The Elegance of Restraint: Aedas Unveils Rixos Al Reem Residences in Abu Dhabi

A new chapter in branded waterfront living reshapes the Al Reem Island skyline through architecture, hospitality, and landscape integration.

The landscape of luxury branded living in the Gulf region expands with a new architectural milestone. Global architecture and design practice Aedas has revealed its design for the Rixos Al Reem Residences in Abu Dhabi. Commissioned by East&West International Group, the project reinforces the successful partnership between the developer and the practice led by Global Design Principal Ignacio Gomez, following their collaboration on the Rixos Financial Center Road Residences in Dubai—the first-ever Rixos-branded residential development worldwide.

Situated in a prime waterfront location on Al Reem Island, the development enters a dense urban context often characterized by repetitive glass façades. In response to this visual saturation, Aedas adopts a design language rooted in restraint and simplicity, where understated elegance becomes a defining architectural statement.

The tower’s massing and façade articulation are carefully engineered to optimize solar orientation, enhance indoor residential comfort, and capture panoramic views of the sea and the Abu Dhabi skyline. Rather than seeking formal eccentricity, the building establishes a clear, refined identity that engages seamlessly with natural light and its maritime setting.

At ground level, the podium plays a key role in connecting the development with the surrounding urban fabric. Landscaped terraces, green spaces, and activated edges turn the base into a permeable interface, fostering pedestrian activity and strengthening integration with the public realm.

Scheduled for completion in 2029, the project embodies a contemporary vision of hospitality-led residential design. With Rixos Al Reem Residences, Aedas expands its portfolio of integrated living environments across the Middle East, demonstrating that the core of successful branded architecture lies in the balance between bespoke identity and contextual sensitivity.

Under the design direction of Ignacio Gomez, the practice prioritized formal restraint over visual redundancy, optimizing building orientation and enhancing pedestrian connectivity at ground level through a landscape-integrated podium.

About Aedas

Aedas is one of the world’s leading global architecture and design practices. Driven by the belief that great design can only be delivered by people with a deep social and cultural understanding of the communities they design for, Aedas creates world-class design solutions tailored to the needs of cities and users worldwide. The practice’s international network supports projects spanning urban planning, commercial, residential, hospitality, and mixed-use developments, with a strong focus on shaping integrated, hospitality-led living environments across the Middle East.

Website: www.aedas.com
LinkedIn: Aedas on LinkedIn
Instagram Tag: @aedas_architects

About Ignacio Gomez | Design Director

Ignacio Gomez is the Global Design Principal at Aedas Middle East, leading the practice’s creative vision across the region. With extensive experience in complex master planning, high-rise residential towers, and luxury hospitality projects, his work is defined by a contextual approach that balances architectural innovation with environmental and cultural responsiveness. Under his leadership, Aedas has delivered landmark branded residential developments throughout the Gulf, including the Rixos Financial Center Road Residences in Dubai and the Rixos Al Reem Residences in Abu Dhabi.