Residential building construction in Al Reem Island 

Residential building construction in Al Reem Island: local context

Al Reem Island lies just off the north-east shore of Abu Dhabi island and has been developed since the late 2000s into one of the capital's densest high-rise districts. Residential towers, hotels, office blocks, a major hospital and shopping malls sit on reclaimed plots linked by bridges to the city. Many towers are now occupied, while remaining plots continue to be built.

• Tabreed district cooling serves parts of the island, so many towers take chilled water through energy transfer stations; the in-building scope then centres on heat exchangers, secondary pumping and holding design delta-T.
• Being surrounded by water, roof plant, cooling towers, fixings and exposed cable trays face constant salt and humidity, which drives coating specifications and inspection intervals.
• Bridge access and traffic on and off the island make large deliveries, such as chillers or transformers, something to schedule carefully with crane and road permits.

Building types we serve in Al Reem Island

For high-rise towers, the work concentrates on pressure-zoned water and drainage stacks, riser and plant-room coordination, stair pressurisation and a cooling source sized for diversity across dozens of typical floors.

Scope of work

• Foundations, basements and podium car parks, with waterproofing and ventilation of car parks coordinated from the start.
• Concrete frame for typical residential floors, planned for repetitive cycles with consistent quality from floor to floor.
• Envelope works including windows, balconies, balustrades, cladding and roof waterproofing, focusing on water tightness and thermal performance.
• Apartment finishes such as flooring, kitchens, wardrobes, wet areas, doors and painting, with a mock-up unit approved by the client before rollout.

Systems we install

• Thermally efficient windows and glazing per Al Sa'fat or project requirements.
• Car park ventilation, fire protection and fire alarm systems.

UAE site and climate challenges

• Condensation in corridors and on window frames is common when humid air leaks into cooled apartments. Air-tightness of windows and doors, plus dehumidified corridor fresh air, reduces moisture problems.
• Basement car parks get hot and polluted. Jet fan or ducted ventilation designed with CO detection keeps air quality acceptable and supports smoke clearance in fire mode.
• Apartment AC type: fan coils on central chilled water are quiet and durable with no outdoor units on balconies, while VRF offers individual control and billing without any central plant.

Relevant Manolia projects

Frequently asked questions