Community guide · Abu Dhabi
Living in Masdar City
A sustainable, walkable city next to Zayed International Airport, home to MBZUAI, Khalifa University and the Masdar City Free Zone.
About Masdar City
Masdar City is a sustainable urban community designed by Foster + Partners, and an Abu Dhabi investment zone. It hosts the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), part of Khalifa University, Siemens' regional headquarters and the Masdar City Free Zone.
MBZUAI states its campus is about five kilometres from Abu Dhabi's airport. Homes are mainly apartments and townhouses.
Key facts
EmirateAbu Dhabi
OwnershipFreehold zone
Home typesApartments, townhouses
Main developerMasdar
Price per sq ft*AED 1,781 / sq ftapartments, avg asking
Rental yield*7.63%apartments, projected
Your guide to Masdar City
Buying in Masdar City
- Average asking prices in H1 2026: AED 801K for a studio, AED 979K for a 1-bed and AED 1.47M for a 2-bed (Bayut), with prices up across all unit types.
- Foreign buyers can own freehold in Abu Dhabi's investment zones under Law No. 13 of 2019. We confirm every unit's status on DARI before you pay anything.
- Budget for the one-off 2% ADREC registration fee. It is a purchase cost, not a yearly tax.
- In H1 2026, 61% of ready-home purchases in Abu Dhabi were paid in cash and 89% of sales value was off-plan (ADREC).
- Homes worth AED 2 million or more can qualify for the UAE 10-year Golden Visa, off-plan included. The authorities make the final decision.
Renting in Masdar City
- Good for airport staff, students and tech and research professionals who work in the city.
- Since 2 June 2026, ADREC has frozen rent increases until further notice: renewals stay at 0%, and a new lease on a previously rented unit cannot go above its last registered Tawtheeq rent.
- Every lease is registered on Tawtheeq. Tenants also pay the 3% municipal housing fee on the annual rent.
Investing in Masdar City
- Masdar City had the highest projected yield in Abu Dhabi's mid-tier apartment segment in H1 2026: 7.63% (Bayut).
- Abu Dhabi recorded AED 70.4 billion in home sales in H1 2026, against AED 25.3 billion a year earlier. Repeat-sale prices rose 20% for apartments and 12% for villas (ADREC).
- Individuals' rental income from UAE property is outside UAE Corporate Tax (Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023), and there is no annual property tax.
- Keep the rent freeze in your numbers: rents on existing and re-let units cannot rise while it lasts.
Selling or letting in Masdar City
- Prices rose across all unit types in H1 2026 (Bayut), helped by steady demand from the university and free-zone workforce.
- Repeat-sale prices rose 20% for apartments and 12% for villas year on year in H1 2026 (ADREC), so check today's value before you set a price.
- Most sales value now goes to off-plan launches, so a ready home has to stand out on price, condition and photos. We handle all of that for you.
Availability changes often. Ask us which homes are still on sale; only projects still selling get a full listing page.
Lifestyle and amenities
Universities
MBZUAI and Khalifa University's Masdar campus.
Business
Masdar City Free Zone, with Siemens' regional headquarters.
Schools
Ryan International School, Masdar City.
Design
A walkable, energy-efficient layout designed by Foster + Partners.
Masdar CityAbu DhabiOpen in Google Maps →
Getting around
- Zayed International Airport · ~5 km*
- Yas Island · nearby
- Khalifa City · nearby
- Al Raha Beach · nearby
Masdar City FAQs
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Sources (checked 14 October 2026)
- ADREC – Abu Dhabi Real Estate Market Report H1 2026 (press release, 18 Aug 2026)
- Bayut – Abu Dhabi Sales Market Report H1 2026 (asking prices of ready homes; updated 13 Oct 2026)
- Modon – A complete guide to buying property in Abu Dhabi (investment zones)
- Khaleej Times – Abu Dhabi rent freeze guide (ADREC measure from 2 June 2026)
- MBZUAI – FAQs (campus location)
- Wikipedia – Masdar City
Thinking about Masdar City?
Tell us your budget and timing. An iRealtor advisor will share the best options on Masdar City, ready or off-plan.