Gardenia Bay

Gardenia Bay is a residential development by Aldar on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, comprising three buildings across a waterfront site and scheduled for completion in Q2 2027. The scheme offers one, two and three-bedroom apartments, unfurnished, with a service charge set at 15.7 AED per square foot.

# The three buildings and their position on Yas Island

Yas Island has spent roughly two decades accumulating infrastructure that most master-planned destinations spend a generation trying to build: a Formula 1 circuit, a pair of destination theme parks, a marina, and a growing stack of retail and hospitality. Aldar, Abu Dhabi's largest listed developer, has been central to that build-out, and Gardenia Bay sits within that broader island fabric rather than at its edge.

The development spans three buildings. The design language draws on natural materials and prioritises green cover, with shaded pathways intended to moderate the external temperature, a meaningful consideration on an island where summer heat defines how outdoor space gets used. The central communal zone, referred to as Bay View, anchors the community and consolidates most of the shared amenity provision.

# Residences: layouts, sizing and finish

One-bedroom apartments in the current dataset start at 803 square feet, priced at approximately 1.52 million AED. Two-bedroom units range from 1,290 to 1,370 square feet, with pricing between 2.05 million and 2.14 million AED. Three-bedroom apartments cover a wider band, from 1,667 to 1,993 square feet, and are priced from 2.77 million up to 4.22 million AED.

Residences are delivered unfurnished, with a choice of finish schemes. Kitchens are fitted as standard. The specification uses sustainable materials and incorporates water-efficient fixtures, consistent with Aldar's broader approach to green building across its Abu Dhabi portfolio. Apartments are designed to draw in natural light, with the orientation towards the waterfront informing both layout and glazing.

# Amenities: what the building provides

The amenity list covers a wide register of uses. For fitness and recovery: a gym, yoga studio, fully equipped spa and tennis court. For leisure: a private theatre, retail units and a kids' playroom. The workshop spaces point at a co-working or maker function, useful for residents who split their time between Abu Dhabi and other cities and need a productive alternative to a home office.

The beach club and blue lagoon sit at the Bay View hub, giving the broader community a social anchor beyond the residential buildings themselves.

# Getting around from Yas Island

Abu Dhabi International Airport is 11 kilometres from the development, a straightforward transfer for frequent travellers. Yas Mall, the island's main retail destination, is 3.2 kilometres away. Yas Beach sits at 5.7 kilometres. Yas Park South, one of the island's green spaces, is under a kilometre from the site. Blossom Nursery at Yas Water's Edge is 1.8 kilometres away, a practical detail for families with young children.

Dubai is accessible via the Sheikh Zayed Road corridor, typically 90 to 120 minutes depending on traffic, which matters to buyers who maintain ties to both cities.

# Who Gardenia Bay suits, and where it sits in the market

The pricing structure and island location make this a credible proposition for two distinct buyer types. The first is the Abu Dhabi professional or expat household that wants a complete residential environment without commuting into central Abu Dhabi daily. The second is the international investor, particularly from the UK, Europe or South and East Asia, drawn by Aldar's track record of delivery, the island's established tourism infrastructure, and a price point that remains accessible relative to comparable waterfront product in Dubai.

At 15.7 AED per square foot in service charge, running costs are transparent and comparable to mid-tier Dubai towers. The Q2 2027 completion date means buyers are acquiring off-plan with roughly two years of construction remaining, standard for Abu Dhabi delivery cycles. For those benchmarking against Dubai, Yas Island offers a different rhythm: lower density, more considered landscaping, and proximity to an airport that connects directly to more long-haul destinations than many buyers expect.