Ardee launches with a masterplan of more than AED 15 billion and unveils Ardee Downtown on Al Marjan Island

Ras Al Khaimah: Ardee, a destination developer of premium integrated communities, has officially launched its brand with the reveal of Ardee Downtown on Al Marjan Island, a mixed-use district that the company describes as Ras Al Khaimah’s first fully-fledged premium downtown.

Unveiled at the company’s launch event, Ardee Downtown is the flagship development and the newest addition to a portfolio with a gross development value of more than AED 15 billion. The portfolio spans 5.2 million sq ft of gross floor area and 9 million sq ft of total built-up area across urban and waterfront developments on Al Marjan Island, and the district is expected to support Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism growth and economic diversification.

The district brings together a signature lifestyle mall, dining, hospitality, leisure and entertainment, with Ardee Views, its residential offering, at the heart of the destination.

Founded in 2023 by Chairman Romeo Abdo, Ardee is led by a team with decades of experience in destination creation, placemaking and community building. Its partner ecosystem includes Fairmont, part of Accor; Pelli Clarke & Partners; DP Architects; Turner International Middle East (TiME); Mirage; and Marjan.

“The Downtown makes the whole destination stronger”

Speaking at the event, Abdulla Al Abdouli, Group CEO of Marjan, the master developer of Al Marjan Island, said: “Al Marjan Island is an iconic destination where the developers are now shaping its character. Ardee’s commitment is a significant one, and the Downtown makes the whole destination stronger. Our role as master developer is to make early commitments and put the foundations in place, so partners can build here with confidence. That is how we curate growth that creates opportunity for Ras Al Khaimah.”

A destination at the scale of an entire island district

Delivering the opening keynote, Natalie Bogdanova, Managing Director and Executive Board Member of Ardee, said: “Al Marjan Island offers a rare opportunity to create something at the scale of an entire destination, where land meets water and nature meets ambition. That scale allows us to think differently about how every part of a destination works together, from homes and hospitality to retail, leisure, and public spaces.”

“Our ambition is to contribute to Ras Al Khaimah’s next phase of growth with a mixed-use destination that brings investment, community, and everyday experiences together, and where people aspire to live, connect and belong together. With today’s launch, that vision begins to take shape.”

“Al Marjan Island offers a rare opportunity to create something at the scale of an entire destination, where land meets water and nature meets ambition.” Natalie Bogdanova, Managing Director and Executive Board Member, Ardee

Inside Ardee Downtown

At the heart of Al Marjan Island, Ardee Downtown will bring together residential, commercial, hospitality, retail and leisure uses within a single, connected urban ecosystem. The district will span 3.5 million sq ft of gross floor area, including Ardee Views, and will offer apartments, branded residences and townhouses.

More than 600,000 sq ft of retail and dining space, anchored by the signature lifestyle mall and dining pavilions, will line a 600-metre walkable waterfront promenade and green spaces designed to host leisure, entertainment and events throughout the year.

Designed to world-class premium standards, the district will feature:

• activated plazas and all-day programming
• wellness offerings and curated cultural spaces
• casual outdoor dining, artisanal cafés and community events
• four landscaped community parks connecting the district to the wider Al Marjan Island community

The promenade is conceived as an active urban strip from day to night, combining premium retail and bold dining concepts with flexible spaces for pop-ups and events, brought to life by restaurants, year-round programming, art installations and immersive light shows.

Ardee Views: the gateway to Downtown

Ardee also unveiled Ardee Views, twin residential towers forming the gateway to Ardee Downtown and the link to Ardee Waterfront. The towers will comprise 652 residential units, with amenities including:

• a signature restaurant and club lounge with sweeping Downtown views
• a 40-metre resort-style pool and state-of-the-art gym on the amenity deck
• community retail and a residents’ lounge
• valet and concierge services

Ardee Waterfront and the Fairmont

The reveal builds on the Fairmont Residences and Hotel Fairmont Al Marjan Island, which Ardee introduced last year as the first phase of Ardee Waterfront. Developed in partnership with Fairmont, part of Accor, and designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners, the AED 2 billion luxury hospitality and branded residential development spans 1.7 million sq ft of gross floor area along 350 metres of sunset-facing beachfront.

It will deliver a 224-key Fairmont hotel and 516 Fairmont branded residences, ranging from apartments and townhouses to ultra-premium seafront villas, with a signature rooftop pool and wellness, dining and fitness facilities. The development is owned and developed by Ardee, with the Fairmont name used under licence.

More than 4,000 residences at full build-out

Together, Ardee Waterfront and Ardee Downtown form a single masterplanned destination that, at full build-out, is planned to deliver more than 4,000 premium residences, including apartments, branded residences, townhouses and beachfront villas.

Ardee Downtown is scheduled for phased delivery from 2030 onwards, with Ardee overseeing the full development lifecycle, from strategic positioning and product design through to delivery and long-term community management.

Ardee notes that all areas, figures, values and dates are based on the current masterplan and remain subject to design development and regulatory approvals in Ras Al Khaimah, and that delivery dates are indicative targets.

More information is available at ardee.ae