Saadiyat Island has had the beaches, the museums and the villas sorted for a while. What it has never had is a proper place to hang out between them. That changes this winter. Saadiyat Grove, Aldar’s new lifestyle district in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, is set to open in Q4 2026 with more than 100 brands, a serious restaurant line-up, a cinema, a boxing-backed gym and more than 1,000 homes wrapped around it.
Here is everything confirmed so far – when it opens, where it is, who is moving in and what it means for your weekends. We will keep this guide updated as opening dates and booking details land.
Saadiyat Grove at a glance
| Opening | Q4 2026 (exact date not yet announced) |
| Location | Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island, between Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum |
| Developer | Aldar |
| Size | More than 75,000 sqm, within a one-square-mile district |
| Shops | 100+ brands, including 85+ fashion and beauty stores and around 20 concepts new to the region |
| Food and drink | 40+ outlets, including Momofuku, Gymkhana, Le Palais and Abu Dhabi’s first Time Out Market |
| Also inside | Saadiyat Forum with a cinema, BXR gym, wellness centre and longevity clinic, Grade A offices and a luxury hotel |
| Contact | Aldar on 800 ALDAR (800 25327) |
When does Saadiyat Grove open?
Aldar has confirmed a Q4 2026 opening, so somewhere between October and December. No exact date has been published yet, and with a project this size it is common for brands to open in waves rather than all on day one. Expect the anchor boutiques and headline restaurants to lead, with the rest following over the first few months.
Where is Saadiyat Grove?
Saadiyat Grove sits right in the middle of the Saadiyat Cultural District. Aldar calls it the connecting heart of the district, and that is exactly how it works on the map: Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum surround it, with Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi close by. Dar Al Funoon, Frank Gehry’s final Saadiyat landmark, is part of the same cultural story.
Saadiyat Grove – lifestyle and retail district, Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. Contact: Aldar on 800 ALDAR (800 25327). Opening hours and parking details have not been published yet.
New to the island? Our Saadiyat Island guide covers how residents actually use it, from school runs to sunset swims.
The restaurants: who is moving in
This is where Saadiyat Grove gets interesting. The dining line-up leans hard into big international names, many of them new to the region, plus a handful of Michelin-starred heavyweights. Aldar says there will be more than 40 food and drink outlets in total. Confirmed so far:
At Saadiyat Grove
- Momofuku – David Chang’s restaurant group, known for ramen, noodles and roasted meats. Saadiyat Grove.
- Alain Ducasse Cafe – the French chef’s casual side: chocolate, coffee, ice cream, pastries and desserts. Saadiyat Grove.
- Monsieur Paul – a Bocuse-linked French concept combining a restaurant, cafe and boutique. Saadiyat Grove.
- Kokoro Handroll Bar – a counter-led Japanese handroll bar. Saadiyat Grove.
- Time Out Market Abu Dhabi – a 16-kitchen food hall. More on this below. Saadiyat Grove.
At Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences
The residences next door bring their own dining strip, and it is stacked:
- Gymkhana – the London Indian restaurant with two Michelin stars, famous for its charcoal grill. Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences, Saadiyat Grove.
- Le Palais – Cantonese cooking from a restaurant that has held three Michelin stars every year since 2018. Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences, Saadiyat Grove.
- Barrafina – London’s tapas counter, with marble bars and dishes cooked right in front of you. Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences, Saadiyat Grove.
- Zephyr – Greek-inspired chargrilled seafood and mezze from Pachamama Group. Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences, Saadiyat Grove.
- Alica Deli – Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences, Saadiyat Grove.
- Magma – Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences, Saadiyat Grove. Concept details yet to be released.
None of these restaurants has published a phone number or booking channel yet. For general Saadiyat Grove enquiries, call Aldar on 800 ALDAR (800 25327). We will add reservation details as each venue opens.
WOW Abu Dhabi Expert Tip: Gymkhana and Le Palais are the two tables that will be hardest to get. Follow both on Instagram now, as opening-month reservations at restaurants of this calibre usually go live on social first and disappear fast.
Time Out Market Abu Dhabi
One of the bigger openings inside Saadiyat Grove is the capital’s first Time Out Market, a food hall format that already runs in Dubai. The confirmed details:
- 16 kitchens, including the region’s first Time Out Cafe
- 2 bars, a live stage and a competitive socialising zone
- 711 seats across indoor areas and a large outdoor terrace
- More than 37,000 sq ft of space
- Opening by the end of 2026, with the vendor line-up still to be announced
Time Out Market Abu Dhabi – food hall, Saadiyat Grove, Saadiyat Island. Contact: the official Time Out Market Abu Dhabi page. Phone and hours are not yet published.
It will be a handy option for groups who cannot agree on one cuisine, and a useful mid-price counterweight to the fine-dining names at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences.
Shopping: the brands confirmed so far
Saadiyat Grove is pitching itself as Abu Dhabi’s answer to the world’s great luxury shopping streets. Aldar has confirmed more than 100 brands, with around 20 concepts that are new to the region. The flagship names announced so far:
- Fashion and leather goods: Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Loewe, Valentino, Brunello Cucinelli and James Perse
- Jewellery and watches: Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bvlgari, Tiffany & Co, Chaumet and Audemars Piguet
- New to the UAE: BEAMS, the Tokyo fashion and lifestyle label, opening its first UAE store
The full retailer list has not been released. Expect more announcements in the run-up to opening, especially in beauty and lifestyle, where most of the 85+ fashion and beauty units are still to be named.
Beyond shopping and dining
- Saadiyat Forum – a 7,000 sqm cultural and social space with a reimagined cinema, events and programming
- BXR – a 2,000 sqm luxury gym from the London-based operator backed by boxer Anthony Joshua
- Wellness centre and longevity clinic – details on treatments and operators to follow
- A luxury hotel – connected directly to the office buildings, with the operator yet to be named
- Grade A offices – 25,000 sqm across four buildings plus a 2,200 sqm executive club with private offices, boardrooms and lounges
If the members’ club side interests you, our insider list of private members clubs in Abu Dhabi is worth a look while you wait.
Living at Saadiyat Grove
More than 1,000 homes surround the district across three Aldar projects: Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences, Baccarat Residences Saadiyat and The Arthouse, with handovers under way. For families, the pitch is simple: museums, beaches, schools and now a walkable dining and retail hub, all on one island. Thinking of making the move? Start with our guide for expats moving to Abu Dhabi.
Is Saadiyat Grove worth the trip?
Our early verdict: yes, and not just for the shopping. The real value is that it turns Saadiyat’s Cultural District into a proper day out rather than a museum dash:
- Morning: culture first. The Saadiyat Cultural District museum pass bundles entry across the island’s museums.
- Lunch: Momofuku or Kokoro for something quick, or Barrafina if you can snag a counter seat.
- Afternoon: beach time. We reviewed all five Saadiyat Shores beaches so you know where to pitch up.
- Evening: dinner at Gymkhana or Le Palais, or a film at Saadiyat Forum. Check our What’s On in Abu Dhabi hub for events that weekend.
WOW Abu Dhabi Expert Tip: Opening weeks at big new Abu Dhabi destinations are always busiest on Friday evenings and weekends. If you want to browse the flagships and grab a table without the crowds, go on a weekday afternoon once the doors open.
Want a set-price feast in the meantime? Our best brunches in Abu Dhabi round-up has ten worth your Saturday, and our private dining guide has the rooms to book for a big occasion.
Saadiyat Grove FAQs
Saadiyat Grove is scheduled to open in Q4 2026. Aldar has not announced an exact opening date yet.
Saadiyat Grove is in the Saadiyat Cultural District on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, between Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum.
Saadiyat Grove is developed by Aldar. For general enquiries, call Aldar on 800 ALDAR (800 25327).
Confirmed restaurants include Momofuku, Alain Ducasse Cafe, Monsieur Paul, Kokoro Handroll Bar and Time Out Market Abu Dhabi, plus Gymkhana, Le Palais, Barrafina, Zephyr, Alica Deli and Magma at Louvre Abu Dhabi Residences.
More than 100 brands are confirmed, including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Fendi, Loewe, Valentino, Tiffany & Co and BEAMS, which is opening its first UAE store.
Yes. The 7,000 sqm Saadiyat Forum includes a reimagined cinema alongside cultural events and programming.
Yes. Time Out Market Abu Dhabi will open inside Saadiyat Grove with 16 kitchens, 2 bars and a live stage, with opening expected by the end of 2026.
Details are correct as of 26 September 2026 and based on official announcements from Aldar and the brands involved. Opening dates, tenants and hours can change, and we will update this guide as new information is confirmed.
