Shaping a Hospitality and Residential Concept for Al Reem Island

AL REEM PROPOSAL
MBA Real Estate Development and Valuation Project

Business Need

Two adjacent waterfront parcels on Al Reem Island presented an opportunity to create a hospitality-led development within one of Abu Dhabi’s growing residential and commercial districts. The assignment was to determine what type of development could respond to the location, surrounding demand, and competitive market while creating a differentiated reason to visit and stay.

The Space Between

The site offered waterfront visibility and proximity to Al Maryah Island and the Abu Dhabi Global Market, but a successful concept needed more than a premium address. It had to serve several audiences—including business travelers, longer-stay guests, residents, and local visitors—without becoming an unfocused collection of uses.

The development program also had to reconcile the site’s physical capacity with guestroom economics, residential demand, amenity expectations, and the operational relationship between the hotel and residences.

Working in System

As part of a three-person MBA team, I led the market-facing components of the proposal. I researched the macroeconomic environment, nearby demand generators, competitive hospitality supply, and the changing mix of business and leisure travel in Abu Dhabi.

Based on that research, I developed the project’s branding, positioning, brand recommendation, amenity strategy, and initial floor-plan logic. The resulting concept, Dara Al Reem, paired an upper-upscale hotel of approximately 175 rooms with SLS-branded residences.

The program was organized around a shared lifestyle platform, including destination dining, wellness, waterfront leisure, business amenities, and social spaces. Separate hotel and residential arrival experiences preserved privacy, while shared amenities and back-of-house functions supported a more integrated operating model.

I also developed the revenue forecast and assembled the final presentation, translating the team’s site, market, design, and financial work into one development narrative for a panel of four judges.

Impact

The final proposal gave reviewers a concrete vision for how the two parcels could operate as a connected hospitality and residential destination. The concept and presentation were positively received, while feedback on the team’s investment analysis highlighted areas requiring further refinement.

As an academic feasibility project, the work was not implemented. Its value was in testing how market demand, brand positioning, physical programming, and operating assumptions must work together before a development concept is investment-ready.