Bvlgari Resort & Mansions Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi's relationship with the water is taking another architectural turn with Bvlgari Resort & Mansions Abu Dhabi, a private-island development by Eagle Hills in partnership with Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts. Planned for a horseshoe-shaped island off the Corniche, the destination is designed around the contrast between open sea, landscaped gardens and the Abu Dhabi skyline, with views extending towards Qasr Al Watan and the city on one side and the wider coastline on the other. Access is planned via a purpose-built bridge or by sea.

The project brings the Bvlgari hospitality concept into a distinctly Abu Dhabi setting. The resort will comprise 60 rooms and suites and 30 beachside villas, alongside 90 private residential Mansions and Estates. Rather than separating the residences from the hotel environment, the development places them within the same destination, with residents positioned close to the resort's restaurants, spa, Yacht Club and marina.

Milan-based ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel leads the architecture, combining contemporary Italian design with references to Abu Dhabi's cultural and material heritage. The project has been conceived around a visual dialogue between glass, gold and sand, while the landscape by LAND introduces dunes, gardens and sculpted natural forms across the island. The intention is less about creating a conventional resort compound and more about integrating the buildings into a carefully planned coastal landscape.

SAOTA, AEDAS Architects, and BMA Studio Architects are developing the residential architecture, with interiors by Miami-based STRANG. The collection comprises Mansions and Estates, with residences configured across multiple levels and ranging from six to eight bedrooms. Each bedroom is planned as an en-suite space, while private basements and rooftop terraces add another layer to the large-format layouts. Flexible rooms can be adapted for uses including studies, majlis spaces or additional living areas.

Water is central to the residential experience. The homes are planned with direct relationships to the beach or private coves, expansive terraces, floor-to-ceiling glazing and landscaped gardens. Selected residences have private docks that can accommodate boats up to 25 metres, while the most substantial Estates include additional accommodation and dedicated wellness spaces.

The wider resort adds another dimension to island living. Dining includes Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, Hōseki, La Spiaggia, a Turkish restaurant and the Bvlgari Bar, alongside Il Caffè and Bvlgari Dolci. The destination will also include La Galleria, a Bvlgari Spa of approximately 2,000 sq. m., a fitness centre, a Yacht Club, and a marina.

For residents, the attraction is therefore not simply the scale of the houses. It is the combination of private waterfront living and access to a fully formed hospitality environment, while remaining within Abu Dhabi rather than at a remote coastal resort. The island's position creates a particularly unusual relationship with the capital: residences face the water, yet the city skyline and Qasr Al Watan remain part of the outlook.

Scheduled to open in 2030, Bvlgari Resort & Mansions Abu Dhabi will add a distinctly residential dimension to Bvlgari's growing portfolio of hotel and resort destinations. For Eagle Hills, the project also extends its Abu Dhabi development portfolio into branded hospitality and private-island residential real estate.