Joining Disney, Waldorf homes sell out on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island

First came Disney. Now the Waldorf is finding a home on Abu Dhabi’s fun-filled Yas Island with 133 luxury apartments being built by top UAE developer Aldar bearing the luxury hotel chain’s brand.

It was a matter of hours after Aldar launched sales of the project on Sunday that every one of the units at the Waldorf Astoria Residences Yas was snatched up – from garden apartments to penthouses – generating more than $230 million in sales, The National reports.

The success of Abu Dhabi’s first branded residence sale comes barely two weeks after Disney and the UAE’s Miral Group announced construction of the U.S. entertainment giant’s first theme park in the Middle East. Disney’s $10 billion outpost on Yas Island is expected to open sometime between 2030 and 2033.

Yas is already home to Abu Dhabi’s Formula One track, Etihad Stadium, Ferrari World, the Warner Brothers theme park, Sea World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld, spread among a dozen or so five-star hotels.

Aldar said expatriates and international investors accounted for 76% of the Waldorf buyers, with the rest bought by UAE citizens. Customers from the U.K. and China led the charge.

“The sell-out of Waldorf Astoria Residences Yas marks a significant milestone for Aldar and highlights the attractiveness of Yas Island both as an investment destination and prime residential address,” Aldar CEO Jonathan Emery said.