Abu Dhabi has introduced plans for a new wadi-inspired residential community, featuring underground parking facilities and an approximately six-kilometre running trail, creating a development that combines modern urban living with open spaces, active lifestyles and pedestrian-friendly surroundings.
Abu Dhabi Unveils New Wadi Community With Underground Parking and 6km Running Track.
The Dh6-billion development on Yas Island plans to relocate vehicles below ground, reducing traffic at street level and making the area more pedestrian-friendly. The approach is designed to improve safety, provide greater freedom for children, and create a more comfortable setting for families.
Residents of a new Dh6-billion community planned for Yas Island are set to experience a neighbourhood designed around walking, cycling and outdoor activity, with vehicles largely removed from the streets above ground.
The residential development, known as The Wadi, has been introduced by Cosmo Developments as a community where cars and parking areas will be located beneath the surface. By moving vehicle infrastructure underground, the developer aims to create streets and open spaces where pedestrians and cyclists can move around without having to contend with regular surface traffic.
The project is being developed across an area of approximately 140,700 square metres on Yas Island. Rather than allowing roads and parked vehicles to dominate the development, the master plan places greater emphasis on landscaped public areas, recreational facilities and spaces intended for residents to spend time outdoors.
One of the major features planned for the community is a running trail of roughly six kilometres. The route will extend through the development and will be complemented by dedicated pedestrian and cycling paths. Together, these facilities are intended to make walking, jogging and cycling convenient parts of everyday life for people living in the neighbourhood.
The development will also incorporate a range of natural and landscaped elements. Plans include green spaces, parks, water features and a central valley, creating a setting in which residents can move between different parts of the community while remaining surrounded by outdoor amenities.
Andrea Nucera, managing director of Cosmo Developments and group managing director of Reportage Group, described the concept as one focused on creating a strong sense of community and encouraging residents to experience their surroundings rather than simply moving between buildings by car.
Speaking to INSIDER 18, Nucera said the development was designed so that residents could experience this philosophy throughout their daily routines. He highlighted the idea of moving through the neighbourhood without relying on cars and being surrounded by natural features along the way.
According to Nucera, the design is intended to make residents feel connected not only to other people within the community but also to the physical environment around them. Trees, grass, water and canals are among the features incorporated into the overall vision.
The decision to place cars and parking underground is a central part of that strategy. Instead of having large areas of the development occupied by surface parking or roads, the plan allows more of the ground-level environment to be dedicated to people and landscaping.
For residents, this could mean that everyday journeys within the community are less focused on vehicle movement. Someone heading out for a morning run, walking to another part of the neighbourhood or cycling through the development would be able to use designated routes without having to constantly negotiate with surface traffic.
The planned six-kilometre running route is another key element of the project. Its inclusion gives residents an opportunity to exercise within the boundaries of their own neighbourhood, rather than having to travel elsewhere to find a suitable route.
Cyclists and pedestrians will also have dedicated pathways as part of the master plan. These routes are intended to connect different areas of the development while providing alternatives to travelling by car.
The landscaping forms another important component of The Wadi. Parks and planted areas are expected to provide spaces for recreation and relaxation, while water features and the central valley will contribute to the visual character of the neighbourhood.
The combination of these elements reflects a broader approach to residential planning in which outdoor spaces are considered an integral part of the community rather than simply areas between buildings.
At The Wadi, the developer’s concept places emphasis on creating an environment where residents can encounter greenery and water as they move through the neighbourhood. The intention is to make outdoor movement part of the overall residential experience.
The development’s location on Yas Island also places it within one of Abu Dhabi’s major leisure and entertainment destinations. However, The Wadi’s planning appears to focus on creating an internal environment where residents can enjoy recreational and open spaces without needing to leave the community for every outdoor activity.
By moving parking below ground, the project seeks to free up more space at street level. This allows the surface environment to be used for pathways, landscaping, parks and recreational facilities rather than being dominated by cars.
The concept could be particularly relevant for families, who may use the pedestrian areas and parks for everyday activities. A neighbourhood with fewer vehicles at ground level can provide more room for children and adults to walk, cycle and spend time outdoors.
The design also aims to create a more continuous connection between different recreational elements. Instead of treating parks, walking paths, cycling tracks and landscaped areas as separate facilities, they are planned as components of one integrated environment.
Residents may therefore be able to combine several activities during a single trip through the community. A person could walk through landscaped areas, use part of the running route, pass water features and reach parks without having to rely on a car for movement between these spaces.
This emphasis on connectivity is reflected in Nucera’s description of the project. His comments suggest that the development has been conceived not simply as a collection of residential buildings but as an environment where the movement of residents is an important part of the planning process.
The idea is to make the experience of moving through the community itself part of everyday life. Instead of travelling primarily between enclosed spaces, residents would have opportunities to interact with outdoor areas, greenery and water along their routes.
The underground parking arrangement is therefore more than a solution for storing vehicles. It forms part of the wider master-planning strategy, helping determine how the land above ground can be used.
With cars and parking moved below the surface, the developer can dedicate a larger share of the visible environment to pedestrian-friendly features. This includes the planned running track, cycle routes, green areas and public spaces.
The 140,700-square-metre site will consequently have a layout in which vehicle infrastructure is less prominent at street level. The approach is intended to create a different type of residential setting from conventional developments where roads and parking occupy significant portions of the ground plane.
The Wadi is being positioned as a community where mobility, recreation and landscaping are closely connected. The running track and cycling infrastructure provide opportunities for physical activity, while the parks and water features are intended to create places for residents to pause, relax and socialise.
The central valley is also expected to become an important feature of the development. Together with the surrounding landscaping and water elements, it will contribute to the character of the community and help create a distinct outdoor environment.
Nucera’s comments emphasise the importance of the relationship between people and their surroundings. Rather than viewing the neighbourhood simply as a place to live, the development team is presenting it as a setting where residents can experience nature and public spaces as part of their regular routines.
The approach also reflects a growing interest in residential environments that provide opportunities for active transportation and recreation close to home. Walking and cycling facilities can give residents alternatives to short car journeys, while running routes provide dedicated space for exercise.
For families, the arrangement could also offer opportunities for children and adults to spend more time outdoors within the residential area. Parks, pathways and landscaped spaces can serve different purposes throughout the day, from exercise and commuting to recreation and socialising.
The developer’s decision to prioritise these elements is particularly evident in the amount of attention given to the surface environment. Rather than designing the ground level primarily around vehicle access, the project seeks to make it a people-focused space.
This means that the experience of residents begins before they enter their homes. The routes they take through the community, the landscapes they pass and the recreational facilities available to them are all part of the development’s overall design.
The Wadi’s planned infrastructure is consequently centred on the idea of creating a connected residential environment. Cars will still be accommodated within the project, but their storage and movement will largely take place away from the main pedestrian areas.
That separation is intended to allow residents to use the surface spaces more freely. Walking, running and cycling routes can operate alongside landscaped areas without being overwhelmed by parking lots or conventional surface traffic.
The result is envisioned as a neighbourhood where movement is not necessarily associated with driving. Residents will have multiple ways to travel within the development, with pedestrian and cycling infrastructure forming an important part of the master plan.
The project also places nature at the centre of its identity. Trees, grass, water, canals and parks are not described merely as decorative additions; they are incorporated into the routes and spaces residents are expected to use.
Nucera’s comments underline this philosophy. He described the community as being designed around the experience of moving through a variety of natural and built elements. The intention is for residents to encounter these features as they go about their daily activities.
With approximately six kilometres of running routes, dedicated cycling and walking paths, landscaped areas, parks and water features, The Wadi is being planned as a development where recreation is integrated into the residential environment.
The project therefore represents a different approach to the conventional car-oriented neighbourhood. Instead of placing vehicles at the centre of the surface-level layout, the development intends to push parking underground and use the space above for people and public amenities.
As the project progresses, these features are expected to form the basis of a community designed around accessibility, outdoor activity and interaction with the surrounding landscape.
The overall vision presented by Cosmo Developments is one in which residents can move around their neighbourhood with fewer interruptions from vehicles while remaining close to green and recreational spaces.
For people living at The Wadi, everyday activities such as taking a walk, going for a run or riding a bicycle are intended to become convenient parts of the community experience. The combination of underground parking, interconnected pathways, extensive landscaping and water features is designed to support that lifestyle.
Ultimately, the development’s master plan places the emphasis on what happens above ground. By moving cars and parking facilities beneath the surface, The Wadi aims to reserve much of its visible environment for pathways, greenery, recreation and community spaces.
The project is scheduled to become a residential destination on Yas Island where mobility and landscaping are closely integrated. Its design reflects the developer’s stated ambition to create a community in which residents can spend more time walking, cycling and engaging with their surroundings, while vehicles remain largely out of sight beneath the development.
A New Residential Destination Along Yas Canal
A major new residential development is taking shape along Yas Canal, bringing together homes, retail outlets, leisure facilities, sports amenities and hospitality spaces within a single large-scale community. The project is planned as a mixed-use destination with a strong focus on pedestrian movement, landscaped surroundings and outdoor living.
According to the developer, the development will eventually contain approximately 3,950 residential properties. The housing mix is expected to cater to a broad range of buyers, with options beginning at studios and extending through one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Larger four-bedroom residences will also form part of the development, providing additional options for residents looking for more spacious homes.
Rather than designing the community around conventional streets dominated by cars, the master plan places considerable emphasis on creating areas where people can move around on foot. Vehicles are intended to be largely removed from the surface environment, with parking and car movement shifted underground.
This approach is designed to create a more open and pedestrian-friendly setting. Families with young children, in particular, are expected to benefit from the reduced presence of vehicles within the main areas of the community.
A Community Designed Around Walking
Nucera, speaking about the project’s master plan, highlighted the intention to keep cars away from the main pedestrian areas. The concept is based on allowing residents to move between different parts of the development without having to navigate roads filled with moving or parked vehicles.
The idea represents a different approach to the design of large residential communities. Instead of treating roads and parking as dominant elements of the neighbourhood, the project seeks to place people, landscaping and shared spaces at the centre of the environment.
For residents, this could mean that everyday journeys within the community can be made on foot. People may be able to walk from their homes to shops, restaurants, recreational facilities and other amenities without repeatedly crossing busy internal roads.
The strategy is particularly relevant for families. A community with fewer vehicles operating at ground level can provide children with more opportunities to use outdoor spaces, while parents can potentially enjoy greater peace of mind when moving around the development.
The underground arrangement is also expected to free up surface-level land that would otherwise be occupied by parking areas, access roads and vehicle infrastructure. That space can instead be used for landscaping, pedestrian routes, recreational facilities and community-oriented areas.
Nearly 4,000 Homes Planned
The full development is expected to provide around 3,950 residential units once both phases have been completed. The range of property sizes is intended to accommodate different household requirements and budgets.
Studios and one-bedroom apartments are positioned toward residents who require smaller homes, while two- and three-bedroom residences provide additional space for couples and families. At the upper end of the offering, larger four-bedroom properties will provide substantially more living space.
Some of the larger homes will also feature particularly generous outdoor areas. According to Nucera, selected residences could have balconies or terraces measuring as much as approximately 150 square metres.
These larger outdoor spaces are intended to extend the living environment beyond the interior of the homes. In a waterfront community where outdoor living can be an important part of residential life, substantial terraces and balconies can provide space for entertaining, dining or simply enjoying views of the surrounding development.
The overall residential offering will sit alongside a range of non-residential facilities, meaning residents are not expected to rely exclusively on destinations outside the community for everyday leisure and lifestyle activities.
Retail, Restaurants and Leisure Facilities
The master plan will incorporate commercial and recreational elements alongside the residential buildings. Restaurants and retail outlets are expected to form part of the community, providing residents with places to eat, shop and spend time without necessarily having to leave the development.
Sports and wellness facilities are also planned. These include tennis-related amenities, gyms and spas, creating opportunities for residents to incorporate exercise and leisure into their daily routines.
Dedicated areas for children are another component of the master plan. These spaces are intended to support families and provide younger residents with places where they can play and spend time outdoors.
The combination of residential, retail, dining, sports and wellness facilities is designed to make the development more self-contained. Rather than functioning simply as a collection of apartment buildings, the project is being planned as a broader neighbourhood with a variety of activities and services.
This type of mixed-use planning has become increasingly common in large residential developments, as buyers increasingly look for communities that offer amenities within easy reach of their homes.
Green Spaces and Natural Ventilation
Landscaping is another important element of the project’s design. The developer said that buildings, pathways and open areas have been positioned with consideration for airflow through sections of the community.
The arrangement is intended to encourage air movement across open spaces, potentially making outdoor areas more comfortable for residents.
Planting will also contribute to the character of the development. Native and familiar regional species, including ghaf and palm trees, are expected to be incorporated into landscaped areas.
The use of greenery serves several purposes within the master plan. Trees and planted areas can provide shade, create visual separation between buildings and pedestrian routes, and add natural elements to a densely developed residential environment.
Open pathways and landscaped spaces will form part of the network connecting different sections of the community. Combined with the reduced presence of cars at surface level, these features are intended to reinforce the project’s focus on walking and outdoor activity.
Property Prices Begin at Dh850,000
The development was launched for sale on September 18, with initial prices starting at approximately Dh850,000 for studio apartments.
At the upper end of the initial pricing range, larger four-bedroom residences are expected to reach approximately Dh7.5 million. The wide price range reflects the variety of unit sizes and residential configurations available across the project.
The first phase has initially placed approximately 700 homes on the market across two buildings. According to Nucera, demand was strong immediately following the launch, with around 350 to 360 units reportedly sold within only a few hours.
Studios in the first release were also reported to have sold out quickly, indicating strong initial interest in the smaller units.
The early sales activity provides an indication of the level of buyer attention surrounding the project, although the development will continue to be delivered in stages rather than all at once.
Future releases are expected to provide additional residential choices as construction progresses and subsequent parts of the master plan are brought to market.
Development to Be Delivered in Two Phases
The project has been divided into two main development phases. The first phase includes the buildings currently being introduced to the market, while the remainder of the community will be developed as the project progresses.
Construction on the first phase is expected to begin following the necessary initial preparation period.
The developer estimates that the complete development will require approximately 55 to 60 months to finish. However, the two phases are expected to be delivered independently, meaning residents will not necessarily have to wait for the entire master plan to be completed before the first part of the project becomes operational.
Phased delivery is commonly used for large developments because it allows construction and infrastructure works to progress in manageable stages. It can also enable parts of a community to become occupied while later buildings and facilities are still being developed.
The overall scale of the project means that construction will involve more than residential buildings alone. Roads, pedestrian pathways, landscaping, underground parking, commercial areas, recreational facilities and waterfront elements will all need to be coordinated as part of the broader master plan.
Dh6 Billion Investment
The developer has estimated the total investment in the development at approximately Dh6 billion.
That investment will cover a wide range of uses rather than being focused exclusively on residential construction. The project is expected to combine homes with retail, restaurants, leisure facilities, sports amenities and hospitality components.
A waterfront area and yacht marina are also included in the plans, adding another dimension to the development.
The combination of residential properties and waterfront facilities is intended to create a destination that extends beyond traditional apartment living. Residents will have access to both everyday services and recreational environments within the same broader development.
The marina could also contribute to the project’s identity as a waterfront community, particularly given its location near Yas Island and the area’s wider collection of leisure and entertainment destinations.
Location at the Entrance to Yas Island
The development’s location along Yas Canal places it at the entrance to Yas Island, an area that has become one of Abu Dhabi’s major destinations for entertainment, tourism, hospitality and residential development.
Its position is expected to provide access to the wider Yas Island area and its existing attractions. The developer has also pointed to planned road connections that could improve movement around the location over time.
These future connections are expected to provide links toward major attractions and other parts of Yas Island, potentially improving accessibility for both residents and visitors.
The location is therefore an important part of the project’s overall proposition. While the master plan aims to create a largely pedestrian-oriented internal environment, connections outside the development will remain important for residents travelling to workplaces, schools, airports and other parts of Abu Dhabi.
The combination of internal walkability and external road connectivity is intended to give the project two distinct characteristics: a relatively calm environment within the community and convenient access to the wider city beyond it.
A Shift Toward Walkable Residential Communities
The project reflects a broader trend in the development of large residential communities across Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE.
Developers are increasingly incorporating pedestrian pathways, landscaped public areas, outdoor amenities and mixed-use facilities into master plans. These elements can reduce the need for residents to make short car journeys within their own neighbourhoods while creating more opportunities for social interaction and outdoor activity.
The emphasis on walkability is particularly noticeable in developments aimed at families. Providing parks, children’s areas, restaurants, sports facilities and retail destinations within a connected environment can make a community feel more like a neighbourhood than a collection of residential buildings.
In this project, the underground treatment of cars is a central part of that philosophy. Moving vehicle infrastructure below ground allows the surface environment to be used more extensively for people and landscaping.
The approach also changes the visual character of the community. Instead of parking lots and vehicle lanes dominating the areas between buildings, residents are expected to encounter pathways, planted areas and shared spaces.
Combining Residential Life With Waterfront Living
Another defining feature of the project is its combination of residential accommodation with waterfront and leisure elements.
The presence of the Yas Canal provides the development with a distinctive setting, while the proposed yacht marina adds a further recreational component.
Waterfront residential developments have become an important part of Abu Dhabi’s expanding real estate landscape. Projects built around canals, coastlines and marinas often seek to combine housing with outdoor spaces, restaurants and leisure facilities.
This development follows that broader model while adding a strong emphasis on pedestrian movement and internal amenities.
The planned mixture of apartments, restaurants, shops, sports facilities, wellness spaces and children’s areas is intended to create a community where residents can spend significant amounts of their leisure time close to home.
Looking Ahead
With approximately 3,950 residential units planned and an estimated investment of Dh6 billion, the development represents a substantial addition to the residential pipeline around Yas Island.
The first sales release has already introduced around 700 homes across two buildings, with the developer reporting several hundred transactions shortly after launch. The project will continue through two phases, with the full development expected to take roughly 55 to 60 months to complete.
Beyond the number of homes, the project is notable for its planning philosophy. Cars are intended to be moved underground, while the surface environment is being designed around pedestrians, landscaping and shared amenities.
Restaurants, retail outlets, tennis facilities, gyms, spas and children’s areas will complement the residential buildings, while the waterfront and marina will add leisure and lifestyle elements.
The development is therefore being positioned as more than a residential project. Its master plan seeks to combine housing with recreation, shopping, dining, wellness and outdoor spaces in one interconnected environment.
For families and other residents, the emphasis on walkability could make the internal layout particularly distinctive. Instead of moving through a neighbourhood dominated by vehicles, residents are expected to have access to pedestrian routes connecting different parts of the community.
As construction progresses, the success of the concept will ultimately depend on how effectively the various components — homes, public spaces, landscaping, retail, leisure facilities, parking and transport connections — work together.
For now, the project represents another significant addition to the expanding residential and mixed-use landscape around Yas Island, with a design that places considerable emphasis on greenery, waterfront living, pedestrian movement and a wide selection of amenities.
