The Abu Dhabi developer behind Manchester City Yas Residences and a portfolio of brand-led waterfront homes.
UAE PROJECTS COVERED
GLOBAL BRAND PARTNERS
ABU DHABI LOCATIONS
MAN CITY COMPLETION
Ohana Development is a luxury developer headquartered in Abu Dhabi and led by CEO Husein Salem. It is best known today for Manchester City Yas Residences, launched in February 2026 as the club’s first branded residential project anywhere in the world: a gated waterfront community on Yas Canal, next to Ferrari World and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, scheduled for completion in 2029.
What separates Ohana from the large master developers is that it builds around brand partnerships. ELIE SAAB Waterfront on Al Reem Island, Jacob & Co. Beachfront Living in Al Jurf and Manchester City Yas Residences on Yas Island are each designed around a partner’s identity, from interiors to amenities. Ohana also has roots in Lebanon, where it developed Ohana Villas and Ohana Hills.
For buyers, the practical consequence is that you are paying for the concept as well as the square footage. A strong brand can widen the pool of future buyers and tenants, but the brand does not build the homes, Ohana does. Its UAE delivery record is shorter than that of Aldar or Emaar, so construction progress, escrow arrangements and service charges matter more here, and branded buildings usually carry higher service charges. I film progress on site so you can see where each project actually stands.
The Ohana release I currently cover is Manchester City Yas Residences, on the Yas Canal waterfront beside Ferrari World and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi.
Three reasons this developer comes up with off plan buyers in Abu Dhabi.
Manchester City, Jacob & Co. and ELIE SAAB are names buyers recognise worldwide. That recognition can help when you resell or rent, because the building has a story international buyers already understand. It also means part of the price is the brand, so compare per square foot with unbranded stock nearby.
Yas Canal puts Manchester City Yas Residences beside Ferrari World and SeaWorld, inside one of the capital's busiest leisure districts. Al Jurf sits on the coast between Abu Dhabi and Dubai with direct access to Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Maktoum International Airport.
Manchester City Yas Residences is planned around an integrated Manchester City Academy with training and recovery facilities, plus a waterfront promenade of shops and restaurants. Values move with the wider market, the amenities raise service charges, and no return is guaranteed.
Five steps from first call to keys in hand. You can complete
every one of them without getting on a plane.
Shortlist and hold
I share live Ohana availability, including floors, views and unit types, and hold your preferred unit while you review the numbers. No cost to hold.
Reservation
Sign the reservation form and pay the booking deposit set out in the current price list.
Contract and ADREC registration
The Sale and Purchase Agreement is issued and the unit is registered with the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre. All of it can be completed remotely or by power of attorney.
Milestone payments
Instalments follow the schedule in your agreement and are paid into the project escrow account, released against verified construction progress. Never to me.
Handover
Snagging inspection, final payment and key collection. I can arrange leasing or property management afterwards.
Share a few details and I will come back with pricing, availability and the full payment plan, usually within 24 hours.
Abu Dhabi’s leisure island, home to Ferrari World, SeaWorld, Yas Mall and Yas Marina Circuit. Manchester City Yas Residences sits on the Yas Canal waterfront here, planned as a gated community with an integrated football academy and completion scheduled for 2029. Suits buyers who want a recognised brand in an established leisure district and are comfortable holding to completion.
Ohana Development is a UAE luxury real estate developer headquartered in Abu Dhabi, led by CEO Husein Salem. It is known for branded waterfront projects created with partners such as Manchester City, Jacob & Co. and ELIE SAAB.
In the UAE, Ohana builds in Abu Dhabi: on Yas Island, on Al Reem Island and in Al Jurf on the coast between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It has also developed residential projects in Lebanon.
It is a gated waterfront community on Yas Canal in Abu Dhabi and Manchester City’s first branded residential project globally. It was launched in February 2026, centres on an integrated Manchester City Academy, and is scheduled for completion in 2029.
Yes, where the project sits within one of Abu Dhabi’s designated investment zones, which permit freehold ownership by all nationalities with no residency requirement. Confirm the ownership terms of the specific project before committing.
They can be, but the brand is not a guarantee. Branded homes usually sell at a premium and carry higher service charges, and the developer still has to deliver the building. Compare price per square foot and running costs with unbranded stock nearby before deciding the premium is worth it.
Off plan payments in Abu Dhabi are required to be held in a regulated escrow account and released against verified construction progress rather than paid directly to the developer. This protects funds from being spent elsewhere. It is not a guarantee of delivery on schedule.
A purchase at or above AED 2 million may make you eligible for the 10 year property investor Golden Visa. The threshold is federal rather than emirate-specific. Whether an off plan unit qualifies before handover depends on your payment position and the ICP rules in force when you apply, so confirm current requirements before buying for residency purposes.
Explore the other UAE developers whose launches I cover.
Tell me your budget and what you want the property to do, and I will come back with the Ohana projects that fit, the payment plans, and a full walkthrough of each one.
