OPAVITA
Abu Dhabi · Freehold

Buying apartments in Saadiyat Island: 2026 prices, yields and costs

Abu Dhabi's cultural district — Louvre, NYU, beachfront — and the emirate's prime freehold address. This page sets out the current asking-price band for apartments in Saadiyat Island, the gross yields investors are underwriting, and every one-off cost you pay on top.

AED 1700–2600
Price per sq ft
5.5–6.8%
Gross yield
from AED 1.35M
Entry ticket
600–1800 sq ft
Typical size
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What a typical apartment in Saadiyat Island costs and returns

Worked on a mid-range unit of 1,200 sq ft at AED 2,150 per sq ft. Figures are indicative market ranges, not an offer on any specific property.

Indicative purchase and income figures for a apartment in Saadiyat Island, 2026
Indicative purchase priceAED 2,580,000
Land-department transfer fee (4%)AED 103,200
Agency commission (2% + VAT)AED 54,180
Trustee & registrationAED 4,000–6,000
All-in one-off costs≈ 6.1% of price
Indicative gross annual rentAED 158,670
Annual service chargeAED 24,000 (AED 16–24/sq ft)
Indicative net yield after service charge5.2%
Annual property tax0% — the UAE levies none
Tax on rental income (UAE)0%

Net yield excludes management fees, vacancy and maintenance. Assume 8–12% of gross rent for a managed long-let and more for short lets.

Who rents apartments here

Diplomats, academics and senior executives on corporate housing budgets; long leases are the norm.

Risks to underwrite before you commit

Thinner transaction volume than Dubai, so exit timing is less flexible and comparables are scarcer.

Why this asset type

Lowest entry ticket, deepest resale liquidity and the easiest asset to let out remotely, offset by annual service charges billed per square foot.

Residency and financing at this price level

At AED 1.35M entry, a single unit typically supports the 2-year investor visa (from around AED 750,000). Reaching the AED 2 million Golden Visa threshold usually means combining registered properties. Non-residents can generally borrow 50–60% loan-to-value from UAE banks, residents up to 80% on a first home, subject to income and age criteria.

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