Yas Island- 20 minutes away from downtown Abu Dhabi and from Abu Dhabi Airport
- leisure: the Warner Bros. World, Ferrari World, Clymb Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Dancing Fountain, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Links, Yas Beach
- educational and medical facilities: Sabis International School, Yas School, West Yas Academy, Burjeel Medical Center, Avivo Hospitals National Hospital
- housing options: apartments, villas, townhouses
One of the city’s top tourism projects, Yas Island is always bustling with life. It has hosted a large number of events, from the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to The du World Music Festival to Ultimate Fighting Championship. The place is also known for its nightlife.
Saadiyat Island- 15 minutes away from downtown Abu Dhabi and from Yas Island
- leisure/shopping: Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Manarat AlSaadiyat, Grand Mosque South Gate, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
- educational facilities: Cranleigh school, Redwood Montessori Nursery
- housing options: apartment blocks, large villa complexes, townhouses
The low-lying natural island is located 500 metres off the coast of Abu Dhabi Island. Saadiyat Island is intended to become the city’s cultural center, with its Cultural District featuring eight museums. This is one of the reasons why real estate property is rather costly here.
Al Reem Island- 10 minutes away from downtown Abu Dhabi
- leisure: Shams Boutik, Paragon Bay Mall, Reem Mall, Reem Central Park, Gate Towers, beaches, waterfront promenades
- educational and medical facilities: Repton Abu Dhabi School, Reem Hospital, Burjeel Day Surgery Center
- housing options: mostly high-rise buildings offering modern apartments, often along the waterfront
Al Reem Island is a natural island lying 600 metres off the coast of Abu Dhabi Island. This is a mixed-purpose community, where residential towers stand next to commercial buildings. Known as a pedestrian-friendly area, the island is often chosen by families that would rather live in a luxurious apartment than in a quiet villa. It is also a popular place for singles.
Khalifa City- 10 minutes away from downtown Abu Dhabi and from Abu Dhabi Airport
- shopping/leisure: Forsan Central Mall, Al Safeer Mall, Al Raha Mall, Central Mall, parks, children’s playgrounds, golf courses
- educational and medical facilities: plenty (Rawafed Private School, Choueifat School, Al Asayel Primary School, NMC ProVita International Medical Center, NMC Royal Hospital Khalifa City, Dar Al Shifaa Hospital)
- housing options: villas, compounds
Khalifa City is a residential area. It is a quiet community, which is being actively developed. While it can’t boast the attractions of Yas Island or the lively cultural life of Saadiyat Island, Khalifa City is a family-friendly neighborhood and a popular area to rent or buy villas at a relatively low price.
Mohammed Bin Zayed City- 15 minutes away from downtown Abu Dhabi, an hour away from Dubai
- leisure: the Mazyad Mall, the City Mall and Capital Mall, Mohammed Bin Zayed Park, Mussafah garden, Amoory Palace
- educational and medical facilities: plenty, including Cambridge High School, Belvedere British School, Al Najah Private School, Burjeel Medical City, Emirates Field Hospital, NMC Royal Family Medical Centre
- housing options: predominantly a villa community with a few townhouses. Villas typically have swimming pools and spacious private gardens and often have an identical design. It’s not an option for those interested in apartments.
MBZ City is a quiet and comparatively affordable residential community, which might be a wise choice for families with children. While the area is officially part of Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, it is in fact located on the outskirts.
On the one hand, this means that you’ll have a chance to enjoy a serene suburban lifestyle. You will escape the heavy traffic and the hustle and bustle of the city, yet still have everything necessary for a comfortable life in the vicinity, including malls, hospitals, and schools. On the other hand, it may feel lonely here due to limited leisure options.
Al Mushrif- part of the city centre, 10 minutes away from the Corniche
- leisure: Umm Al Emarat Park, Mushrif Mall, Al Mushrif Palace, the Women's Handicrafts Centre, Abu Dhabi Country Club
- educational and medical facilities: known for some of the city’s most prestigious schools; close to the hospitals in the city center, including Gulf Diagnostic Center Hospital, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and NMC Royal Women's Hospital
- housing options: villas, townhouses, apartments, studios
This is a serene residential community often chosen by young families. At the same time, Al Mushrif is just minutes away from some of its best-known attractions and recreational areas.
The Corniche- part of the city centre
- leisure: Al-Mina Port, Emirates Palace, Marina Mall, the Corniche Beach
- educational and medical facilities: Corniche Hospital, Burjeel Hospital, Mediclinic Alnoor Hospital, plenty of schools
- housing options: known for its high-rise buildings, including Etihad Towers, Al Jowhara tower and Nation Towers, to name just a few
Technically speaking, the Corniche isn’t a residential community but rather a tourist area. It’s the city's main waterfront promenade featuring gardens, beaches, playgrounds, and a BMX/skateboard ring. The road stretches for almost 10 kilometers. While it’s not that easy to single out the best place to live in Abu Dhabi, the Corniche is undeniably one of the top candidates. Hardly a surprise that the closer the properties are located to this area, the more expensive they are.
And moreThe list of best areas to stay in Abu Dhabi could include many other options, depending on your personal preferences and family situation:
- The younger crowds tend to go for Madinat Zayed, Kahlidya and Al Wahda, while those who retire may consider the picturesque Hidd Al Saadiyat featuring villas built along a narrow peninsula.
- Al Raha is known for its luxurious lifestyle and waterfront gardens.
- Tourist Club Area is lively, yet comparatively affordable, and there’re quite a few shopping malls and towers.
- If you’d rather live downtown, Al Karmah with its great infrastructure for family living may be an option for you.
While real estate properties are typically newer off-island, the range of attractions in downtown Abu Dhabi more than makes up for this.
