Manarat Living Phase 3: Aldar's Cultural District Play on Saadiyat Island
Aldar Properties is delivering the third phase of their Manarat Living community on Saadiyat Island, within Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Cultural District. The project offers apartments from studio to three-bedroom, priced between AED 1.05 million and AED 4.8 million, with a payment plan that opens at 10% down.
Getting In for 10%
The payment plan is the first thing that stands out in this project.
| Stage | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Down payment | 10% |
| During construction | 55% |
| Handover | 35% |
A 10% down payment means the initial cash commitment is modest relative to the full purchase price. The construction period absorbs 55% across milestone payments. The remaining 35% falls at handover in April 2028, the largest single payment event in the plan. Off-plan buyers entering now will carry that construction schedule over the next two years before the final balance is due.
What AED 1.05M to 4.8M Covers
The spread here is nearly 4.6x from entry to ceiling. That range follows directly from the unit mix, which runs from studios at the bottom to three-bedrooms at the top.
Studios open at AED 1.05 million, the lowest ticket in the project. One-bedrooms start at AED 1.8 million. Two-bedrooms come in from AED 2.7 million across multiple layout types, suggesting some variation in floor configuration within that bedroom count. Three-bedrooms open at AED 4.8 million, closing the range.
Studios and one-bedrooms are priced for investors seeking a lower entry point in this district. Two-bedrooms at AED 2.7 million suit couples, small families, or landlords looking for a rental unit on the island. Three-bedrooms are family apartments at the premium end of the project.
Saadiyat Island and the Cultural District
Saadiyat Island sits to the northeast of Abu Dhabi's city centre, connected to the mainland by road. Manarat Living Phase 3 is located in the Saadiyat Cultural District, the section of the island where the Louvre Abu Dhabi and NYU Abu Dhabi are based. Saadiyat Beach runs along the island's northern shore.
For a residential buyer, this address means proximity to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and NYU Abu Dhabi on one side and the beach on the other. The Cultural District is a defined sub-location within Saadiyat, distinct from the island's other residential areas.
Apartments from Studio to Three Bedrooms
All units in the project are apartments. The mix spans studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, and three-bedrooms. Multiple layout types within the two-bedroom range give buyers some choice in floor configuration. Studios and one-bedrooms suit investors or single professionals. Two-bedrooms work for small families, couples, and landlords seeking a rental-ready unit. Three-bedrooms at AED 4.8 million represent the largest family apartment in the project.
Handover Scheduled April 2028
Construction started in January 2025 and is underway. The expected handover date is April 2028, roughly two years and two months from now. Off-plan buyers entering today carry a construction-weighted payment schedule across that window, with the 35% handover payment as the final step. At the studio level, that means AED 105,000 upfront to secure a position in the Saadiyat Cultural District, with the remainder distributed over the construction and handover period.