Developer profile
Aldar Properties
Abu Dhabi's established developer, building its first Dubai communities in Dubailand with Dubai Holding
Aldar is an Abu Dhabi developer founded in 2004 and listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Mubadala is its largest shareholder (28.03%, August 2026) and Moody's rates it Baa2. It has two decades of Abu Dhabi communities behind it, but in Dubai it is new: every home it has launched here since 2023 is in Dubailand, through a joint venture with Dubai Holding, and none is due before 2027-28. The main thing to weigh is a strong balance sheet against an unproven Dubai record and a first Dubai handover date that has already moved back by one to two quarters.
What Aldar does well
- Strong finances: Moody's Baa2, an AED 71.6bn development backlog and AED 37.1bn of available liquidity (June 2026), so building work is less dependent on buyers' instalments.
- Government-linked ownership through Mubadala (28.03%, August 2026), with Dubai Holding as its land partner in Dubai.
- Strong launch demand in Dubai: Haven (2023), Verdes (2024), Athlon (2024) and The Wilds (2025) sold their first phases within days, for over AED 13bn combined.
- Long Abu Dhabi record on Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and Al Raha Beach. Saadiyat Lagoons phase 1 began handover in February 2026, ahead of its September 2026 schedule.
- Community management in-house through Aldar Estates, which manages about 146,000 homes (2026).
Check before you buy
- No Aldar home in Dubai has been handed over yet. Haven was promised for Q3 2027 at launch; Aldar's November 2025 schedule shows January 2028. Check the date in your SPA.
- Everything launched in Dubai so far is inland in Dubailand, off Al Ain Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, not on the coast.
- Apartments have sold more slowly than villas: Rise by Athlon was 29% sold in September 2025, while Athlon's villas and townhouses were 96% sold.
- Typically 30-40% of the price is due at handover and no post-handover plans were found (October 2026). Plan your finance for 2028-30.
- Aldar's UAE sales fell 46% in H1 2026 as it launched fewer projects. Watch how later Dubai phases sell in the cooler 2026 market.
History
The milestones that shaped Aldar.
- 2004Founded in Abu Dhabi in January 2004, with Mubadala as a founding shareholder. Shares later listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.
- 2009Yas Marina Circuit hosts its first Formula 1 Grand Prix. Aldar also builds Ferrari World and the Yas Hotel.
- 2011After the 2008 crash, the Abu Dhabi government supports Aldar with AED 19.2bn (January) and AED 16.8bn (September) of asset purchases, bonds and infrastructure settlements.
- 2013Merger with Sorouh Real Estate completes, adding land on Al Reem Island and at Al Ghadeer.
- 2021Takes control of SODIC in Egypt with ADQ.
- 2023February: joint venture with Dubai Holding to build Dubai communities. October-November: Haven by Aldar launches in Dubailand and its first two phases (786 homes) sell out for over AED 3.1bn. December: UK developer London Square acquired.
- 2024May: Athlon's first two phases sell out in 48 hours for AED 4.1bn. July: Verdes by Haven apartments launch.
- 2025March: The Wilds' first phase of 734 villas sells for AED 5bn. September: Rise by Athlon apartments launch. Group sales reach a record AED 40.6bn.
- 2026February: Dubai Holding joint venture expanded with sites near Nad Al Sheba and on Palm Jebel Ali (combined value over AED 38bn, almost 14,000 homes); The Wilds Residences launch; Saadiyat Lagoons phase 1 handovers begin in Abu Dhabi. July: H1 UAE sales down 46%. August: Mubadala raises its stake to 28.03%.
Delivery track record
Aldar's Dubai delivery record cannot be judged yet: its first Dubai homes, at Haven, are not due until 2027-28. In Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Lagoons phase 1 began handover in February 2026, ahead of the September 2026 date in Aldar's November 2025 schedule. That schedule lists other Abu Dhabi completions between late 2025 and 2029; whether each one met its date has not been independently checked. In Dubai, Haven was promised for Q3 2027 at its 2023 launch. Aldar's November 2025 schedule shows January 2028, and portal listings show Q3 2027 to Q2 2028 depending on phase (October 2026). No formal delay notice has been issued. Athlon is scheduled for June 2028 and The Wilds for March 2029.
| Project | Promised handover | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saadiyat Lagoons phase 1, Saadiyat Island (Abu Dhabi) | September 2026 (Aldar schedule, November 2025) | Handover began February 2026, about seven months early | Arabian Business, February 2026 (via third party); Aldar investor presentation, November 2025 |
| Haven by Aldar, Dubailand | Q3 2027 for phase 1 (at launch, 2023) | Aldar schedule now January 2028; listings show Q3 2027-Q2 2028 by phase; not yet due (October 2026) | Gulf Business, November 2023; Aldar investor presentation, November 2025; Property Finder |
| Verdes by Haven, Dubailand | Q3 2028 (new phase, September 2024) | Aldar schedule July 2028; not yet due (October 2026) | Broker report, September 2024; Aldar investor presentation, November 2025 |
| Athlon by Aldar, Dubailand | No date given at launch (May 2024) | Aldar schedule June 2028; Property Finder 31 May 2028; Bayut Q3 2028; not yet due | Aldar, May 2024; Aldar investor presentation, November 2025 |
| Rise by Athlon, Dubailand | Q4 2029 | Construction start listed 16 January 2026; not yet due | Property Finder |
| The Wilds, Dubailand | March 2029 (Aldar schedule) | Moringa Mansions construction started 15 May 2025 (due Q3 2029); not yet due | Aldar investor presentation, November 2025; Property Finder |
Aldar projects selling or being built now
Starting prices are launch or asking prices at the date shown. Prices move, payment plans change and some projects sell out quickly, so ask us for today’s availability.
| Project | Area | Type | Bedrooms | Sizes | Starting price | Price per sq ft | Payment plan | Handover | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haven by Aldar | Dubailand (off Al Ain Road) | Villas and townhouses (2,428 homes in the master plan) | Townhouses 3-4; villas 3-6 | AED 2.5m 3-bed townhouse; AED 3.5m 3-bed villa (launch, 2023) | AED 1,447 average asking (Property Finder, Oct 2026) | 60/40 (townhouses); 70/30 (Elite villas); 5% on booking | Q3 2027 promised at launch; Aldar schedule January 2028; listings Q3 2027-Q2 2028 | Phases 1 and 2 sold out (2023); later releases and resales; phase 3 12% built (Oct 2026) | |
| Verdes by Haven | Haven, Dubailand | Apartments and duplexes (1,047 units) | 1-3 | AED 990k (launch, July 2024); AED 1.9m (new phase, September 2024) | 60/40 | Q3 2028 (promised September 2024); Aldar schedule July 2028 | 996 of 1,047 sold (September 2025) | ||
| Athlon by Aldar | Dubailand | Townhouses and villas (1,492 homes in 9 clusters) | Townhouses 3-4; villas 3-6 | Townhouses about 2,282-3,100; villas about 2,960-4,445 sq ft (broker estimates) | AED 2.8m 3-bed townhouse; AED 3.9m 3-bed villa; AED 6.0m 5-bed (launch, May 2024) | AED 1,515 (PropertyIndex, Oct 2026) | 60/40 (5% on booking, 55% during construction, 40% on handover); 70/30 for premium villas | June 2028 (Aldar schedule); Q3 2028 (Bayut) | 1,433 of 1,492 sold (September 2025) |
| Rise by Athlon | Athlon, Dubailand | Apartments (1,177 units in 8 buildings) | 1-3 | 1-bed 936; 2-bed 1,463-1,743; 3-bed 2,152 sq ft | AED 1.35-1.4m 1-bed; AED 1.95m 2-bed; AED 2.75m 3-bed (launch, September 2025) | About AED 1,496 (1-bed at launch, 2025); AED 1,653 (1-bed resale, June 2026) | 60/40 (broker) | Q4 2029 | 343 of 1,177 sold (September 2025); selling |
| The Wilds | Dubailand (Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, opposite Global Village) | Villas (about 1,700 homes in the master plan) | 3-5 (villas); 5-6 (mansions) | 3-bed listings from about 4,700 sq ft | AED 5.1m Cassia 5 and 6 (launch, March 2025) | AED 1,538 (Property Finder, Oct 2026) | 10/55/35 (Cassia 5 and 6) | March 2029 (Aldar schedule) | First phase of 734 villas sold out for AED 5bn (March 2025); 851 of 941 sold (September 2025) |
| Moringa Mansions, The Wilds | Dubailand | Mansions (38 units) | 5-6 | AED 39m 5-bed; AED 51m 6-bed (2025) | 10/55/35 | Q3 2029 | Selling | ||
| The Wilds Residences | The Wilds, Dubailand | Apartments and duplexes (740 units in 6 mid-rise buildings) | 1-3 (duplexes 2-3) | 1-bed from 893; 2-bed 1,517; 3-bed 2,087; duplexes 2,356-2,840 sq ft | AED 1.6m 1-bed; AED 2.5m 2-bed; AED 3.1m 3-bed (portal, 2026) | Construction-linked, seven instalments from 31 August 2026 to 30 September 2029; 4% DLD fee extra | Q2 2030 (portal; not confirmed by Aldar) | Selling (launched 18 February 2026) | |
| Nad Al Sheba corridor community (name not announced) | Eastern corridor opposite Nad Al Sheba | Apartments, townhouses and villas on about 4 million sq m | Announced February 2026; launch targeted for 2026, not launched by October 2026 | ||||||
| Palm Jebel Ali waterfront (name not announced) | Palm Jebel Ali | Branded and non-branded homes (about 250,000 sq m of floor space) | Announced February 2026; sales from 2027 | ||||||
| The Canopies at Yas Point | Yas Island, Abu Dhabi | Apartments | Studio and up | AED 1.65m (listed, Oct 2026) | 2030 | Selling (launched Q2 2026) | |||
| Yas Park Place | Yas Island, Abu Dhabi | Apartments and duplexes | Studio-3 | AED 1.39m (listed, Oct 2026) | 2030 | 80% of released homes sold (Q2 2026) | |||
| Fahid Beach Residences | Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi | Apartments, townhouses and penthouses | AED 3.5m (listed, Oct 2026) | September 2029 | 1,358 units sold for AED 6.8bn (first nine months of 2025) | ||||
| Mandarin Oriental Residences | Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi | Branded apartments and penthouses | AED 6.2m (listed, Oct 2026) | 2028 | 95 units sold for AED 1.3bn (2025) | ||||
| Nobu Residences | Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi | Branded apartments, penthouses and villas | AED 8.0m (listed, Oct 2026) | May 2027 | Selling | ||||
| Al Deem Townhomes | Yas Island, Abu Dhabi | Townhouses | AED 3.1m (listed, Oct 2026) | December 2029 | 386 sold for AED 1.6bn (2025) | ||||
| Sama Yas | Yas Island, Abu Dhabi | Apartments, duplexes and penthouses | AED 1.9m (listed, Oct 2026) | June 2027 | Selling | ||||
| The Arthouse and Manarat Living III | Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi | Apartments | AED 3.3m (The Arthouse); AED 1.05m (Manarat Living III) (listed, Oct 2026) | 2028 (The Arthouse); August 2028 (Manarat Living III) | Selling | ||||
| Rosso Bay Residences | Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah | Apartments and penthouses | AED 1.9m (listed, Oct 2026) | November 2027 (Aldar schedule) | 358 sold for AED 1.4bn (2025) | ||||
| Marsa Al Saadiyat | Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi | Master plan (total value AED 100bn; Aldar to develop AED 60bn) | Announced July 2026; launches from H2 2026 |
Completed projects
| Project | Area | Completed | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Raha Gardens | Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi | 2007-2009 | Villas | Aldar's first villa community. |
| Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari World and Yas Hotel | Yas Island, Abu Dhabi | 2009-2010 | Leisure and hotel | Built the island's first anchors; the circuit hosted its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2009. |
| Al Raha Beach (Al Bandar, Al Muneera, Al Zeina) | Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi | 2010-2013 (in phases) | Apartments, villas and townhouses | Aldar's first large waterfront community. Service charge at Al Zeina AED 15 per sq ft (October 2025). |
| Al Reem Island towers (Sun, Sky, Gate, Arc) | Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi | 2010-2014 | Apartments | Built by Sorouh and inherited in the 2013 merger. Service charges AED 9.79-12.00 per sq ft (October 2025). |
| Al Ghadeer and Al Reef | Al Ghadeer (Abu Dhabi-Dubai border) and Al Reef, Abu Dhabi | 2011-2020 | Apartments and villas | Built through Sorouh and the Manazel joint venture. Al Reef gross yields 7.9-10.2% (May 2026). |
| Yas Mall | Yas Island, Abu Dhabi | 2014 | Shopping centre | 96% occupied in H1 2026. |
| Ansam, Mayan and Water's Edge | Yas Island, Abu Dhabi | 2017-2021 | Apartments | Service charges AED 10.85 (Mayan) to AED 14.18 (Ansam) per sq ft (October 2025). |
| Yas Acres, West Yas and Noya | Yas Island, Abu Dhabi | 2019-2024 (later phases scheduled for November 2025) | Villas and townhouses | Noya Luma sold out in four hours in 2021. Service charge AED 5 per sq ft (October 2025). |
| Mamsha Al Saadiyat and Saadiyat Beach Residences | Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi | 2019-2021 | Apartments | Service charges AED 11.50-13.79 per sq ft (October 2025). |
| Saadiyat Lagoons phase 1 | Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi | 2026 | 4-6 bed villas | Launched from AED 6.1m (2022). Handover began February 2026, ahead of the September 2026 schedule. |
How owners have done
Every Aldar home in Dubai is still off-plan, so performance so far means assignment prices (resales before handover). At Haven, Property Finder's average asking price was AED 1,447 per sq ft in October 2026, up 3.4% in a year, with 176 sales worth AED 617.7m over the previous 12 months; 3-bed townhouses launched from AED 2.5m in 2023. At Athlon, the price index stood at AED 1,515 per sq ft in October 2026, up 0.8% in a year, and a 3-bed resold for AED 3.24m on 2 October 2026, 4% above its previous sale in August 2024; 3-bed townhouses launched from AED 2.8m in May 2024. A Rise by Athlon 1-bed sold at AED 1,653 per sq ft in June 2026, against about AED 1,496 at launch in 2025. The Wilds villas averaged AED 1,538 per sq ft in October 2026, up 3.1% in a year. For comparison, Bayut's H1 2026 asking-price data put Dubailand villas at AED 1,609 per sq ft with a 5.23% gross yield. These are small gains in a cooling market: Dubai's Q3 2026 sales values were 47% lower than a year earlier (Cavendish Maxwell, October 2026). There is no Aldar rental record in Dubai yet. In Abu Dhabi, gross yields in May 2026 were about 8.6-9.1% on Yas Island, 7.2-8.4% at Al Raha Beach and 4.8-6.7% on Saadiyat Island.
| Community | Price per sq ft | Change | Gross yield | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haven by Aldar, Dubailand | AED 1,447 average asking (Oct 2026) | +3.4% | No rental record yet (off-plan) | Property Finder |
| Athlon by Aldar, Dubailand | AED 1,515 index (Oct 2026) | +0.8% | No rental record yet (off-plan) | PropertyIndex.ae |
| The Wilds, Dubailand | AED 1,538 average (Oct 2026) | +3.1% | No rental record yet (off-plan) | Property Finder |
| Dubailand villas, all developers | AED 1,609 asking (H1 2026) | Not published | 5.23% (H1 2026) | Bayut H1 2026 |
| Yas Island, Abu Dhabi | Not published | Not published | 8.6-9.1% (May 2026) | Broker rental data |
| Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi | Not published | Not published | 7.2-8.4% (May 2026) | Broker rental data |
| Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi | Not published | Not published | 4.8-6.7% (May 2026) | Broker rental data |
Bayut and Property Finder figures are mostly asking prices and rents, not completed sales. Yields are gross, before service charges, maintenance and empty periods.
Payment plans and what’s on offer
- Payment plans
- Dubai launches (2024-26) mostly use 60/40: 5% on booking, 55% during construction and 40% on handover, for townhouses, standard villas and Rise by Athlon. Premium villas are 70/30, and The Wilds Cassia 5-6 and Moringa Mansions are 10/55/35.
- Post-handover plans
- None found on any Aldar Dubai launch (October 2026).
- Golden Visa
- Every Aldar villa and townhouse in Dubai and most 2-bed and larger apartments cost more than AED 2m (2024-26 prices), so they can qualify on value. Eligibility is set by the government, not by Aldar.
- Mortgages on off-plan
- No Aldar bank partnership for Dubai off-plan found (October 2026).
- Branded residences
- Abu Dhabi only so far, including Nobu, Mandarin Oriental and Waldorf Astoria. The Palm Jebel Ali scheme announced in February 2026 will include branded homes, with sales from 2027.
- Service charges
- Dubai charges are not yet set, as nothing has been delivered (October 2026). Abu Dhabi examples: AED 5 per sq ft at Yas Acres and Noya, AED 10.85 at Mayan, AED 14.18 at Ansam and AED 30.24 at Mamsha Gardens (broker service-charge index, October 2025).
- Community management
- In-house through Aldar Estates, which manages about 146,000 homes (2026).
Who Aldar suits
Aldar suits families and medium-term investors who want a villa or townhouse in a planned community from a large, government-linked developer with an investment-grade rating, and who are content to wait until 2028-30 for keys. Buyers need to be able to fund 30-40% of the price at handover, as no post-handover plans are offered. It may suit less well someone who wants to live near the coast, needs a home before 2028, or wants payments to run past completion. Apartment buyers should note that Rise by Athlon has sold more slowly than Aldar's villas, which may matter for resale in a cooler market.
Thinking of buying? We have sold off-plan for the major developers and can compare Aldar projects with similar homes from others, including resales that may cost less than a new launch.
Aldar FAQs
Is Aldar a good developer?
Aldar is a listed Abu Dhabi developer founded in 2004, with Mubadala as its largest shareholder and a Baa2 rating from Moody's (2026). It has built communities on Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and Al Raha Beach for two decades. In Dubai its record is unproven, because its first handovers, at Haven, are not due until 2027-28.
What are Aldar's projects in Dubai?
Every home Aldar has launched in Dubai is in Dubailand, through a joint venture with Dubai Holding formed in February 2023: Haven and Verdes by Haven, Athlon and Rise by Athlon, and The Wilds, Moringa Mansions and The Wilds Residences. Two more sites, near Nad Al Sheba and on Palm Jebel Ali, were announced in February 2026 and had not launched by October 2026.
When is the Haven by Aldar handover?
Haven was promised for Q3 2027 when it launched in 2023. Aldar's November 2025 schedule shows January 2028 for the community, and listings in October 2026 show Q3 2027 to Q2 2028 depending on phase. Verdes by Haven apartments are scheduled for July 2028.
Are Aldar's Dubai projects delayed?
None is due yet. Haven's headline date has moved from Q3 2027 at launch to January 2028 in Aldar's own schedule, without a formal delay notice. Athlon is scheduled for June 2028 and The Wilds for March 2029.
What is Aldar's payment plan in Dubai?
Usually 60/40: 5% on booking, 55% during construction and 40% on handover. Premium villas are 70/30, and The Wilds Cassia villas and Moringa Mansions are 10/55/35. No post-handover plans were found (October 2026).
Who owns Aldar?
Aldar is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Mubadala held 28.03% in August 2026 and Alpha Dhabi Holding, part of IHC, held 26.5% in late 2025. The rest trades freely on the exchange.
Did Aldar go bankrupt after 2008?
No. After the 2008 crash it needed state support: in 2011 the Abu Dhabi government bought assets and bonds worth AED 19.2bn in January and AED 16.8bn in September. Aldar merged with Sorouh in 2013 and is now rated investment grade (Baa2, Moody's, 2026).
How much do Aldar homes in Dubai cost?
Launch prices started at AED 2.5m for a Haven 3-bed townhouse (2023), AED 2.8m for an Athlon 3-bed townhouse (2024), AED 5.1m for The Wilds Cassia villas (2025) and AED 1.6m for a Wilds Residences 1-bed (2026). Prices per sq ft in October 2026 were about AED 1,447 at Haven, AED 1,515 at Athlon and AED 1,538 at The Wilds.
Can I get a Golden Visa with an Aldar property?
A property worth AED 2m or more can qualify under current rules. Every Aldar villa and townhouse in Dubai and most of its 2-bed and larger apartments are above that (2024-26 prices). Eligibility is decided by the government, not Aldar.
What are Aldar's service charges?
Dubai charges are not yet set because nothing has been handed over. In Abu Dhabi they range from AED 5 per sq ft at Yas Acres and Noya to AED 14.18 at Ansam and AED 30.24 at Mamsha Gardens (October 2025).
Sources and how we checked (30)
Facts checked October 2026 from the developer’s own announcements and results, Dubai Land Department records (via Property Finder, DXBinteract and Propsearch), Bayut market reports and the press. Figures given by the developer are labelled as theirs. This page is information, not financial advice.
- Aldar Q4 FY2025 financial results, 9 Feb 2026
- Aldar H1 2026 financial results, 29 Jul 2026
- Aldar investor presentation, November 2025
- Dubai Holding, Aldar joint venture expanded, February 2026
- The National, Mubadala raises stake in Aldar, 12 Aug 2026
- AGBI, Alpha Dhabi to divest stake in Aldar, November 2025
- The National, Aldar 2025 results, 9 Feb 2026
- Wikipedia, Aldar Properties
- Gulf News, Abu Dhabi support package for Aldar, 2011
- Gulf Business, Aldar sells out first two phases of Haven, 1 Nov 2023
- Aldar, Athlon first two phases sold out, 9 May 2024
- Aldar, The Wilds first phase sold out, 5 Mar 2025
- Plant & Equipment, Aldar launches Wilds Residences, 24 Feb 2026
- Dubaihaus, Aldar Properties in Dubai 2026, 10 Aug 2026
- Metropolitan, new phase in Verdes by Haven, 6 Sep 2024
- Property Finder, Haven by Aldar listings
- Provident Estate, Haven by Aldar
- Property Finder, Rise by Athlon
- Property Finder, The Wilds Moringa Mansions
- Property Finder, The Wilds villa listings
- Real Estate Club Dubai, Athlon by Aldar, 2 Jul 2026
- Real Estate Club Dubai, The Wilds Residences, 27 Jul 2026
- PropertyIndex.ae, Athlon by Aldar 1 transactions (to 5 Oct 2026)
- Provident Estate, off-plan projects by Aldar
- Saadiyat Lagoons handover begins, 16 Feb 2026 (citing Arabian Business)
- Gulf News, Saadiyat Lagoons launch from AED 6.1m, 2022
- Rose Island Real Estate, Abu Dhabi service charges index, October 2025
- Sands of Wealth, Abu Dhabi rental yields, May 2026
- Bayut, Dubai sales market report H1 2026
- Gulf Business (Cavendish Maxwell), Dubai Q3 2026 residential sales, 6 Oct 2026