A select group of residents will be able to call it home
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental has stood as one of Abu Dhabi’s most recognisable landmarks for decades, known for hosting royalty, world leaders, and some of the capital’s most important cultural moments.
Now, for the very first time, a select group of residents will be able to call it home.
In a landmark announcement for the UAE’s luxury real estate market, Emirates Palace Company (EPCO), LEAD Development, and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group have unveiled Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions Abu Dhabi.
This is an ultra-exclusive collection of just 35 private residences nestled within the grounds of the iconic palace.
Scheduled for completion in 2029, the project marks the very first time private ownership has ever been introduced within one of the UAE’s most historically significant destinations, something that feels almost unimaginable for a landmark so deeply tied to Abu Dhabi’s identity.
Set along Abu Dhabi’s prestigious waterfront, the residences occupy one of the capital’s most culturally important addresses, neighbouring national landmarks including Qasr Al Watan, The Founder’s Memorial, and the Abu Dhabi Corniche.
It’s a stretch of coastline that blends civic identity, public life, and architectural grandeur; and now, for the first time, it will also become home to just 35 families.
The mansions are being designed with a strong focus on privacy, natural light, landscaped courtyards, and seamless indoor-outdoor living, drawing inspiration from Abu Dhabi’s coastal heritage while embracing a modern architectural language.
There will be quiet garden pathways, generous living spaces flooded with sunlight, uninterrupted shoreline views, and discreet arrival experiences that feel far more like a private sanctuary than a traditional luxury tower.
“Building within the grounds of Emirates Palace is a responsibility we do not take lightly,” said Mounir Haidar, Co-founder & Managing Partner of LEAD Development.
“Our mission is to ensure the residences belong naturally within the broader architectural and cultural context of the Palace and Abu Dhabi.
“This is not simply a residential address, but part of placemaking hospitality with a context that will continue to further position Abu Dhabi as a unique destination in the region.”
Unlike many ultra-luxury developments where exclusivity is added later through amenities, privacy here has been thoughtfully built directly into the architecture itself.
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The residences are carefully positioned around gardens and courtyards, with layouts intentionally designed to create a sense of calmness, discretion, and effortless space; the kind of atmosphere that feels worlds away from city life despite being right in the heart of the capital.
Residents will also enjoy access to a reserved stretch of beachfront alongside a curated collection of wellness and hospitality experiences managed by Mandarin Oriental, bringing the same level of service the palace is known for into everyday residential living.
“Abu Dhabi continues to distinguish itself internationally through the depth of its cultural identity, the quality of its hospitality, and the clarity of its long-term vision,” said Laurent Kleitman, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
“Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, allows us to further our relationship with the capital through a residential experience rooted in discretion, craftsmanship, and thoughtful service.”
For Abu Dhabi, the project also signals a broader shift in how the city’s most iconic spaces are being reimagined.
Long celebrated for its cultural institutions, luxury hospitality, and ambitious urban planning, the capital is increasingly blending these worlds together into lifestyle-driven residential experiences that feel deeply connected to place, culture, and community.
“This development represents a significant addition to the urban landscape of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and reflects the growing confidence in its real estate sector,” added H.E. Humaid Matar AlDhaheri, Board Member at Emirates Palace Company (EPCO).
“Its association with Emirates Palace grants it exceptional value, as the Palace is considered one of the region’s most iconic landmarks.”
For more than two decades, Emirates Palace has been woven into the story of Abu Dhabi itself, hosting state visits, international summits, and defining moments for the nation.
Now, with Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions Abu Dhabi, that story enters an entirely new chapter, one that transforms one of the UAE’s most recognisable landmarks into an address few will ever have the chance to call home.
And perhaps that’s what makes this launch feel so significant.
This isn’t simply another luxury address on the market. It’s the rare opportunity to live within one of the UAE’s most symbolic landmarks, where heritage, hospitality, privacy, and waterfront living come together in a way Abu Dhabi has never seen before.
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