yes. Since January 2025, property on Al Reem is registered with ADGM, not Abu Dhabi's main registry, through ADGM's own system instead of DARI. [5][3] It's an extra step, so make sure your agent and lawyer know the ADGM process.

What's the catch?

Read these before you sign anything.

1

Service charges vary a lot.

At Dh25 to Dh45 per sq ft a year, the building you choose can make a big difference to your real return. Ask for the last two years' bills. [3]

2

Traffic.

Two bridges carry most traffic on and off the island, and peak hours toward the city are slow. There's no metro. [3]

3

Lots of similar flats.

With so many towers, you're competing with near-identical units for tenants. Check what flats in the same building actually rent for.

4

Asking prices aren't sale prices.

Check recent sales in the exact building before you make an offer.

Sources

  1. Bayut: Abu Dhabi sales market report H1 2026 (asking prices and gross yields)
  2. ADREC: Abu Dhabi real estate market report H1 2026 (August 2026)
  3. Oplus Realty: Al Reem Island prices, yields and area guide (June 2026)
  4. Gulf News: Al Reem Island tops Abu Dhabi's residential sales on ADGM boost (August 2025)
  5. ADGM: ADGM and DMT sign MoU to transfer real estate services on Al Reem Island

Three guides that follow on from this one.

See all guides
Area guideShould you buy on Yas Island? Area guideShould you buy on Saadiyat Island? Buying guideWhat will you earn renting it out?

Thinking about Al Reem Island?

Ask us anything about buying in Abu Dhabi. We'll give you a straight answer, usually the same day.

Ask a question WhatsApp us

Free, with no obligation. We reply on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp us
esc