Al Reem is the city's modern, fast-rising island — a natural island just 600 metres off the north-east of Abu Dhabi's main island, now stacked with gleaming waterfront high-rises. In little over a decade it has gone from open sand to home for more than 200,000 residents, drawn by freehold apartments, sea views and a location minutes from both downtown and the Al Maryah financial district. It is less a tourist sight than a glimpse of how contemporary Abu Dhabi lives — with a headline attraction or two of its own.
A skyline of its own
Reem's instantly recognisable landmark is the Gate Towers — a row of curved residential towers crowned by a sky-bridge, part of the Shams Abu Dhabi development alongside the elliptical Sun and Sky Towers and the Arc. Together they form one of the capital's most striking modern skylines, rising straight from the water.
The island is organised into master-planned districts — Shams Abu Dhabi, Najmat, City of Lights and Marina Square — laid out with marinas, promenades and tree-lined streets, and linked to Abu Dhabi island by a series of bridges.
Reem Mall & Snow Abu Dhabi
The island's big draw is Reem Mall, a vast retail-and-leisure complex that opened in 2023. Inside are more than 400 stores and around 80 restaurants and cafes, a 10-screen VOX Cinemas, an Eataly food hall, Bloomingdale's Beauty and a large Carrefour — plus a clever app that even helps you find your car in the 6,800-space garage.
Its headline attraction is Snow Abu Dhabi, the capital's first indoor snow park: a genuine sub-zero winter world with more than 20 rides and snow attractions, from toboggan runs to a polar-themed train. It turns the mall into an all-day, all-weather destination — a serious asset in an Abu Dhabi summer.
Insider tips
- Reem Mall is the easy peak-summer or rainy-day plan — even the snow is indoors.
- It's about five minutes from Al Maryah Island, so it pairs well with The Galleria.
Parks, marina & mangroves
For all its towers, Reem is surprisingly green and walkable. Reem Central Park (Al Fay Park) is a large landscaped park with jogging and cycling tracks, playgrounds and open lawns, while the island's marinas and waterfront promenades are lined with cafes. Around the edges, protected mangroves and water channels give kayakers and walkers a pocket of nature within the city.
Who it suits & getting there
Al Reem is aimed squarely at residents and longer-stay visitors rather than day-trippers — it's where you come for an apartment with a sea view, good value next to downtown, and everyday life close at hand. It's roughly 10–15 minutes from central Abu Dhabi and about five from Al Maryah's financial district and Cleveland Clinic, with bridges keeping the rest of the city within easy reach.
