Sobha Realty Partners with Greg Norman Golf Course Design for Sobha City Abu Dhabi
Greg Norman Golf Course Design Joins Sobha City Abu Dhabi
Sobha Realty has announced its entry into Abu Dhabi with the unveiling of Sobha City, a master-planned community that reflects a deliberately quiet and serene approach to urban living in the UAE capital. As part of this major expansion, the developer has engaged Greg Norman Golf Course Design to create an executive Par-3 golf course, masterfully designed and thoughtfully embedded within the masterplan.
The Golf Course Integration
The masterplan includes an executive par-3 golf course designed by Greg Norman Golf Course Design, which will integrate 80 mansions. Greg Norman Golf Course Design has an award-winning portfolio of over 140 courses across 35 countries and six continents, each reflecting a thoughtful connection to its natural surroundings.
The golf course sits within a broader infrastructure framework. Schools, healthcare facilities, mosques, and the executive Par-3 golf course are thoughtfully embedded within the masterplan, ensuring essential elements of daily life remain within easy reach. A key highlight of Sobha City is its two-kilometre waterfront promenade and integrated marina destination, bringing together leisure, retail, and social spaces.
Sobha City: Scale and Scope
Located in Al Bahiya, Sobha City marks the developer's first large-scale residential development in Abu Dhabi, representing a significant milestone rooted in a 50-year legacy of craftsmanship. The development spans approximately 38 million square feet, with an initial land area of around 8 million sq ft, and is positioned along the E10 and E12 corridors, close to Zayed International Airport and Yas Island.
Sobha City will feature 4,000 apartments and 2,500 villas when fully complete. Phase one, now on sale, includes about a third of the units, with handover scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2029.
Nature-Led Design and Green Infrastructure
Nature plays a central role in the development, with 60% of the masterplan dedicated to open and green spaces. More than 50,000 trees, forest-inspired landscapes, and shaded walkways are designed to create a seamless and tranquil environment. An 18-km wellness loop encourages a slower, more intentional pace of life, while pedestrian-first pathways promote movement, health, and ease of access throughout the community.
Sobha Realty's Abu Dhabi Entry
The launch further strengthens Sobha Realty's presence in the UAE, complementing its portfolio of developments across Dubai and Umm Al Quwain, including destinations such as Sobha Siniya Island and Downtown UAQ. Established in 1976 as an interior decoration firm in Oman, Sobha Realty has grown to redefine the real estate value chain through 'Backward Integration' by leveraging its in-house capabilities of design, development and construction.
Globally recognised for its proprietary Backward Integration model, Sobha Realty maintains full control over design, engineering, and construction processes in an approach that has consistently delivered superior quality and above-market performance across its portfolio.
Market Context
Abu Dhabi's real estate market has seen strong growth, with the total value of real estate transactions rising by 44 per cent on an annual basis to Dh142 billion last year, and the emirate generated Dh99.4 billion in property sales and purchase activity. As the UAE capital determines to evolve into a globally competitive hub, Sobha Realty's entry with nature-led master community signals both confidence and commitment, positioning the developer at the forefront of the emirate's next growth chapter.