Madinat Al Riyadh (Al Riyadh City)

Previously known as Al Shamkha South, Madinat Al Riyadh is a mixed-use area in Abu Dhabi. It encompasses around 8,000 hectares of land featuring a variety of residential and commercial properties, along with clinics, hospitals, schools, mosques, malls and parks.

The development offers affordable housing on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi and in proximity to Al Wathba and Al Shamkha. Moreover, the community is right beside Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road (E11).

• A mixed-use development in Abu Dhabi
• Also known as Al Riyadh City
• Residential, commercial and retail properties
• Schools, clinics, parks, malls within the community

Madinat Al Riyadh is set to be a large mixed-use hub with villas and apartments, commercial properties, malls, restaurants, schools, clinics, hospitals and parks. With an arterial road right beside the community, individuals can easily travel to other areas in Abu Dhabi.

The mega housing project offers a vast range of properties, ranging from residential to commercial. At the moment, one can also find off-plan and completed apartment buildings and villas.

1-bedroom apartments measure around 748 sq. ft. while 2-bedroom apartments cover a built-up area from 977 sq. ft. to 2,700 sq. ft. For those interested in larger units, 3-bedroom apartments cover an average floor area of 3,000 sq. ft.

While 1-bed and 2-bed units feature bedrooms with attached bathrooms, living and dining areas and balconies too in some cases, most of the 3-bedroom apartments come with a maid’s room too. Every unit has a powder room.

Further, villas are available in different configurations, with most of them having five bedrooms and more. A 5-bed villa may occupy a floor area of 5,000 sq. ft. while a 7-bed villa will be available with a built-up area of 5,995 sq. ft. These units feature a large compound, terrace and a Majlis in addition to bedrooms, kitchens and living areas.

For renting properties in Madinat Al Riyadh, one can take reference from the listed rental trends.

• Annual price of renting studios in Madinat Al Riyadh starts from AED 15k
• Renting 1-bedroom apartments cost around AED 25k to AED 40k
• 2-bed flats for rent in Madinat Al Riyadh range from AED 35k to AED 65k

Renting bigger units like 3-bedroom flats in Madinat Al Riyadh costs around AED 43k to AED 70k. Whereas, the rental prices start from AED 85k for 4-bedroom apartments and 5-bed flats in Madinat Al Riyadh.

As for those interested in detached villas, there are 2 to 6-bed options. The smallest unit like a 2-bedroom villa for rent in Madinat Al Riyadh goes for AED 45k annually.

• Price range of 3-bed rental villas in Madinat Al Riyadh: AED 76k to AED 115k per annum
• Rental range of 4-bedroom villas in Riyadh City: AED 100k to AED 150k per annum
• Rents for 5-bedroom villas in Madinat Al Riyadh: AED 120k to AED 200k per annum
• Price range of 6-bed villas for rent in Madinat Al Riyadh: AED 135k to AED 250k per annum

One can also find a good range of bigger, 7-bedroom villas for rent in Madinat Al Riyadh starting from AED 160k per annum.

Interested investors can choose from a range of 4 to 7-bed units as well as residential plots for sale in Madinat Al Riyadh.

The starting price of 4-bedroom villas for sale in Al Riyadh City Abu Dhabi is AED 3.8M. Whereas, buying 5-bed houses in Madinat Al Riyadh costs around AED 4.5M. There are 6-bed villas in Madinat Al Riyadh offered for an asking sales price of AED 4.7M. Likewise, the bigger residential units such as a spacious 7-bedroom villa for sale in Madinat Al Riyadh spanning 12,000 sq. ft. costs around AED 5M.

Depending on the built-up area of the villas, they feature garages or compounds that can accommodate more than one car at a time. The community has open spaces that can be availed for guest parking. Buildings in the community come with ground or basement parking too.

The public transportation system of Abu Dhabi caters to its residents with taxis, buses and even ferries for a few areas. For catching taxis, residents can find dedicated taxi stands with the shopping malls in the nearby communities or book them through their mobile apps.

The neighbouring Al Shamkha and Baniyas are home to a number of bus stops and bus stations, which can require a drive from anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes. Many of these receive services from buses like Bus 300, Bus 406, Bus 405 and a few others.

There are a few baqalas and minimarts in the community sufficient for buying everyday groceries. Some of the larger supermarkets in Madinat Al Riyadh are:

• LuLu Express Supermarket – Aliyah Street
• Zenith Hypermarket – 46th Street

Zenith Hypermarket is the place to purchase all sorts of essentials under affordable pricing. In addition to stocking up on groceries and fresh products, the hypermarket boasts of electronics, novelty items, toys, children’s electric cars, cosmetics and fresh fish too.

Lulu Express supermarket runs under the LuLu Group International with another LuLu Hypermarket in Riyadh City too. The supermarket is renowned for its vast range of groceries, especially fresh items, making it one of the best supermarkets in Abu Dhabi.

There are many mosques in Madinat Al Riyadh at short intervals. Some of the closest options include Al Kawthar Mosque, Riyadh Al Jannah Mosque and Alaml Mosque.

Abu Dhabi, like other emirates in the United Arab Emirates, is a melting pot of cultures, thereby serving people of different faiths with their religious sites. For the Hindus, there is BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Mureikha. Located 29 minutes away, the temple is led by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.

The Sikh community can find the Guru Nanak Sikh Darbar in Dubai, which is approximately an hour away.

For the Christians, the city boasts of many churches that cater to the different faiths within Christianity. A few of the churches near Madinat Al Riyadh are:

• New Life Church, Al Shahama
• The Armenian Church of Abu Dhabi, Musaffah
• St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Musaffah
• The Mar Thoma Abu Dhabi Church, Musaffah

Member of the Council of Evangelical Churches in the UAE, New Life Church is 28 minutes away in Al Shahama. It has regular Friday services with different prayer groups too.

Musaffah has many churches, all of which are reachable within a drive of 36 to 40 minutes. The Armenian Church of Abu Dhabi ranks as amongst the best churches in Abu Dhabi.

There are some charter schools in Riyadh City such as Al Riyadh School and Al Forsan Kindergarten. Some other options nearby include:

• Al Yasat Private School – Al Shamkha
• Future Leaders International Private School – Baniyas East
• Abu Dhabi Indian School, Branch 1 (ADIS) – Al Wathba

Al Yasat Private School is located in Al Shamkha. Offering the American curriculum, Al Yasat Private School is 11 minutes away and consists of classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The school ranks as one of the best American schools in Abu Dhabi and has accreditations from AdvancED and Cognia too.

At an 18-minute drive in Baniyas East, Future Leaders International Private School is a K-12 American school. Following the American curriculum, the school is a part of the Bin Fadel Group. Abu Dhabi Indian School, Branch 1 (ADIS) is 23 minutes away in Al Wathba. Inaugurated in 2014, the school follows the CBSE curriculum and offers classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

The closest clinics and hospitals near Madinat Al Riyadh include:

• Burjeel Medical Centre – Al Shamkha
• Baniyas Healthcare Centre – Baniyas East
• Al Karama Medical Centre – Baniyas East

The closest option is Burjeel Medical Centre, which is reachable within a 10-minute drive and one of the best medical centres in Abu Dhabi. It is a multi-speciality hospital, with special physician visits in neurology, gastroenterology, cardiology, urology and pulmonology too.

The immediate neighbour of Madinat Al Riyadh is Al Shamkha. It is amongst the most popular freehold areas in Abu Dhabi.

Towards the south and southwestern side lies Baniyas. A development of the Baniyas Investment & Development Company (BIDC), the mixed-use community has sports facilities, villas and apartment buildings along with other lifestyle amenities.

Adjacent to Baniyas and set alongside Al Ain Road is Al Nahda Abu Dhabi. It is an underdeveloped residential area that offers newly constructed villas for rent and sale. Moreover, the area is home to the Al Baniyas Park.

Residents can find many malls near Madinat Al Riyadh in the other nearby communities, some of which are:

• Bawabat Al Sharq Mall
• My City Centre
• Mazyad Mall

Spread across two floors, Bawabat Al Sharq Mall is home to more than 150 shopping stores and features dining as well as leisure spots. You will find a Carrefour Hypermarket here, spas, fitness centres, Novo Cinemas and Wanasa Land for kid-friendly activities. It is located at a 25-minute drive in Baniyas City.

My City Centre Masdar is 26 minutes away and consists of more than 70 stores. Moreover, you will find al fresco dining options, a Carrefour Hypermarket, a branch of Magic Planet, exchanges and 18 charging stations for electrical vehicles here.

Mazyad Mall is reachable within a 33-minute drive. It is situated in Mohammed Bin Zayed City and has top-notch retail outlets, dining options and entertainment spots too. The mall features Sparky’s Amusement Centre for thrilling rides along with a LuLu Supermarket for grocery shopping.

Arabian Hut in Zenith Supermarket is currently the only restaurant in Madinat Al Riyadh. Located at a 10-minute drive, Makani Al Shamkha Shopping Mall in the neighbouring community boasts of many eateries, such as Gazebo, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Subway and many other renowned outlets.

The neighbouring community has many cafes for tea, coffee and snacks, including:

• Tea Time – Haris Masjid, Al Shamkha 12
• BRITO Café – 31st Street, Sweihan – Abu Dhabi Road, Al Shamkha
• Five Degree Café – 31st Street, Sweihan – Abu Dhabi Road, Al Shamkha

All of these tea shops and cafes are reachable within a drive of 10 to 13 minutes.

To enjoy the seawaters, residents will have to drive for more than half an hour to access any of the beaches near Madinat Al Riyadh. Some of the closest options are:

• Yas Beach
• Al Bateen Beach

Yas Beach is reachable within a 30-minute drive. Part of the coastal area of Yas Island, the beach is popular for its white sands and view of the mangroves. It features a well-known beach club with an open-air DJ booth, outdoor gym, water sports along with restaurants. This abundance of numerous facilities and activities makes it one of the best beaches in Abu Dhabi.

Al Bateen Beach is located at a 30-minute drive. The beach offers family-friendly vibes and comes with a separate ladies section too. It stretches 800 metres and is a popular beach owing to its cleanliness and well-maintained outlook.

While the community is rather far from many of the city’s leisure spots, one can take a drive of around 25 to 35 minutes and reach many renowned landmarks in Abu Dhabi.

A few of the notable landmarks near Madinat Al Riyadh are:

• Emirates Park and Zoo Resort
• Al Wathba Camel Race Track
• Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Reachable within a 28-minute drive, Emirates Park and Zoo Resort is the perfect family-friendly retreat for a weekend. Here, you enjoy observing the animals at the zoo while savouring some indoor thrills with a gaming arcade too. The resort is well equipped with restaurants and cafes so you can always grab a bite to eat.

You can reach Al Wathba Camel Race Track and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi in 33 minutes. Located in Al Wathba, the Al Wathba Camel Race Track features camels fitted with robot jockeys and they race on a specially made track. Watching the race is free, which makes it amongst the best free activities in Abu Dhabi.

One of UAE’s best theme parks, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is situated in proximity to the Yas Marina Circuit. Spanning 86,000 sq. m., the theme park has many rides that are bound to give you an adrenaline rush, irrespective of your age. In addition to the rides in Ferrari World, you can enjoy dining in its restaurants and shop in its stores too.

The community is abundant in terms of open spaces and will feature many parks and gyms for the fitness enthusiasts. Moreover, there are many parks in Al Shamkha, which can be reached within a 10 to 15-minute drive. Baniyas Park, which is 21 minutes away, features play areas for children and a large track for joggers, cyclists and even scooter riders.

Another popular park, Al Wathba Park is only 28 minutes away. Featuring large swathes of green spaces, plenty of BBQ spots and the Al Wathba Library, the park is amongst Abu Dhabi’s best parks.

For those interested in heavier workouts, there are a few gyms in Al Shamkha and Baniyas, such as:

• Fit Pro Gym – Al Shamkhah
• Body Classic Gym – Al Shamkhah

Fit Pro Gym and Body Classic Gym in Al Shamkha lie within a 13-minute drive. Also, there are some hair grooming salons in Madinat Al Riyadh. For more options, the neighbouring community has Freesia Beauty Centre and Nayomi Beauty Salon at a short drive.

Madinat Al Riyadh is situated far away from central Abu Dhabi, which may not fall within the interests of individuals who prefer the amenities of the urban areas. However the community fulfils all basic necessities for its residents who can find schools, clinics, shopping centres and more at a hand’s length.

• At a drive of 29 minutes from Al Wathba Salt Lake
• Direct access to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Road (E311)
• Makani Mall in Al Shamkha is accessible in a 9-minute short drive