Aldar Properties PJSC Unveils Saadiyat Grove, a Luxury Mixed-Use Retail Destination in Abu Dhabi's Cultural District

ABU DHABI, UAE — Sept. 18, 2026 — Aldar Properties PJSC has announced Saadiyat Grove, an experiential luxury retail and mixed-use destination in Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Cultural District, with an opening targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. The project is positioned as the connecting hub of a one-square-mile cultural cluster on Saadiyat Island, flanked by the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and Zayed National Museum, with the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi in close proximity.

Project Scope and Tenant Mix

Saadiyat Grove will span approximately 75,000 square meters of retail gross leasable area across a mixed-use program that includes experiential retail, signature dining, luxury hotels, residences, wellness facilities, and premium office space. The retail component is expected to accommodate more than 85 fashion and beauty stores and 40-plus food and beverage outlets, with more than 100 global brands in total, including 20 new-to-region concepts.

Flagship luxury houses anchoring the retail destination include Audemars Piguet, Brunello Cucinelli, BVLGARI, Cartier, Chaumet, Dior, FENDI, James Perse, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Valentino, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Several of these brands will debut new or regionally exclusive retail formats at the destination.

Audemars Piguet will present a new global boutique concept centered on watchmaking, drawing design inspiration from the landscapes of Le Brassus, Switzerland. Cartier's boutique will incorporate locally sourced fabrics, materials, and collaborations with UAE-based artists, with a façade shaped by regional heritage. Chaumet will introduce a world-first immersive Tiara experience featuring an interactive display covering every stage of the Tiara's creation. FENDI will open a dedicated experiential space with a cinema and multipurpose room. Loewe will debut its first Personalisation Bar in the region. Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, and Van Cleef & Arpels will each unveil reimagined boutique formats referencing their respective heritage and design identities.

Dining, Culture, and Entertainment Concepts

The food and beverage lineup includes several new-to-market concepts. Alain Ducasse Café will offer chocolate, coffee, ice cream, pastries, and desserts. Monsieur Paul, the Bocuse French brasserie concept, will operate a restaurant, café, and boutique. Kokoro Handroll Bar and Momofuku, part of the restaurant group founded by Chef David Chang in New York City, will also be represented. Saadiyat Grove will host Abu Dhabi's first Time Out Market, featuring 16 kitchens, a Time Out Café, dedicated beverage concepts, and interactive entertainment experiences. Additional dining is planned at the adjacent Louvre Residences Abu Dhabi, including Alica Deli, Barrafina, Gymkhana, Le Palais, Magma, and Zephyr.

BEAMS, Japan's culture shop founded in Harajuku, Tokyo in 1976, will make its UAE debut at Saadiyat Grove, curating fashion and lifestyle products through a Japanese design lens.

A 7,000-square-meter venue called Saadiyat Forum will serve as a transformable cultural, hospitality, and luxury platform with a rotating program of experiences and collaborations, including a reimagined cinema experience.

Office, Wellness, and Residential Components

The commercial component of Saadiyat Grove includes approximately 25,000 square meters of premium office space across four Grade A buildings, targeting local and international institutions. A 2,200-square-meter executive club connected to the retail environment will offer private offices, boardrooms, member lounges, and concierge services.

A 2,000-square-meter gym will be operated by BXR, a London-based luxury fitness brand backed by heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, marking the brand's first flagship location in the Middle East. A wellness center and longevity clinic will also be introduced, offering personalized programs and longevity services.

The residential offering includes Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences, Baccarat Residences Saadiyat, and The Arthouse, comprising more than 1,000 homes expected to be handed over in the coming months.

Executive Commentary and Strategic Context

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Aldar, framed the project within the company's broader positioning strategy for Saadiyat Island. "Saadiyat Grove is a centrepiece in our strategy to position Saadiyat Island, and Abu Dhabi more broadly, as a premier global destination for culture-led living, tourism, and investment," he said. "As the first destination of its kind in the region, Saadiyat Grove reflects Abu Dhabi's ambition to create distinctive experiences that bring together culture, community, and contemporary living."

Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Aldar, described the project as a new benchmark for luxury retail in the emirate. "Saadiyat Grove marks a new era for luxury retail in Abu Dhabi," Al Dhiyebi said. "It is a destination purpose-built to stand alongside the world's great retail addresses, offering a genuinely distinctive experience rooted in Emirati hospitality and set within one of the most compelling cultural environments globally. We expect Saadiyat Grove to attract visitors from across the world and, in doing so, it will help establish luxury retail as a significant new pillar of Abu Dhabi's economy."

Existing retail centers on Saadiyat Island carry occupancy rates of approximately 88%, broadly consistent with Abu Dhabi's wider retail market, where occupancy has hovered near 90%. Rent levels for experiential and lifestyle retail on Saadiyat Island have been reported in the range of AED 180 to AED 350 per square foot annually, placing Saadiyat Grove in the upper tier of Abu Dhabi's prime retail rent spectrum.

As master developer of Saadiyat Island, Aldar Properties PJSC oversees a broader ecosystem that includes NYU Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi by Aldar, and leisure destinations such as Soul Beach, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Kai Beach, and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

Sources

Aldar Properties PJSC — Official Announcement