Abu Dhabi’s realty hot spots revealed

Al Reem Island, Al Raha Beach, Al Reef and Yas Island are the top areas for investment

Al Reem, Saadiyat Island, Al Raha Beach, Al Reef and Yas Island are the top areas for people to invest in Abu Dhabi for maximum returns, according to data from real estate information company Reidin.

“We have identified the hotspots within Abu Dhabi that are investor friendly which also give the maximum bang for your buck,” Ashish Guglani from Reidin said during an interactive session at Cityscape Abu Dhabi that ended yesterday. He said Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Al Raha Beach, Al Reef and Yas Island have been proven popular among tenants, especially when compared to the older and more traditional stock available.

“Saadiyat Island is one of the most popular areas in the capital and has a projected population growth that will increase tenfold over the next two decades.” Reidin reinforced the message that affordable housing offers a healthy return on investment thanks to the growing demand from tenants and the population of the UAE.

“In the case of yields for investors, on a global scale, affordable housing tends to produce the best returns. And even speaking on the UAE specifically, Al Reef, which happens to be one of the more affordable areas in our analysis, has approximate yields of around 6.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent depending on apartment and villas,” Guglani said.

Discussing ways to boost property value, Yann Dhalluin, the Commercial Director for Kohler said developers are waking up to the “smart bathroom”. “In the next five years, the bathroom is going to become more advanced with the introduction of products such as the smart toilet, a voicecommand mirror and even a shower that can provide a spa-like and energising experience.”

The three-day real estate and investment event, which ran from Tuesday until yesterday at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), was held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.