Photo: Shutterstock The United Arab Emirates has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in recent years, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi at the heart of many visitors' maps.
Under the surface, the two emirates are fighting for attraction. However, after years of Dubai ruling over the tourism sector, Abu Dhabi has entered the picture, gradually picking up the pace. So what new tourism and real estate projects await in the Emirati capital, and what attractions will open soon?
A luxury residential project by the Aldar Group on Saadiyat Island, comprising approximately 400 apartments. The complex will incorporate fitness facilities, spa areas, children's play spaces, and a private gallery for residents, curated by the Louvre Abu Dhabi itself.
Photo: ShutterstockAbu Dhabi's historic port is currently undergoing redevelopment and is expected to open as a three-million-square-meter mixed-use development. The project will combine residential, cultural, culinary, creative spaces and public promenades, while preserving the area's historic character.
Photo: ShutterstockThe UAE's future train is expected to launch in 2026, connecting 11 cities across the country, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and more. Estimates are that it will carry about 36.5 million passengers a year. The city itself will have at least four different stations, and the expectation is for an impressive engineering and design project in the field.
Photo: ShutterstockAbu Dhabi is set to join the world's most talked-about luxury brand, the Ritz Carlton Reserve, with a new resort on Ramkhan Island, between Yas and Saadiyat. The project, which is set to open in 2029, will feature 50 private luxury villas as well as Maldivian-style floating villas.
Back to the forefront of traditional markets, the new market will overlook the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and be designed with inspiration from Emirati heritage. The market will sell antiques, jewelry, spices, and other traditional products.
Photo: ShutterstockThe Walt Disney Company recently announced the construction of the first Disney park in the Middle East, which will open on Yas Island. According to the plan, the park is expected to incorporate advanced technologies not yet seen in parks around the world and position Abu Dhabi as a global family destination. The project is in the early planning stages, and the opening is estimated between 2030 and 2032.
One of the city's most talked-about future cultural projects, the Guggenheim Museum Abu Dhabi, a no less crazy building designed by architect Frank Gehry, is expected to open later this year as part of the new cultural complex. It covers an area of about 80,000 square meters and is expected to showcase modern and contemporary art from around the world, with an international collection of more than 970 works.
Photo: ShutterstockA new waterfront residential complex, also developed by Aldar, with an emphasis on sustainability, well-being, and a healthy lifestyle. The project will include one- to three-bedroom apartments, with views of Yas Park. Construction began in 2024, and the luxurious occupancy is expected in the second quarter of 2027.
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