HIGHLIGHTS
- Community overview
- Properties in area
- The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi
- Getting around
- School and clinics
- The Venetian Village
- Wahat Al Karama
- Abu Dhabi Ladies Club
- Things to consider
- FAQs
ABOUT KHOR AL MAQTA
Khor Al Maqta, also spelt Khor Al Maqta’a is a waterfront community set beside the Grand Canal Abu Dhabi, Khor Al Maqta. The residential district is home to the renowned war memorial, Wahat Al Karama and two 5-star hotels; The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi and Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel. The community is connected to the emirate’s mainland through Mussafah Bridge, Maqta Bridge and Sheikh Zayed Bridge.
IN A NUTSHELL
- A waterfront community in Abu Dhabi
- Offers villas in unique layouts
- Home to the war monument, Wahat Al Karama
- The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi and Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel are situated in the community
- Connected to three bridges; Mussafah Bridge, Maqta Bridge and Sheikh Zayed Bridge
NEIGHBOURHOOD
COMMUNITY OVERVIEW
Khor Al Maqta offers a lively and active lifestyle with a range of communal and recreational facilities. The residential district is home to notable landmarks and popular tourist spots such as The Venetian Village and Abu Dhabi Ladies Club. For housing options in the community, tenants can find spacious villas in different configurations for rent.
PROPERTIES IN KHOR AL MAQTA
Properties in Khor Al Maqta include villas, available in different layouts. These villas come with spacious living rooms, bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a balcony and a maid’s room with a bathroom. The availability of a storage room, laundry room and private pool and garden depends upon the type of villa you are renting.
HOTELS IN KHOR AL MAQTA
There are two hotels in Khor Al Maqta:
- The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi
- Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel
The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi is a 5-star beach resort in Khor Al Maqta that features state-of-the-art facilities and amenities. Guests can choose from rooms, suites and private villas, each offering breath-taking views of the pool, beach or gardens. The Venetian-inspired hotel has a private beach, several casual and fine dining restaurants, meeting space and a Club Level Lounge.
Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel (AFOCH) is a 5-star hotel featuring 294 luxurious rooms. It consists of one of the biggest gyms in Abu Dhabi, a dedicated gym for ladies and several dining options. The hotel also has an Olympic-sized pool, paintballing and bowling alley, FIFA-certified football pitches and an indoor shooting range. The hotel also offers meeting rooms and a kids’ village as a part of its facilities.
TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING SPACES IN KHOR AL MAQTA
Finding a parking spot won’t be difficult as each villa comes with a dedicated parking spot for one or two vehicles. The street parking facility is available for visitors.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN KHOR AL MAQTA
The public transportation in Khor Al Maqta includes bus and taxi services. Residents can get Bus 44 from Abu Dhabi Hills, located at a 7-minute drive from the community. Other bus stations nearby are Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station and Mussafah Al Ain University Bus Station.
The residential district has a well-connected road and street network, which help residents commute to the rest of the emirate. Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street and Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street cut through the community, connecting it to the neighbouring areas. Mussafah Bridge, Maqta Bridge and Sheikh Zayed Bridge also provide easy access to mainland areas.
AMENITIES, SCHOOLS AND HEALTHCARE
SUPERMARKETS NEAR KHOR AL MAQTA
There are plenty of supermarkets near Khor Al Maqta from where residents can shop for daily essentials. These include Captain Baqala, ZOOM, Souq Planet and F Mart Supermarket. Some of the best supermarkets in Abu Dhabi near the neighbourhood are Rich & Fresh Supermarket, Spinneys and Carrefour. It will require less than a 10-minute drive to purchase groceries from these convenience stores.
CHURCHES, TEMPLES AND MOSQUES IN KHOR AL MAQTA
Muslims can offer their daily prayers in Khor Al Maqta Mosque and Officers Club Mosque in Khor Al Maqta. For congregational prayers, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is situated at a 4-minute drive from the neighbourhood. The largest mosque of the emirate can accommodate 55,000 worshippers every day.
Those who follow Christianity can visit churches near the community within a 13 to 15-minute drive. These include some of the best Abu Dhabi churches, such as St. Joseph’s Cathedral, New Vision Tamil Church Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Assembly of God Church (ADAG).
SCHOOLS NEAR KHOR AL MAQTA
There are plenty of options for parents of preschoolers near the community. MindChamps Nursery, Bright Kids Nursery and International Montessori Nursery are a few of the best nurseries in Abu Dhabi situated close to the neighbourhood. Falcon British Nursery near Khor Al Maqta is the only UK-accredited nursery in Abu Dhabi offering full e-learning options, year-round care, corporate and sibling discount and a range of facilities. All the above-mentioned nurseries are accessible within a 10 to 15-minute drive.
Brighton College Abu Dhabi is one of the best schools in Abu Dhabi following the British curriculum for students from Nursery to Year 13. The school provides a learning environment to encourage students along with a range of state-of-the-art facilities including a sports hall, a theatre, photography and dance studios and shaded play areas. Residents can reach the school in an 8-minute drive via Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street. Other schools near Khor Al Maqta are American International School and Al Yasmina Academy.
Those looking for higher education institutes will be glad to know that it is located in proximity to some of the best universities in Abu Dhabi. These include Khalifa University, Al Hosn University and Zayed University. All these universities near the neighbourhood are accessible within a 15 to 17-minute drive.
CLINICS AND HOSPITALS NEAR KHOR AL MAQTA
Residents in search of medical assistance can head to some of the best hospitals in Abu Dhabi after driving for around 10 to 15-minutes. Mediclinic Airport Road Hospital, Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children and LLH Hospital Mussafah are a few hospitals near Khor Al Maqta. Other healthcare facilities nearby are Aster Clinic, Skin Institute Dermatology Clinic and Dr Massefa Medical Centre.
NEARBY AREAS
Khor Al Maqta is surrounded by popular residential and commercial areas of Abu Dhabi. It shares the border from the western side with Al Rawdah and Hills Abu Dhabi while Al Muntazah is situated on the north-western side of the community. If you move ahead towards the west via Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street, Al Sa’adah and Al Mushrif are located here. Located between Mussafah Bridge and Al Maqta Bridge, the residential district Al Maqtaa lies towards the east. Other nearby areas include Khalifa City A and Zayed City.
LIFESTYLE
SHOPPING, DINING AND NIGHTLIFE
MALLS NEAR KHOR AL MAQTA

The Souk at Qaryat Al Beri is a popular shopping destination near the community. Located adjacent to Shangri-La Hotel, The Souk at Qaryat Al Beri is considered one of the best souks in Abu Dhabi. It is spread over an area of 6,000 sq. m. featuring several retail and F&B outlets of famous brands around the world. Visitors can experience the fusion of Arabian architecture and Venetian themes at Souk while enjoying Abra rides and dining at terraces of restaurants overlooking the waters. Residents can reach the souk in a short drive of 7-minutes from the community. Other shopping malls near Khor Al Maqta are Mushrif Mall and Al Wahda Mall. Both the best Abu Dhabi shopping malls are accessible within a 20-minute drive from the community.
RESTAURANTS IN KHOR AL MAQTA
The Venetian Village in Khor Al Maqta is the newest dining destination inspired by Venice and Renaissance’s urban planning. It is spread over 20,000 sq. m. at the Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi, featuring a collection of cafes and casual and fine dining restaurants.
Enjoy the Mediterranean food at Todd English’s Olives created by an award-winning chef Todd English or try the traditional Japanese dishes at Tokyo Grill. The creative menu of Barfly by Buddha Bar and the French fare of La Brasserie is must-try dining options of the Venetian Village. It is also home to Punjab Grill, which is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Abu Dhabi, serving the signature cuisine of North India and Punjab. Other restaurants in Khor Al Maqta are Giornotte, Mijana and The Forge, situated in the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
BEACHES NEAR KHOR AL MAQTA
Khor Al Maqta is a waterfront community where residents will find plenty of residential properties offering spectacular views of the Grand Canal. Those planning to visit Abu Dhabi beaches will have to drive for 20 to 25 minutes towards the west. The popular options include Saadiyat Beach and Corniche Beach. Residents can also opt for a luxury destination, Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi which is one of the best beach resorts in Abu Dhabi featuring a private beach and a range of water sports activities.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND NOTABLE LANDMARKS
Wahat Al Karama is a war memorial in Khor Al Maqta inaugurated in 2016 to pay a tribute to the Emirati martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country. The word Wahat means ‘oasis’ and Karama means dignity, the monument symbolises the endless dignity of heroes.
Spread over an area of 46,000 sq. m., Wahat Al Karama is located near the UAE Armed Forces General Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence, offering spectacular views of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It was constructed upon the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE. The monument was designed by Idris Khan and it consists of four sections;
- Visitor Center – it has four galleries, a guestbook and a souvenir shop
- The Memorial Plaza – there is an amphitheatre, a plaza with a shallow pool and a waterfall in the plaza
- The Memorial – visitors will see 31 aluminium-clad tablets leaning against each other, engraved with poems and quotes
- Pavilion of Honor – the ceiling in the pavilion is covered with eight panels representing seven emirates and the UAE heroes and a glass sculpture
The monument is open for individual and group tours and both Arabic and English guides are available at the Visitor Centre. Other landmarks near the community are Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Zayed Sports City.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, FITNESS AND BEAUTY
Khor Al Maqta Park is a popular recreational facility in the area. It has paved walkways, shaded seating areas and a play area for children. The park also has barbecue areas where you can prepare meals while socialising. Other parks in the Khor Al Maqta are Khaleej Al Arabi Park and Officers Club Park.
Those looking for indoor fitness options can find plenty of fitness centres near the community. These include Rihan Heights Gym, Adrenagy Training Club and Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club. It will take a 7 to 10-minute drive to reach these gyms.
Abu Dhabi Ladies Club in Khor Al Maqta is a one-of-its-kind facility for UAE and expatriate women. The club features a sports section with an indoor swimming pool, sports hall and squash court, along with a restaurant, gym, spa and a kid’s play area. It is home to BeautySpot Salon offering premium services for nail, hair and other beauty treatments.
Pace A Luce is a unisex salon offering a range of beauty care treatments, including hair, makeup, nail care and facial treatment. It is located in the Spa Building of The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
While Khor Al Maqta doesn’t have its own community events, visitors can attend events held at Wahat Al Karama. These include a ceremony of salute at the flag, a musical band and horse riding.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Khor Al Maqta is a family-friendly district with a range of amenities and facilities. However, singletons do not have as many options in the community.
FAQs ABOUT KHOR AL MAQTA
Where is Khor Al Maqta located?
Khor Al Maqta is a waterway that separates Abu Dhabi from the mainland. It is connected with the mainland via Mussafah Bridge and Maqta Bridge.
How far is Khor Al Maqta from the central city?
It will take a 12-minute drive to reach the central city from Khor Al Maqta.
Location
- Abu Dhabi International Airport is located at a 14-minute drive
- A 15-minute drive to Al Reem Island and Mussafah
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is situated 20-minutes away
- It will take a 13-minute drive to reach Dalma Mall Abu Dhabi