Emirates Palace, LEAD Development and Mandarin Oriental unveil plans for 35 private homes | News

Emirates Palace Company (EPCO), together with LEAD Development and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, today announced Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, a limited collection of thirty-five uniquely designed private residences located within the grounds of Emirates Palace. This development marks the first time that private ownership has been introduced to one of the UAE’s most historically and institutionally important destinations. Delivery is expected in 2029.

For more than twenty years, Emirates Palace has occupied a special place in the social and cultural life of the United Arab Emirates. Located along Abu Dhabi’s ceremonial coastline, the palace has served as a backdrop for state visits, international meetings and moments central to the nation’s public identity.

The development is part of Abu Dhabi’s continued evolution as a global capital of culture, hospitality and lifestyle, where architecture, long-term stewardship and thoughtfully planned infrastructure and real estate development continue to shape the city’s identity.

This development brings three partners together. EPCO, which owns and manages the Emirates Palace precinct, oversees one of the country’s most recognized civic and hospitality landmarks. LEAD Development is leading the planning and development of the properties, building on its experience in delivering integrated placemaking and destinations in the UAE. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will oversee the residential hospitality experience and services for the townhouses.

The homes are located along one of Abu Dhabi’s most important natural coastlines, within the axis connecting Qasr Al Watan, the Founder’s Memorial and the timeless Corniche, a part of the capital where civic identity, coastline and public life converge. There are few residential environments in the region that have comparable cultural and national significance.

The architectural language draws from Abu Dhabi’s coastal vernacular through a contemporary expression shaped by proportion, light, landscape and privacy. The homes are organized around gardens and courtyards, oriented towards the coastline and surrounding landscape. Privacy is not approached as an amenity, but as an architectural condition embedded in the planning of the homes themselves.

Life on the grounds of Emirates Palace has always been defined by discretion, tranquility and hospitality on an intimate scale. The homes extend that sensibility into private living through tranquil arrival sequences, generous interior spaces and direct access to a reserved stretch of coastline.

A collection of private hospitality and wellness spaces curated by Mandarin Oriental continues this experience through a philosophy rooted in attention to service.

Commenting on the announcement, HE Humaid Matar AlDhaheri Board Member at Emirates Palace Company (EPCO) said:

“This development represents a significant addition to the urban landscape of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and reflects the growing confidence in the real estate sector. The association with Emirates Palace lends it exceptional value, as the palace is considered one of the region’s most iconic landmarks. This in turn helps to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a capital of urban innovation and quality of life.”

Mounir Haidar, co-founder and managing partner of LEAD Development, added:

“Building on the grounds of Emirates Palace is a responsibility we do not take lightly. Our mission is to ensure that the homes fit naturally within the broader architectural and cultural context of the Palace and Abu Dhabi. This is not just a residential address, but part of placemaking hospitality with a context that will further position Abu Dhabi as a unique destination in the region.”

Laurent Kleitman, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, said:

“Abu Dhabi continues to stand out internationally for the depth of its cultural identity, the quality of its hospitality and the clarity of its long-term vision. Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, allows us to further our relationship with the capital through a living experience rooted in discretion, craftsmanship and thoughtful service. We are honored to contribute to an environment that holds such significance in the region.”

Since its opening, Emirates Palace has been one of the defining landmarks of Abu Dhabi’s coastline and public life. Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions introduces a limited residential chapter within that setting for the first time, quietly opening up part of the palace grounds to private management, while remaining deeply connected to the identity of the capital around it.

Thirty-five families will live where only the palace has stood until now.