Abu Dhabi real estate developer Aldar has said that construction of its $14.7bn Al-Raha Beach development is likely to be delayed.

Speaking at the Middle East District Cooling 2010 conference in Abu Dhabi, Aldar Properties head of infrastructure Faisal al-Kamali said that the development was scheduled for completion by 2019, but “I don’t think it will be [finished] before then – probably afterwards.”

The project was launched in 2005 and was hailed as a major mixed use development along one of Abu Dhabi’s natural beach fronts. The project will house 120,000 people and is expected to have a daytime population of 160,000.

Located on the beach side of the main highway leading into Abu Dhabi from Dubai, the real estate development will consist of eleven precincts.