Saadiyat Grove: Aldar unveils Abu Dhabi’s new luxury retail and lifestyle hub
New dining concepts, wellness venues and premium offices expand the Saadiyat Island destination
ABU DHABI – Aldar has revealed further details of Saadiyat Grove, a new experiential luxury retail, dining and lifestyle destination in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District.
The destination is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, bringing an extensive mix of international luxury brands, new-to-region dining concepts, cultural venues, wellness facilities, hotels, residences and premium offices to Saadiyat Island.
Saadiyat Grove
Set across a one-square-mile destination, Saadiyat Grove will sit within one of Abu Dhabi’s most prominent cultural environments. The development is framed by the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum, while the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi are also nearby.
Designed around art, culture and connection, the destination is intended to link retail and hospitality with the wider cultural offering of Saadiyat Island. At its centre will be a landmark retail destination featuring a collection of international luxury names, with stores designed around the heritage, stories and future vision of the brands.
Luxury lineup
The retail project will be anchored by flagship names including Audemars Piguet, Brunello Cucinelli, BVLGARI, Cartier, Chaumet, Dior, FENDI, James Perse, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Valentino and Van Cleef & Arpels.
Aldar Chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said Saadiyat Grove was part of the company's strategy to position Saadiyat Island and Abu Dhabi as a global destination for culture-led living, tourism and investment.
He said the project would bring together culture and lifestyle while creating a proposition for residents, visitors and businesses. Al Mubarak described Saadiyat Grove as a strategic component of Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision and its focus on innovation and cultural development.
Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Aldar, said the project represented a new phase for luxury retail in Abu Dhabi. He said its concept was designed to combine an international retail experience with Emirati hospitality and the cultural setting of Saadiyat Island.
Beyond its luxury stores, Saadiyat Grove will introduce a series of new-to-market food and beverage concepts, spanning restaurants, cafés, bakeries and other dining experiences.
Among the names joining the destination is Alain Ducasse Café, created by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. Its offering will include chocolate, coffee, ice cream, pastries and desserts prepared using premium ingredients.
Monsieur Paul will bring the Bocuse French brasserie concept, incorporating a restaurant, café and boutique. Other additions include Kokoro Handroll Bar and Momofuku, the restaurant group founded by New York-based chef David Chang and known for its approach to Asian American cuisine.
New arrivals
Saadiyat Grove will also mark the UAE debut of BEAMS, the Japanese culture shop founded in Harajuku, Tokyo, in 1976. The brand curates fashion and lifestyle products from around the world through a Japanese design perspective.
Its arrival will add another international retail and cultural dimension to the destination, with the concept bringing together fashion, design, craftsmanship and experiences while creating a connection between Japan and Abu Dhabi.
The dining offer will extend beyond the retail core. Saadiyat Grove will be home to Abu Dhabi’s first Time Out Market, a food and cultural destination bringing together local chefs, restaurateurs and homegrown dining concepts under one roof.
The market will feature 16 kitchens, along with the region’s first Time Out Café, dedicated beverage concepts and interactive entertainment experiences. It will form part of a wider day-to-night offering designed to bring together food, social activity and cultural experiences.
Additional dining options will be available next door at Louvre Residences Abu Dhabi, where Alica Deli, Barrafina, Gymkhana, Le Palais, Magma and Zephyr will add to the food and beverage mix surrounding Saadiyat Grove.
The destination is also being developed as a mixed-use environment, extending beyond shopping and dining into culture, hospitality, business and wellness.
At its heart will be Saadiyat Forum, a 7,000-square-metre venue designed as a transformable platform for cultural, hospitality and luxury experiences. Its programme will evolve through collaborations and events, while the space will also introduce a reimagined cinema experience as part of the wider cultural and social offering.
For Abu Dhabi’s business community, Saadiyat Grove will include a 2,200-square-metre executive club directly connected to the retail environment. The facility will combine private offices, boardrooms and member lounges with concierge services and hospitality.
The commercial offering will include 25,000 square metres of premium office space spread across four Grade A buildings. The offices are intended to cater to local and international institutions seeking a prominent business base in Abu Dhabi.
The commercial core will have direct connectivity to a luxury hotel, allowing businesses and visitors to combine work with hospitality services. Additional boutique lifestyle and luxury hotels across the wider Cultural District will also be within easy reach.
Focus on wellness
Wellness will form another major part of Saadiyat Grove, with a 2,000-square-metre gym operated by BXR, the London-based luxury fitness brand backed by heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua.
The facility will mark BXR’s first flagship location in the Middle East, adding a premium fitness offering to the destination’s wider lifestyle proposition.
A separate wellness centre and longevity clinic will introduce another wellness brand to Abu Dhabi. The facility will offer personalised programmes and a range of longevity services on site, expanding the development’s offering beyond conventional retail and hospitality.
Residential communities will further strengthen the mixed-use character of Saadiyat Grove and its surrounding cultural district. The residential portfolio includes Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences, Baccarat Residences Saadiyat and The Arthouse.
More than 1,000 homes across these distinctive communities are set to be handed over in the coming months, offering residences designed around culture-led urban living within Saadiyat Island.
The development is also positioned within Aldar’s wider masterplan for Saadiyat Island, where the company is delivering infrastructure, destinations and experiences across a district that combines cultural attractions, luxury living and beachfront leisure.
The island is home to educational institutions including Cranleigh Abu Dhabi by Aldar, NYU Abu Dhabi and Berklee Abu Dhabi. Its leisure offering includes Soul Beach, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Kai Beach and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.