Saadiyat Island is not your typical luxury resort. It’s a 27 km² artificial island off the coast of Abu Dhabi where retiring costs less than paying for a residence in Valencia. Apartments with views of the Persian Gulf, medical services included, and a climate that allows you to walk on the beach in February while Spain is hit by a DANA storm. The price: €460,000 that gives you housing, a Golden Visa, and the right to bring children and grandchildren.
The change begins in January 2026, when the Emirates launched new facilities for the real estate Golden Visa. Average price for a two-bedroom apartment facing the sea: €460,000 to €580,000. Monthly cost of private residence in Spain with similar services: €3,200. In five years, buying in Abu Dhabi is cheaper than renting a place in a Spanish nursing home.
What you buy for that price
Saadiyat Island doesn’t just sell square meters. You buy an apartment of 85 to 120 m², access to 9 km of private beaches, gym, heated pools, and 24-hour concierge services. Several complexes include basic medical care in the community fee, with British clinics less than 10 minutes away.
The difference compared to Spain hits hard when you add taxes. Zero personal income tax on pensions, zero wealth tax, zero inheritance tax. If you receive €2,500 monthly pension, in Spain you pay about €400 in taxes. In Abu Dhabi you keep the full €2,500. That’s €4,800 per year that you don’t lose.
The average annual temperature is around 28°C, with winters of 20-25°C perfect for walking without a coat. The sun shines 340 days a year. For retirees with arthritis or respiratory problems, the dry climate of the Persian Gulf improves quality of life.
Why it’s booming now among Spaniards
The Emirates reformed Golden Visa requirements in January 2026. Previously they required 2 million dirhams (€545,000) in full property ownership. Now they allow 1.7 million dirhams (€460,000) if you buy in designated areas like Saadiyat Island, and accept mortgages up to 50% of the value.
Concrete data explaining the boom:
- Aldar Properties sold 340 units to Spaniards between January and February 2026
- Average price for a two-bedroom apartment in Saadiyat: €510,000 (vs €680,000 in Valencia beachfront)
- Golden Visa delivery time: 45-60 days
- Annual community cost with medical services: €4,200
| Concept | Spain (private residence) | Saadiyat Island |
|---|---|---|
| Initial investment | €0 (monthly rent) | €460,000 (property) |
| Monthly cost | €3,200 | €350 (community) |
| Taxes on €2,500/month pension | €400/month | €0 |
| Favorable climate (days/year) | 180 | 340 |
The difference in five years: pay €192,000 in a Spanish residence without being an owner, or invest €460,000 in Abu Dhabi and keep an asset that appreciates 6-8% annually.
How it affects those already living in Spanish residences
The impact first hits those who pay €2,800-3,500 monthly in private residences in Madrid, Barcelona, or the Levantine coast. Many sell their property in Spain (valued at €300,000-400,000), add savings up to €460,000, and move to Saadiyat. In four years they recover the investment just from tax savings.
The Golden Visa allows you to include spouse, children under 25, and parents as dependents. A retiree can bring their partner and sponsor long visits from children and grandchildren without a visa. Compared to Spanish residences where visits are limited to strict schedules, here you live in your own home with total autonomy.
The healthcare system mixes public and private. The Emirates requires contracting private health insurance (cost: €1,800-2,400/year for those over 65), but the quality is British: hospitals like Cleveland Clinic or Burjeel operate on the island. Specialist appointments without waiting, MRIs within 48 hours.
What this move really means
Beyond tax savings, this reveals something important about the Spanish residence model: it’s broken. When retiring in a Persian Gulf country costs less than paying for a nursing home place in Valencia, the problem isn’t just about price. Spain is losing retirees with purchasing power who could consume and stimulate the local economy.
The mechanism behind it is twofold. First, the Emirates designed a system without direct taxes that attracts foreign capital. Second, Spain maintains fiscal pressure on pensions and wealth that drives out those who can choose. A retiree with €400,000 in savings and a €2,500 pension pays in Spain about €8,000 annually between income tax and other tributes. In Abu Dhabi, zero.
This explains why Spanish developers like Inmoglaciar or Dunas Capital already have offices in Saadiyat. They detected the trend in 2025, when inquiries from retirees about luxury in the Emirates rose 140% year-on-year. Now they manage everything from purchase to relocation, offering “turnkey” packages that include legal services and health insurance.
Clearing up doubts we all have
Q: Can I collect my Spanish pension while living in Abu Dhabi?
R: Yes. Social Security pays pensions abroad through international transfer, without penalty.
Q: What happens to my Spanish public healthcare?
R: You lose the right to Spanish public healthcare after 90 days abroad, but you keep your pension. You must contract private insurance in the Emirates (mandatory).
Q: Is the Golden Visa permanent?
R: It lasts 10 years, automatically renewable as long as you maintain the property. You can be absent for up to 6 consecutive months without losing it.
Q: Can I sell the apartment and stay?
R: No. If you sell, you lose the Golden Visa unless you buy another property of equal or greater value within 6 months.
What will happen with this trend
The coming months will define whether this is a niche or a structural trend. Aldar has already confirmed the construction of two more towers in Saadiyat specifically for the European retiree market, with delivery scheduled for late 2027. Pre-sale prices start at €485,000, 5% more expensive than current units.
Meanwhile, Spain is losing capital and senior talent. Each retiree who moves with €460,000 is one less taxpayer, one less consumer. If the pattern accelerates, we’ll see developers from other emirates (Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah) replicate the model with prices from €320,000.
The question is not whether more Spaniards will retire in the Emirates. The question is how many will have the liquidity to do so before Saadiyat prices reach those of Marbella: €800,000 for two bedrooms facing the sea. Those who buy now enter at cost price. Those who wait two years will pay for the appreciation.
