Abu Dhabi Mall
Just 6 minutes across the bridge, this downtown mall offers department stores, a cinema and a large food court.
Discover Shams, Abu Dhabi
Shams Abu Dhabi is a waterfront district on Al Reem Island, across a short bridge from downtown Abu Dhabi. It was launched in 2006 by Sorouh Real Estate as an AED 25B master development of homes, offices and shops. Sorouh later merged into Aldar Properties, which now owns and manages much of the district. Downtown Abu Dhabi is about 10 minutes away, and Al Maryah Island lies just across the channel.
The district is planned around landmark towers grouped on podiums that connect to shops, offices and leisure decks. Sky bridges link several buildings, so residents can reach the mall, gyms and pools without stepping outside. Waterfront promenades follow the island’s edge, and a large central park with a canal walk gives the area its main green space. Shams Abu Dhabi’s skyline is one of the most recognisable views across the water from the capital.
Apartments for sale in Shams Abu Dhabi range from studios to 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom units. Many homes face the sea, the mangroves or the downtown skyline. Duplex penthouses of up to 6 bedrooms occupy the top floors of the tallest towers, and podium-level townhouses offer private terraces for families. Newer launches add apartments, duplexes and branded residences on the waterfront.
Everyday needs are close at hand, as a community mall, supermarkets, nurseries, clinics and gyms are built into the tower podiums. A large park with sports courts, a skating area and evening fountain shows is a short walk from most buildings. Schools, a university campus and beaches elsewhere on Al Reem Island are a few minutes’ drive away.
For investors, Shams Abu Dhabi combines established demand, landmark buildings and entry prices that start below AED 700K. New waterfront projects are being released on construction-linked payment plans, letting buyers enter before completion. Steady price growth and a strong professional tenant base keep the district popular with both end users and investors.
Why Invest in Shams, Abu Dhabi
Steady Capital Growth
Property values in Shams Abu Dhabi have risen 4% to 6% a year.
Affordable Entry Point
Studios start below AED 700K, opening the market to first-time investors.
High Rental Yields
Returns of up to 8.5% are among the strongest on Al Reem Island.
Downtown Proximity
The capital’s main business centre is about 10 minutes away by road.
Homes with Breathtaking Views
New towers on the channel are adding sea and mangrove view homes to the district.
Flexible Payment Plan
Most new launches ask for just 10% on booking, with the balance spread to handover.
Community Highlights
Shams Abu Dhabi feels busy and urban during the day, but it settles into a calm residential rhythm in the evening. It suits young professionals, couples and families who want to live close to the city’s offices without being in the downtown core. Covered sky bridges and podium walkways link many towers to shops and leisure decks, and waterfront paths follow the island’s edge. Al Reem Street and Al ‘Oud Street connect the district to the bridges into central Abu Dhabi.
Aldar Properties manages much of the district as a connected network of towers, podiums and public spaces. A community mall, supermarkets and clinics are built into the buildings, and nurseries operate within the towers. Residents share pools, tennis courts and gyms, and a large park offers sports courts and play areas. Beaches, malls and the city’s cultural sites are all within 20 minutes.
Reem Central Park
Aldar’s 1M sq. ft. park on Al ‘Oud Street offers a community lawn, a canal walk, a mosque for 2,000 and nightly fountain shows.
Shams Canal
A 2.4 km canal runs through the heart of Shams, crossed by 10 bridges and lined with landscaped banks and around 450 trees.
Shams Beach
This public beach on the island’s edge looks out over natural mangroves, giving residents a quiet stretch of sand close to home.
Shams Marina
A waterfront marina at the edge of the district, offering promenade seating and open views across the channel to the city.
Shams BOUTIK
The community mall offers a Waitrose, a busy food court and around 80 shops and services linked to the surrounding towers.
Pocket Parks
Small landscaped parks between the towers give residents shaded seating and green space within a short walk of home.
Landmarks & Lifestyle
Podium Infinity Pools
Gyms & Fitness Studios
Yoga Decks
Spa & Wellness Facilities
Children’s Play Areas
Skate Park
BBQ Zones
Jogging & Cycling Tracks
The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Living in Shams Abu Dhabi puts this waterfront luxury mall about 9 minutes away.
Mangrove National Park
This 19 sq. km. reserve is 15 minutes away and is popular for kayaking and paddle boarding.
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Around 16 minutes from home, the museum’s dome and galleries face the water on Saadiyat Island.
Corniche Beach
Families can reach the capital’s main public beach in about 16 minutes, with lifeguards and shaded seating.
Qasr Al Hosn
This is 17 minutes away and is the city’s oldest stone building, now a museum of Abu Dhabi’s history.
Amenities in Shams
Schools & Nurseries
Educational facilities inside and around the district cater to children of all age groups. Families living in the community benefit from top-tier international curricula within walking distance, eliminating long morning drives. Additional established schools operate just a short drive away in Al Danah and Al Mushrif.
- Redwood Nursery, The Arc
- Mosaic Nursery, Shams BOUTIK
- Repton School Abu Dhabi, Al Reem Island – 5 Minutes
- Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Al Reem Island – 4 Minutes
Hospitals & Clinics
A day-surgery centre inside one of the district’s towers handles outpatient procedures and consultations. A general hospital on Al Reem Island is a few minutes’ drive away. Major specialist hospitals on Al Maryah Island and the Corniche are close by across the channel.
- Burjeel Day Surgery Center, The Arc
- Reem Hospital, Al Reem Island – 4 Minutes
- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island – 10 Minutes
- SEHA Corniche Hospital, Abu Dhabi – 15 Minutes
Supermarkets
Grocery shopping is convenient in Shams, since a premium supermarket trades inside the community mall and a smaller market operates at the base of one tower. Larger branches elsewhere on Al Reem Island are a short drive away for the weekly shop.
- Waitrose, Shams BOUTIK
- Al Maya Supermarket, The Arc
- Carrefour Market, Hydra Towers – 4 Minutes
- LuLu Express Fresh Market, Al Reem Island – 5 Minutes
Transportation and Connectivity
Shams Abu Dhabi is served by Al Reem Street and Al ‘Oud Street, which lead to the bridges linking Al Reem Island to central Abu Dhabi and Al Maryah Island. Downtown Abu Dhabi is about 10 minutes away, and Zayed International Airport is around 30 minutes. Taxis wait at the community mall, and Careem and Uber pick-ups are available at every tower entrance.
- Abu Dhabi has no metro network, so buses and cars are the main ways to travel. Bus stops on Al ‘Oud Street serve the district and connect to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, where intercity routes to Dubai depart. The Gate Towers complex alone provides 4,655 card-access parking spaces, and other towers offer covered resident and visitor parking.
Types of Units
Studio
AED 750,000
1-Bedroom
AED 900,000
2-Bedroom
AED 1,800,000
3-Bedroom
AED 2,800,000
4-Bedroom
AED 5,500,000
5-Bedroom
AED 12,000,000
3-Bedroom
AED 5,100,000
Community Map
Shams Abu Dhabi is located on the south-western side of Al Reem Island, facing downtown Abu Dhabi and Al Maryah Island across the channel. This position places the district at the closest point of Al Reem Island to the capital’s business centre.
4 Minutes Tamouh
5 Minutes City of Lights
7 Minutes Najmat Abu Dhabi
10 Minutes Al Maryah Island
12 Minutes Al Danah
Get Access to Latest Launches!
Register your interest today to receive exclusive floor plans, payment plans, and early-bird investment details for new launches in Shams before the public.
Interested in Shams properties?
Let our property experts find the perfect off-plan investment for you in Shams. Share your details and we'll match you with exclusive projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shams Abu Dhabi is a district on Al Reem Island, facing downtown Abu Dhabi and Al Maryah Island across a narrow channel.
Sorouh Real Estate launched Shams Abu Dhabi in 2006. Sorouh later merged into Aldar Properties, taking over the community’s development.
Shams Abu Dhabi’s property prices range from AED 689K for studios to AED 16.5M for larger penthouses.
Yes. Shams is located in Al Reem Island, which is an investment zone, so buyers of any nationality can own property in Shams Abu Dhabi on a freehold basis.
Yes. Values have grown 4% to 6% a year, and rental yields of 5% to 8.5% are supported by steady demand from professionals working downtown.
No. Shams Abu Dhabi is one of the main districts on Al Reem Island, alongside Tamouh, City of Lights and Najmat Abu Dhabi.
Yes. Shams Beach overlooks natural mangroves, and Reem Central Park has a sandy Beach Walk with beach volleyball.
Yes. Reem Central Park is on Al ‘Oud Street in Shams Gate District, a short walk from most of the district’s towers.