Abu Dhabi does not stay still for long. Areas that once felt like future plans are now part of everyday life. Reem, Yas and Saadiyat all went through that stage. At one point, they were names on a masterplan. Today, they are where people live, work, rent, buy, send their children to school and build their routines. 

The same process is happening again across a new group of islands. A recent Time Out Abu Dhabi piece looked at several island projects that are still in different stages of planning, construction or early development. Some are already becoming part of the city. Others are still years away. 

For buyers, residents and investors, the point is not to get carried away by every new island announcement. It is to understand which places are moving from concept to reality, which are already showing signs of demand, and which ones are still too early to judge properly. 

Hudayriyat Island 

Hudayriyat has been in the news a lot recently, and is the most advanced example on this list because parts of it are already in use. Most Abu Dhabi residents now know it as a sports and leisure destination, with Surf Abu Dhabi, cycling tracks, 321 Sports, Marsana Beach and the wider active-living offer already making it part of the city’s weekend routine. 

The residential side is now moving as well. Modon’s Hudayriyat masterplan spans around 51 million square metres, equivalent to more than half the area of Abu Dhabi Island itself. This is not just a beachfront project. It is a major piece of urban expansion, with more than 50 kilometres of coastline, around 16 kilometres of beaches, major sports infrastructure and an extensive cycling network planned across the island. 

The demand is already visible in the sales numbers. In December 2025, Modon’s Bashayer community sold out in one day, generating AED 3 billion across 157 villas and 330 apartments. In July 2026, Hudayriyat Golf Estates crossed AED 13 billion in sales within days of launch, with 1,700 residences sold. Modon described it as the highest publicly recorded sales value for a single residential project launch in the UAE. 

Hudayriyat is no longer only a place people visit. It is becoming a place people are prepared to buy into before the full island community is complete. That is often how new Abu Dhabi addresses begin: people visit first, the infrastructure develops, the homes follow, and a few years later the area feels like it was always part of the city. 

Ramhan Island 

Ramhan Island is a very different proposition. It is not trying to be another Reem Island. It is private, waterfront-led and aimed much further up the market. 

Developed by Eagle Hills, Ramhan is positioned around luxury villas, natural bays, mangroves, beaches, marina living and hospitality. Time Out notes that the first villas are expected from 2027, with The Bristol Residences planned and over-water villas expected later. 

This is the private-island end of Abu Dhabi’s growth story, so it should not be assessed like a standard residential area. Many people will probably experience Ramhan first as a destination rather than as a place to live. 

For buyers, the practical issues are access, services and daily use. How easy will it be to get in and out? What facilities will be available? How quickly will retail, schools and everyday services arrive? How will the island work on a normal Tuesday morning, not just in the launch video? 

Fahid Island 

Fahid Island sits between Yas and Saadiyat, which gives it one of the strongest location stories in Abu Dhabi. 

Aldar is positioning it as a wellness-led island, with the masterplan built around green space, coastline, beaches, walkability and movement. The official figures include 940,000 square metres of green space, 11 kilometres of coastline, 100,000 square metres of beaches, public walkways, a running loop, cycling routes and a mangrove boardwalk. 

The word “wellness” is now used very generously in real estate. Sometimes it means a gym, a pool and a yoga deck that no one uses after handover. Fahid’s positioning is more serious than that. The island is being planned around parks, walking routes, beaches, schools (Kings College Wimbledon has already been announced), retail and daily movement from the start. 

If delivered properly, Fahid could become a strong option for families who want to be between Yas and Saadiyat, but in a more planned and walkable setting. The opportunity is not just in the homes, but in the way the island is meant to function once people actually live there. 

Lulu Island 

Lulu Island is the one hiding in plain sight. It is the strip of land you see from the Corniche, directly opposite one of the most established parts of Abu Dhabi. For years, it has been there without becoming part of daily city life. 

Time Out reports that Lulu Island is being planned by Modon as a major mixed-use destination, with villas, apartments, retail and waterfront dining. Given the location, it has the potential to become one of the most valuable island addresses in the city. We have also heard that it will be doubled in size, and three bridges will connect it to Zayed Port and The Marina Breakwater. 

It is also the one where patience matters. At this stage, Lulu is less of a buying decision and more of a long-term watchlist item. The location is obvious, but the final plan, timing and residential offer still need to become clearer. 

If Abu Dhabi fully activates Lulu Island, it will be a major change to the Corniche side of the city. Until then, it is one to watch rather than one to price too confidently. 

Al Mihsinah Island 

Al Mihsinah Island is the newest and least defined of the group, lying just off the coast of Bahia and Rahbah. Aldar and the Department of Municipalities and Transport announced a strategic partnership in May 2026 to support Abu Dhabi’s next phase of urban growth, including the activation of Al Mihsinah Island as a new waterfront community. 

The direction seems to be residential, retail, lifestyle, walkable communities and green public spaces, but the specifics are still limited. No meaningful residential decision can be made from the available information yet. 

For now, Al Mihsinah belongs in the watchlist category. Not every future island needs to be treated like an immediate investment opportunity. Sometimes the correct answer is simply to know what is coming and wait for better information. 

What this means for buyers and residents 

The important point is not just that Abu Dhabi is building more islands. The important point is that Abu Dhabi has done this before. 

Planned islands can become real communities, but that does not mean every early-stage project should be bought without caution. Off-plan property carries risks. Timelines move. Infrastructure takes time. Retail usually arrives after residents, not before. A community does not become complete the day the first keys are handed over. 

At the same time, early areas should not be dismissed just because they currently feel unfinished. By the time a place feels obvious, the early opportunity has usually gone. 

That is why each island needs to be looked at separately. Hudayriyat is already moving from destination to residential address. Ramhan is private waterfront living at the luxury end of the market. Fahid is a wellness-led island between two established lifestyle destinations. Lulu Island is a location play with huge long-term potential but limited current detail. Al Mihsinah is still too early to judge properly. 

These are not the same thing, and they should not be assessed as though they are.