Manchester City brings first-ever football club-branded homes to Abu Dhabi
Ohana Development unveils 1.67 million sq m waterfront community
ABU DHABI – Manchester City’s global football identity is set to move far beyond the stadium with the launch of Manchester City Yas Residences by Ohana, a first-of-its-kind club-branded residential destination in Abu Dhabi.
The landmark development will rise along the Yas Canal waterfront on Yas Island, merging high-end real estate with sport-inspired living in one of the UAE capital’s most dynamic lifestyle districts. Spanning 1.67 million square metres, the project ranks among the largest themed residential communities announced in the region.
The development is being delivered through a partnership between Manchester City and Ohana Development, a UAE-based real estate company known for collaborating with global luxury brands. The agreement positions the English Premier League club at the centre of a fully integrated residential environment, where its identity, sporting ethos and community footprint in Abu Dhabi are embedded into everyday life.
Waterfront scale
Covering an area equivalent to roughly 234 football pitches, the master-planned community will stretch along the Yas Canal, adding a major new residential destination to the island’s expanding portfolio of attractions, entertainment venues and leisure districts. The scale of the project reflects both the continued growth of Yas Island as a residential hub and Abu Dhabi’s strategy to attract branded, experience-led developments.
Ohana Development will design and develop the project, aligning Manchester City’s global appeal with its own luxury-focused design approach. The company is recognised for translating brand identities into high-end residential settings, and this project will see the Manchester City name integrated throughout the development’s architecture, amenities and lifestyle programming.
Homes within Manchester City Yas Residences will include a mix of villas, townhouses and branded apartments, offering a range of living formats within the single themed community. The positioning along the canal waterfront adds a strong leisure and visual dimension, with water-based activities forming part of the wider lifestyle offering.
Sport-led living
At the heart of the development will be a Manchester City-branded sports academy, designed to bring professional-grade sporting infrastructure into a residential setting. The academy is expected to anchor a broader sports-focused environment, providing access to world-class facilities that reflect the club’s training standards and performance culture.
The project builds on Manchester City’s established sporting footprint in Abu Dhabi. Each term, more than 3,500 children take part in City Football Schools sessions, delivered five days a week across seven locations by more than 50 full-time accredited coaches. The club’s grassroots presence also includes the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup, described as the largest youth football tournament in the region, drawing thousands of players from across the UAE and internationally each year.
This deep connection to youth football and sports development in the emirate feeds directly into the residential concept, where training, activity and healthy living form part of the core identity rather than an added feature.
Focus on wellness
Beyond sport, the development places strong emphasis on holistic wellbeing. Planned wellness facilities include oxygen therapy, hydrotherapy, dedicated fitness studios and rooftop swimming pools, creating multiple layers of health-oriented infrastructure within the neighbourhood.
Outdoor areas are also designed to keep residents active, with water sports integrated into the canal-side environment. The combination of waterfront access, sports facilities and wellness centres positions the project within the growing category of lifestyle-led communities where physical activity and leisure are central to daily routines.
Manchester City’s community programmes add another dimension to the wellness narrative. The club’s Healthy Lifestyles Programme engaged more than 30,000 primary school children last year, promoting healthier and more active living, reflecting a broader commitment that extends beyond professional football.
Brand partnership
The agreement between Manchester City and Ohana Development is framed as a long-term collaboration centred on brand alignment and shared vision. Ferran Soriano, Chief Executive Officer of City Football Group, described the initiative as a landmark step in extending the club’s presence into a premium residential environment in a distinctly club-branded format.
He highlighted Ohana Development’s track record in working with leading global brands and translating their influence into design-led residential experiences, adding that the partnership leverages Manchester City’s global reach and its established footprint in the region.
Husein Salem, CEO of Ohana Development, said the partnership marks a significant milestone for the company and reflects its long-standing commitment to Abu Dhabi, where it is headquartered. He noted that the club’s global stature, forward-looking vision and modern outlook align with Ohana’s ambition to create future-ready communities that contribute to the emirate’s evolving lifestyle landscape.
Ohana Development brings more than 35 years of expertise to the project. Operating across four regional offices with a workforce of over 2,000 employees, the company has delivered a portfolio of more than 9,000 residential units. Its brand philosophy centres on “attainable luxury”, personalisation and community-driven design.
The developer is known for high-profile branded collaborations including Jacob & Co. Beachfront Living by Ohana and ELIE SAAB Waterfront by Ohana in the UAE, as well as projects in Lebanon such as Ohana Villas featuring ELIE SAAB Maison designs.
Further details on the design, launch timelines and additional features of Manchester City Yas Residences by Ohana are expected to be revealed as the project progresses, adding another major chapter to Yas Island’s fast-evolving residential landscape.