River Cove Residences · Villaments (Sobha City)
Sobha Realty's first master community in Abu Dhabi — a rare collection of waterfront villaments opening onto the canal and promenade, within a 38M-sqft city beside Yas Island
Sobha City · Al Bahya, Abu Dhabi (waterfront next to Yas Island, Saadiyat and AUH airport)




Key facts
Developer
Sobha Realty
District
Abu Dhabi · Yas Bay Area
Handover
Q4 2029 (ACD — December 2029)
Height
3 residential towers (Tower A/B/C, ~up to 11 floors) + 2 low-rise villaments (Villament F and G) along the promenade
Units
Sobha City: ~4,000 apartments + ~2,500 villas; River Cove — the lead waterfront cluster (exact count of F/G villament units in CRM)
Sales status
Phase 1 actively selling (EOI open). Villaments F/G — a limited premium collection within River Cove
Overview
River Cove Residences is the flagship waterfront cluster within Sobha City, Sobha Realty's first master community in Abu Dhabi (the Al Bahya district, on the coast opposite Yas Island). The Sobha City masterplan itself spans ~38M sqft (around 3.5 sq km) of land, with ~60% given over to greenery and open space: an 18 km wellness loop, a 2 km waterfront promenade, a network of canals, a marina and golf courses. This is not a "commuter" district but a self-contained seaside city with a "Live · Connect · Restore" rhythm.
River Cove consists of three residential towers (A/B/C) and two low-rise villaments — Villament F and G. The villaments are a rare hybrid: the space and privacy of a villa in apartment format, right above the water. Every unit faces the canal and promenade, with panoramic glazing and deep balconies that extend the living room outward toward the water and the sky.
The villament product comprises 3-bedroom residences in two types. Type C is a 3BR apartment (with powder, store, study, maid's room and its own yard) with a total area of ~2,043 sqft and Canal & Promenade views. Type D is a 3BR duplex (with powder, maid's room and a large balcony) across two levels with terraces, totalling ~2,525–2,571 sqft with Canal views. Handover is December 2029, allowing a full appreciation cycle through to completion. Sobha's signature advantage is backward integration: its own glazing, concrete and joinery plants, giving control over quality and timelines that is rare for the market.
Prices & unit types
| Unit type | Size | Price | in USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR River Cove (tower A/B/C) | 566-609 sqft | from 1.31M AED | ~$0.36M |
| 2BR River Cove (tower A/B/C) | 1,013-1,212 sqft | from 2.40M AED | ~$0.65M |
| 3BR Villament Type C (with yard) | ~2,043 sqft | from ~5.1M AED (EST) | ~$1.39M |
| 3BR Duplex Villament Type D | ~2,525-2,571 sqft | from ~6.6M AED (EST) | ~$1.80M |
- Direct canal + promenade view (Canal & Promenade): premium over the floor's base price
- Type D duplex with double terrace (roof terrace): +balcony space of 884–930 sqft versus ~430 sqft in Type C
- Corner / end villament unit: +privacy and additional glazing
- Sobha furnished package (optional): at the client's choice, confirmed in the price list
Payment plan
20%
On booking / signing the SPA (0% interest, no proof of income)
40%
In stages during construction (milestone payments through Q3 2029)
40%
On handover (Q4 2029) — together with the Title Deed
Payment terms
- Standard Sobha 60/40 plan, 0% interest — the most flexible among premium UAE developers
- Mortgage for UAE residents: up to 60% LTV on off-plan (above AED 5M — 50% LTV)
- Mortgage for non-residents: 50% LTV maximum; for most — full payment on the plan
- Freehold ownership for all nationalities (Abu Dhabi investment zone)
Location & distances
- Al Bahya — a coastal district of northern Abu Dhabi, opposite Yas Island, next to Al Shahama
- Nearby: Yas Island — Ferrari World, Warner Bros World, SeaWorld, Yas Waterworld, Yas Mall (the largest in the city)
- Culture: Saadiyat Island — Louvre Abu Dhabi, the future Guggenheim, Saadiyat beaches (~25 min)
- Shopping: Yas Mall (~13 min), Deerfields Mall (~10 min), Sobha City internal retail
- Sport/leisure: Yas Marina Circuit (F1), Yas Beach, the 18 km wellness loop and marina within Sobha City
- Healthcare: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Burjeel Medical City (~20-25 min, on Al Maryah island)
Amenities
2 km waterfront promenade
tree-lined walkways, shaded rest areas along the canal and shore
18 km wellness loop
running and cycling tracks across the whole city, open-air fitness zones
Marina and canals
the River Cove network of waterways, direct water access from the villaments
Golf courses and green corridors
golf zones and green corridors within the Sobha City masterplan
Lagoon pools and beach areas
several pools and landscaped beach zones within the cluster
Mosque and community hubs
mosque, multi-purpose lawns, amphitheatre, pavilions and social decks
Children's spaces
children's play areas, family parks, forest trails
Sport
multi-sport courts, climbing & adventure park, indoor games zone
Meditation and tai-chi lawns
wellness and meditation zones, sculptural gardens
Retail within walking distance
shops, cafes and daily conveniences within the city
Concierge and arrival courts
concierge service, landscaped arrival courts, parking
24/7 security and CCTV
perimeter security and community monitoring
Residence features
- Panoramic floor-to-ceiling glazing oriented toward the canal/promenade
- Deep balconies (Type C ~430 sqft) and double terraces in the Type D duplex (884-930 sqft)
- Open 3BR layouts with powder, store, study and a separate maid's room
- Type C — a private ground-level yard; Type D — a two-level format with roof terrace
- Signature Sobha quality: in-house production of glazing, joinery and concrete (backward integration)
- Premium kitchen and bathroom finishes, built-in appliances
- Master bedroom with a closet and ensuite bathroom
- High ceilings and maximum natural light thanks to generous glazing
- Smart engineering solutions and energy efficiency to Sobha standard
- Layouts oriented for privacy between neighbouring units
Schools nearby
SABIS International School — Yas Island
British/American · Tuition 39.5-62.2K AED/yr
West Yas Academy (Aldar)
American · ADEK Outstanding · Tuition 54-65K AED/yr
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi (Saadiyat)
British FS1-Y13 · Tuition 71.5-106K AED/yr
Yas American Academy
American curriculum · Tuition 54-65K AED/yr
Rental yield & ROI
5.5-7% gross — Abu Dhabi waterfront segment Yas/Al Bahya (Bayut, Sands of Wealth 2026)
5-6.5% net — after ~15-18 AED/sqft service charge, vacancy and management
Short-term rental potential thanks to proximity to Yas Island (theme parks, F1) — seasonal demand
For a 3BR Villament (~2,043 sqft): ~31-37K AED/yr (~$8.4-10K)
- Abu Dhabi — the fastest-growing UAE market by returns/momentum in 2026 (Bayut)
- Sobha portfolio: ~8-10% per year; early buyers of Sobha Hartland (Dubai) +30-45% over 2024-2026
- Forecast for new launches in Abu Dhabi: +3-6% per year through to handover, upside on masterplan build-out to 2029
- The first wave of Phase 1 — the lowest price rung within the entire Sobha City cycle
Golden Visa eligibility
- The 2M AED threshold is covered with a wide margin by the 3BR villaments (from ~5.1M — 2.5x margin)
- Visa term: 10 years with the option to renew for a further 10 years
- Family sponsorship: spouse + children of any age + parents + 1 domestic helper
- Processing: 4-8 weeks after the Title Deed — medical tests + Emirates ID + biometrics
Project timeline
Today (05.06.2026)
EOI / booking + first instalment → locking in the unit in Phase 1
30 days
SPA + 20% first payment (60/40 plan)
2026-2027
Earthworks and structure of the River Cove towers/villaments
2028
Facades, glazing (Sobha in-house production), MEP
H1 2029
Interior finishing, landscaping of the promenade and canals
Q4 2029 (December)
Handover + Title Deed for the first owners (ACD)
Q1 2030
Snagging + defect liability period
2030+
Occupancy / rental, post-handover appreciation phase
Frequently asked questions
River Cove towers: 1BR from AED 1.31M · 2BR from AED 2.40M | Villaments (EST): 3BR from ~AED 5.1M · 3BR duplex from ~AED 6.6M
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