Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
Baccarat Residences Saadiyat, among the most exclusive residential offerings in the Saadiyat Cultural District, have been officially launched, marking a new chapter in Abu Dhabi’s ambition to blend world-class living with art, architecture and culture.
The residences are a collaboration between Aldar Development and Starwood Hotels, bringing the Baccarat brand to the heart of Saadiyat’s globally recognised cultural district—an area increasingly defined by its museums, cultural institutions and a growing lifestyle ecosystem centred on creativity and design.
Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, Jonathan Emery, Chief Executive Officer of Aldar Development, described Saadiyat Cultural District as a place where culture intersects with everyday life, anchored by landmark institutions along the coastline.
He pointed to the district’s exceptional concentration of museums, including teamLab Phenomena, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, the Abrahamic Family House, Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi and the forthcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, describing the area as a powerful statement of tolerance, openness and ambition in an increasingly divided world.
Emery said Aldar’s role extends beyond delivering landmark institutions to shaping a mixed-use community that integrates art and culture into daily living.
“Residential neighbourhoods, hospitality, retail, offices and community spaces are being designed to encourage interaction, conversation and creativity—through galleries, artisan workshops, performance spaces and more—to create a living cultural ecosystem rather than a standalone destination,” he said.
Baccarat Residences sit within this broader vision, Emery added. Designed by world-renowned Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, the architecture is conceived not as a backdrop, but as an integral part of everyday life.
As highlighted at the showcase, Fujimoto’s approach frames architecture as a form of creation, using fluid forms, open terraces and generous spaces that feel light, connected and deeply rooted in their surroundings.
Interiors, designed by Studio PCH, focus on what was described as “the emotion of detail,” blending refined French elegance with sensitivity to Abu Dhabi’s climate, culture and lifestyle to create spaces that feel contemporary yet instantly comfortable.
Emery also noted a shift in Saadiyat’s buyer profile, with growing international interest.
“Global buyers are increasingly drawn to the district’s combination of cultural depth, beachfront living and architectural quality, positioning Saadiyat as one of Abu Dhabi’s most sought-after addresses,” he said.
Echoing this sentiment, Abhay Bakaya, Chief Development Officer at Starwood Hotels, said the ambition, innovation and cultural richness of Saadiyat Cultural District made it a natural home for the Baccarat brand.
“The residences balance vibrant artistic expression with quieter, more intimate spaces, supported by world-class service tailored to a discerning global clientele,” Bakaya told Aletihad.
Baccarat Residences Saadiyat will comprise 77 exclusive homes, including two- and three-bedroom apartments, four-bedroom sky villas and two signature penthouses.
Together, the project reflects Abu Dhabi’s evolving vision—one in which culture is not only housed in museums, but lived through architecture, design and community—placing Saadiyat Cultural District at the centre of the emirate’s global cultural and lifestyle narrative.
