en.Wedoany.com Reported - Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer Mered has recently launched the Bay Villas project on Al Reem Island, a collection of five waterfront residences, each named after an iconic city along the French Riviera, with design inspiration drawn from the characteristics of the eponymous destinations.
Designed by London-based interior design studio Dseesion, these villas are part of Mered's landmark waterfront project, "Riviera Residences," which is master-planned by the architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron. A notable architectural feature of the villas is the private internal courtyards; these landscaped spaces, rooted in regional tradition, serve as secluded oases within each home, offering natural light, privacy, and a sense of tranquility rare in modern waterfront developments.
Michael Belton, CEO of Mered, stated at the project launch that the core of contemporary luxury lies in individuality, and buyers are seeking homes with genuine character that cannot be replicated. The goal of Bay Villas is precisely to shape distinctive living spaces, with each villa having a unique design inspiration and a different relationship with the waterfront, blending the enduring influence of the French Riviera with the local cultural heritage of Abu Dhabi.
Riviera Residences occupies a prime waterfront position on Reem Island, one of Abu Dhabi's most active residential districts and part of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM, the Abu Dhabi International Financial Centre). The entire project will offer over 400 apartments and 11 villas, including Sky Villas, Bay Villas, and a penthouse, in addition to landscaped gardens and a waterfront promenade. The promenade itself constitutes a destination, featuring boutique retail stores, fine dining restaurants, and cafes along its length, offering expansive water views.
Mered's Bay Villas are located directly on the waterfront promenade, offering unobstructed views of the sea and the Al Reem skyline. They are a three-minute walk from the beach club and have direct access to the overall resort-style amenities of Riviera Residences. Mered added that these amenities include over 15,000 plants integrated into the landscape, four swimming pools, wellness facilities, lounges, a 17-story Sky Garden, and five themed children's areas.
Mered noted that the project reflects the ongoing evolution of Abu Dhabi's high-end residential market, with demand shifting towards design-led homes that prioritize privacy, architectural character, and long-term value. The landscape design was conceived by the Paris-based firm Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, working in close collaboration with Herzog & de Meuron. The landscaping serves not merely as decoration but to shape the microclimate, enhance shading, create visual privacy, and reinforce the sense of resort seclusion.
Preparation work for Riviera Residences is complete, and construction is progressing as planned, with the first phase delivery targeted for the first quarter of 2029.
