The Journal

Four Seasons Private Residences on Saadiyat Beach stands as a compelling example of branded luxury living, and a clear signal of Abu Dhabi's growing ambition in the high-end residential market. That ambition was recently brought into sharp focus by a record-setting deal completed by Abu Dhabi Sotheby's International Realty. The sale of a five-bedroom penthouse for AED 200 million carries weight for both the Four Seasons and Sotheby's International Realty names, and speaks directly to the rising demand for super prime homes in the capital.

Andalusian references have appeared in Abu Dhabi residential design for more than a decade. At Ansam on Yas Island, Aldar used an explicitly Andalusian style across the original apartment development overlooking Yas Links and the waterfront. More recently, the same influence has appeared on a considerably larger scale at Hudayriyat Golf Estates, where Andalusian-inspired homes are being planned alongside fairways, water channels and sheltered outdoor spaces.

There are few golf addresses in Abu Dhabi where the fairway forms part of such a varied coastal setting. At Hudayriyat Golf Estates, an 18-hole course covering 95 hectares will sit among townhomes, villas and mansions, with water channels running through the community and some homes looking towards both fairway and waterfront. Beyond the gates lies an island already familiar for its beaches, cycling routes and sporting facilities.

Few financial centres have risen as quickly, or as deliberately, as Abu Dhabi Global Market. Barely a decade after opening its doors, ADGM has become one of the most closely watched international financial centres in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. It now draws institutions that manage assets measured in the trillions. Understanding how it reached this position, and where it is heading, says much about the direction of capital in the region.