"Island life” brings to my mind a picture of simplicity. I imagine self-effacing beach huts and tranquil sunsets – a coconut fizz in one hand, a murder mystery page-turner in the other. Rugged surfboards line a rack in one corner as a salty breeze underscores the tropical humidity.
There is, however, nothing simplistic about Ramhan Island, a new development off the Abu Dhabi coast. The picture takes an extremely luxurious turn – think seven-bedroom waterfront villas with private piers.
Developed by Eagle Hills, the island spans 400 hectares, over half of which is developable land. Construction is under way and when it opens, the island will be home to about 1,800 stand-alone villas, 900 marina residences, a luxury hotel and a retail promenade.
At the time of writing, only a small part of the island is open to those discerning few who will call Ramhan Island home. There are three show villas available for viewing, and I am afforded a glimpse of what castaway-in-comfort looks like for the up-and-coming luxury haven.
The tour starts with a quick boat ride from a small jetty built off the side of the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road, about a 10-minute drive from Yas Mall. A bridge is being built to connect the island to the inner city, but prospective buyers will have to use this jetty for now. The 10-minute boat ride adds the necessary island charm, and as I skim across the turquoise water, the silhouettes of the built villas gradually expand on the horizon.
A bigger yacht is docked on the island jetty, used mostly for group tours and VIP viewings. I disembark and follow the footpath to an outdoor reception and sales office. Three paths break away to the waterfront villas.
The seven-bedroom Sky villa is the biggest of the three models, distinguished by its floor plan and various amenities and design elements. From the entryway, it looks like a modern-style suburban house – with a heightened front door and wide windows.
The door opens to exactly what one would expect: high ceilings, marble flooring and plenty of natural light, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. The house is noticeably spacious, despite the model being fitted with show furniture (units are sold unfurnished, however).
The ground floor has provisions for two living areas, a dining area and a guest bedroom. The massive kitchen, with a large island counter in the middle, is connected to the maid's quarter.
There is enough space here for future homeowners to be as maximalist or minimalist as they want when it comes to furnishing. The colour scheme is dominated by light hues, white and beige, which blend well with the marble floors.
Such interior elements are practically de rigueur in luxury residences, but the real allure emerges when I walk out to the terrace – a private deck that faces the water, the main selling point of Ramhan Island.
Sunbeds and other convenient al fresco table-and-chair set-ups are scattered on the deck, with an infinity pool as the centrepiece. There's a barbecue area on one side, too.
Further along the shore, there's a protruding pier for private vessels. The ability to moor your own yacht right at your doorstep, ready to whisk you away on a spontaneous adventure at a moment's notice is, after all, the epitome of luxury waterfront living.
In addition to a regular staircase, the Sky villa has a lift that goes up to the second floor, which houses the other bedrooms as well as a master suite, which has a walk-in closet and private balcony. The other rooms share one big balcony, providing views of the deck below and the ocean.
Off-plan sales are ongoing for Ramhan Island properties. A quick search on brokerage platforms such as Property Finder shows listings in the millions – from Dh17 million to Dh30 million depending on the model. The first wave of handovers is pegged at sometime in 2026.
Aside from the luxury villas, Eagle Hills is also banking on future island amenities. A top view of the master plan shows the island's complex maze-like shape with gracefully intertwined lagoons. Ramhan is also described as being in touch with nature. Human neighbours aside, the developer says future residents could spot dolphins, sea turtles and birds in the surrounding water.
The tour ends and just a few minutes later I'm back in the concrete jungle – traversing the long-winding Abu Dhabi-Dubai motorway to my one-bedroom apartment, the city's grey intensified by the picture of the island life Ramhan promises.
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- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
World Mental Health Day
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Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
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8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
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Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
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Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Grand Argentier, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
Winner: Arch Gold, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
Neighbourhood Watch
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
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Skewed figures
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Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
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The specs
Key facilities
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What's in the deal?
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India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
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Explained
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
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Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
