For years, Lulu Island has been a sight that makes you wonder what could have been. Sitting just off the Corniche, the vast stretch of land has remained largely untouched while Abu Dhabi’s skyline and waterfront have continued to evolve around it.
Now, however, one of the capital’s longest-running development stories appears to be moving forward.
A New Vision Starts to Take Shape
Developer Eagle Hills Properties has confirmed it will oversee the development of Lulu Island, with construction already underway.
The 400-hectare man-made island could eventually welcome a low-rise residential community, with plans pointing towards homes for up to 20,000 residents and improved connections to the mainland.
Details of the final masterplan are still under wraps, but the island’s position opposite the Corniche gives it enormous potential. Waterfront homes and premium public areas will transform the once-quiet land into a major new extension of the city.
Decades Of Waiting
Lulu Island was created using reclaimed land between the late 1980s and early 1990s, originally serving as a protective barrier against the sea.
Over the years, several ambitious proposals have come and gone, but development never fully took off, leaving the island largely inaccessible and undeveloped.
That long pause is what makes this latest development particularly significant. After decades of speculation, visible construction work suggests Lulu Island is finally moving beyond the planning stage and into the new Abu Dhabi era.
When Will We See the New Lulu
As of today, there is no official completion date, and Eagle Hills has yet to reveal a full timeline or detailed vision for the project.
When Lulu Island completes its makeover, it will dramatically change the view from Abu Dhabi’s Corniche. But more importantly, it will add an entirely new waterfront district to a city that continues to grow, even in places that have been hiding in plain sight for decades.
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