Buying Guide · Abu Dhabi
Choosing a Waterfront Apartment with a Balcony
How to tell a real view from a render.
A waterfront view is the feature buyers pay most for and verify least. A balcony that faces the water, is deep enough to use, and will still have the view in five years is worth paying for. One that faces a neighbouring tower is not, even if the brochure says waterfront.
Projects
Off-Plan · BrandedHilton Residences Al Raha
Al Raha Beach · Emirates Developments
Price on request
1 to 5 BR · Apartments, townhouses
View project →
Off-Plan · BrandedJumeirah Residences Al Maryah Island
Al Maryah Island · Emirates Developments
Price on request
1 to 5 BR · Apartments, penthouses
View project →
ReadyAl Maryah Vista
Al Maryah Island · Reportage Properties
From AED 620,000
Studio to 4 BR · Studios, apartments, penthouses
View project →Nobu Residences
Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island · Aldar Properties
Price on request
1 to 3 BR · Apartments, penthouses
View project →Which projects state terraces
Hilton Residences Al Raha describes sea-facing homes with terraces over the sea and canal, and Jumeirah Residences Al Maryah Island lists floating terraces and sky-high gardens. Other waterfront projects should be checked unit by unit, since a balcony is a feature of a floor plan, not of a project.
How to judge the view
Ask which direction the unit faces, what floor it is on, and what stands between the balcony and the water. On Al Reem Island many homes face canals, the mangroves or the city skyline rather than open sea.
Off-plan views
On an off-plan unit the view is a render. Ask for the master plan, look at what is planned on neighbouring plots, and ask whether the developer guarantees a view corridor. A high floor does not protect you from a taller building going up in front.
Balcony size
Check the depth as well as the area, whether it is enclosed, and whether the size quoted for the unit includes the balcony. A shallow balcony is rarely usable for furniture, however long it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
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