A new AED 6 billion community is set to expand Yas Island's residential offering with 3,950 homes, a yacht marina and a largely car-free landscape, adding another major mixed-use development to Abu Dhabi's growing property pipeline.
September 24, 2026 | Palak Kataria | UAE | Real Estate | 3 Min Read
Image Courtesy: Metropolitan Capital Real Estate
Yas Island's next major residential addition is taking shape around a different idea: put the cars underground and give the ground level back to people and green space.
Cosmo Developments has launched The WADI, an AED 6 billion mixed-use development planned along Yas Canal in Abu Dhabi. The project will span approximately 140,700 sq m and deliver 3,950 homes, alongside commercial, hospitality, leisure and sports facilities.
Cosmo Developments is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi's Flag Holding Group and Reportage Group, with Reportage overseeing the project from development through to long-term management.
The residential mix will include studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, but the project's masterplan is arguably its more distinctive feature.
Parking and vehicle circulation are planned largely below ground, allowing the surface level to accommodate landscaped areas, pedestrian routes and recreational spaces. Plans include a six-kilometre running route, alongside a yacht marina on the waterfront.
The development will also incorporate tennis facilities, gyms, spas, children's areas, restaurants and retail. Landscaping is expected to include native species such as ghaf and palm trees, while planted balconies form part of the climate-responsive design approach.
Location is another part of the proposition. The site sits along Yas Canal, with the developer placing it approximately five minutes from Zayed International Airport and nine minutes from Ferrari World.
The scale of The WADI makes it more than another individual residential launch.
With nearly 4,000 homes planned, the development will add a sizeable new residential population to an island already established around entertainment, tourism, hospitality and increasingly year-round living.
Its combination of residential property with a marina, hotel, retail and leisure facilities also continues the UAE's shift towards integrated communities where lifestyle infrastructure forms part of the masterplan from the outset.
For Yas Island, The WADI adds another major piece to that evolution, this time with the public realm, waterfront and pedestrian environment taking a particularly prominent role.
Source: Cosmo Developments; Reportage Group; Gulf Economist; Khaleej Times.
