Living on Dubai Islands.
Five islands between the Creek and Al Mamzar: what is open today, what is being built, how they connect to the city, and what homes cost there.
The area
From Palm Deira to Dubai Islands.
Nakheel launched Palm Deira in 2004; reclamation stopped in 2008 and the project was scaled down as Deira Islands in 2013. On 22 August 2022 Nakheel unveiled the Dubai Islands master plan: five islands, beaches, parks, golf, more than 80 resorts and hotels.
In April 2026 Nakheel described 18.6 km² across five interconnected islands, about 57 km of coastline including 21 km of beachfront, and more than 231,000 future residents in 49,000 homes. The islands are one polygon in OpenStreetMap and Nakheel publishes no island boundaries: the sections below follow the shore.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
* Indicative “from” prices, 29 Sept 2026, confirmed in writing with each enquiry.
Dubai Islands Beach · hotels open since 2020
The beach & the resorts
The part of the islands already alive: a free public beach, the first resorts and the first handed-over homes.
Hotel Riu Dubai (800 rooms) opened here in December 2020 and Centara Mirage Beach Resort (607 rooms) in October 2021. Dubai Islands Beach, opened by Nakheel in May 2023, is free, open from sunrise to sunset and lets dogs swim.
Around it: Imtiaz’s Beach Walk buildings, the first handed over on the islands in 2026, Nakheel’s Rixos residences on their own 700-metre beach, and the first JW Marriott Residences in Dubai.
Photo- Hotels open
- Hotel Riu Dubai (800 rooms, Dec 2020) · Centara Mirage (607 rooms, Oct 2021) · Sea Point Hotel, ex-Park Regis (159 keys, Mar 2024)
- The beach
- Free, sunrise to sunset, dogs allowed (Nakheel, 2023)
- First keys
- Beach Walk Residence, handed over early 2026 (Imtiaz)
Under 2MDeveloper renderMGS Development · The beach & the resortsEdgewater Residences
Three buildings two blocks back from the beach, by a developer with no completed project yet.
Under construction1–3 bedFromAED 1.47M*Handover2026
Under 2MDeveloper renderImtiaz Developments · The beach & the resortsBeach Walk Residence I, II & III
The first homes handed over on Dubai Islands: three boutique buildings on the beach, next to the future mall.
Ready & under constructionStudio–3 bedFromAED 1.9M*Handover2026
2 – 3MDeveloper renderImtiaz Developments · The beach & the resortsBeach Walk Grand I & II
Imtiaz’s larger Beach Walk buildings, facing the beach between the resorts and the future mall.
Under construction1–4 bedFromAED 2.1M*Handover2026–27Samana Developers · The beach & the resortsSamana Ocean Crest
Sixty-three homes with a clubhouse, an arcade and a children’s pool.
Off-plan1–4 bedFromAED 2.15M*
2 – 3MDeveloper renderCG Developers · The beach & the resortsJW Marriott Residences Dubai Islands
The first JW Marriott-branded residences in Dubai, 115 homes with concierge and valet.
Under construction1–3 bedFromAED 2.37M*HandoverQ1 2028
2 – 3MDeveloper renderNakheel · The beach & the resortsRixos Dubai Islands Hotel & Residences
Nakheel’s resort residences on a secluded cove, with a 700-metre beach for residents and Rixos hotel services.
Under construction1–3 bed, duplexes, villasFromAED 2.6M*Handover2026–27Nakheel Marinas · boutique buildings
The marina & the west shore
The densest cluster of new buildings, around the Dubai Islands marina and the west-facing shore.
Nakheel Marinas Dubai Islands opened in May 2023 with 248 wet berths for boats of up to 47 metres, 40 dry berths and room for 13 superyachts. The mid-rise buildings around it are mostly by Imtiaz (Sunset Bay, Cotier House, Wynwood), with Ellington Sands, LIV Oceanside and boutique developers alongside.
Almost everything here is under construction, with handovers announced from late 2026 to 2028; the west shore faces the sunset and the Port Rashid skyline.
Illustration (AI)- The marina
- 248 wet berths (up to 47 m), 40 dry berths, 13 superyacht spaces (Nakheel, 2023)
- Handovers
- Late 2026 to 2028, by building (announced)
- Developers
- Imtiaz, Ellington, LIV, Metac, Fakhruddin, One Development and others
Under 2MDeveloper renderFakhruddin Properties · The marina & the west shoreHatimi Residences
Fakhruddin’s wellness building on the edge of the island: AI home automation and hydrogen-enriched drinking water.
Under construction1–4 bedFromAED 1.65M*HandoverQ4 2026
Under 2MDeveloper renderImtiaz Developments · The marina & the west shoreSunset Bay 1 – 5
Five boutique buildings facing west over the water, the most affordable way into a finished Imtiaz building on the islands.
Under construction1–3 bedFromAED 1.69M*Handover2026–27
Under 2MDeveloper renderEllington Properties · The marina & the west shoreEllington Sands
Ellington’s first beachfront address, launched as Ellington Cove: four buildings with a private beach and a beach club.
Under constructionStudio–4 bedFromAED 1.7M*HandoverQ4 2028Metac Properties · The marina & the west shoreHaven Bay
Metac’s second building, with private pools, a zen garden and an outdoor theatre.
Under construction1–4 bedFromAED 1.78M*
Under 2MDeveloper renderImtiaz Developments · The marina & the west shoreBeach Walk 4
The fourth Beach Walk building, by the Dubai Islands marina, still on sale at the developer.
Under construction1–3 bedFromAED 1.94M*HandoverJune 2027
2 – 3MDeveloper renderOne Development · The marina & the west shoreDO Hotels & Residences
Managed residences with two recording studios, created by One Development with the singer Amr Diab.
Under constructionStudio–3 bedFromAED 2.19M*HandoverQ4 2027
2 – 3MDeveloper renderImtiaz Developments · The marina & the west shoreWynwood by Imtiaz
Imtiaz’s tallest building on the islands so far: 18 storeys, with private-pool duplexes.
Under construction1–3 bed + duplexesFromAED 2.24M*HandoverQ3 2027
2 – 3MDeveloper renderImtiaz Developments · The marina & the west shoreSunset Bay Grand
The Sunset Bay flagship, with a glass-bottom sky pool.
Under construction1–3 bedFromAED 2.29M*HandoverDecember 2027
2 – 3MDeveloper renderImtiaz Developments · The marina & the west shoreCotier House I & II
Two marina-front buildings by Imtiaz, designed with AE7, with duplexes and a townhouse.
Under construction1–3 bed + duplexesFromAED 2.4M*Handover2027
2 – 3MDeveloper renderLIV Developers · The marina & the west shoreLIV Oceanside
A 17-storey tower on the marina with private berths and three full wellness floors.
Under construction1–3 bed + duplexesFromAED 2.4M*HandoverNovember 2027Facing Deira · by the bridges
The Souk Al Marfa waterfront
The channel side facing Deira, where the bridges land: the old souk waterfront, now lined with new residential buildings.
Souk Al Marfa opened in August 2021 with 400 stores along a 1.9 km waterfront; Khaleej Times reported in April 2024 that very few shops were open and that Nakheel’s new brochures replace it with waterfront residences and an arts and culture district. Its status today is unconfirmed.
Samana, Azizi, Octa (with Missoni interiors), Grovy (Ramada by Wyndham) and Imtiaz (Sea Cliff) build here, next to Haven Living, the first residential building on the islands to receive its completion certificate.
Photo · Iwona Rege, CC BY-SA 4.0- Access
- Bridges from Al Khaleej Street, Deira
- Ready now
- Haven Living (completion certificate, March 2026)
- Souk Al Marfa
- Opened 2021; current status unconfirmed
Under 2MDeveloper renderMetac Properties · The Souk Al Marfa waterfrontHaven Living
The first residential building on Dubai Islands with a completion certificate: large layouts, ready to live in or let.
Ready1–4 bedFromAED 1.6M*HandoverReady
Under 2MDeveloper renderAzizi Developments · The Souk Al Marfa waterfrontAzizi Wasel
Azizi’s only Dubai Islands building: studios to penthouses with a cinema, a clubhouse and shops.
Under construction1–4 bedFromAED 1.68M*Handover2027–28
Under 2MDeveloper renderImtiaz Developments · The Souk Al Marfa waterfrontSea Cliff
A 600-million-dirham, 170-home building, with interiors in partnership with Hermès.
Under construction1–4 bedFromAED 2M*Handover2028
2 – 3MDeveloper renderGrovy Developers · The Souk Al Marfa waterfrontRamada Residences by Wyndham
Wyndham-branded residences by Grovy: 68 homes with a golf simulator, a cinema and a spa.
Under construction1–4 bedFromAED 2.3M*HandoverQ3 2027
2 – 3MDeveloper renderOcta Properties · The Souk Al Marfa waterfrontOcta Isle Interiors by Missoni
Two- to five-bedroom homes with interiors by the Italian fashion house Missoni, on Island A.
Under construction2–5 bedFromAED 2.37M*HandoverQ3 2027
2 – 3MDeveloper renderSamana Developers · The Souk Al Marfa waterfrontSamana Ocean Bay
Two buildings with an outdoor cinema, a hammock garden and meditation decks.
Under construction2–4 bedFromAED 2.89M*Handover2028
3 – 6MDeveloper renderSamana Developers · The Souk Al Marfa waterfrontSamana Ocean Pearl 1 & 2
Samana’s first Dubai Islands buildings: every home with its own pool.
Under construction1–4 bed, private poolsFromAED 3.94M*Handover2026–27Nakheel’s villas · Siora · Meriva
Island B
The eastern island, where Nakheel is building its Bay Villas and Bay Grove communities, next to Beyond’s Siora and Ellington’s Meriva.
Nakheel awarded the AED 2.6 billion Bay Villas contract in August 2025 and a AED 527 million contract for Island B’s roads, utilities and district-cooling link in April 2026. Bay Grove Residences follows with 1,154 homes in 15 buildings.
Beyond (Omniyat) calls Siora a 2-million-sq-ft beachfront master plan with 6 km of continuous beach; Ellington places The Meriva Collection on Island B. Handovers run from 2027 to 2030.
Illustration (AI)- Infrastructure
- AED 527 million contract, April 2026 (Nakheel)
- Nakheel homes
- Bay Villas 636 · Bay Grove 1,154 (Dubai Holding)
- Handovers
- 2027 to 2030, by project (announced)
Under 2MDeveloper renderNakheel · Island BBay Grove Residences
Fifteen apartment buildings on green podiums facing Crystal Beach, Nakheel’s largest apartment release on the islands.
Off-plan1–4 bedFromAED 1.85M*Handover2028–29
2 – 3MDeveloper renderBeyond (Omniyat) · Island BHado by Beyond
The first homes of Siora, the 2-million-sq-ft beachfront master plan of Omniyat’s Beyond on Dubai Islands.
Off-plan1–4 bedFromAED 2.16M*HandoverQ3 2029
2 – 3MDeveloper renderEllington Properties · Island BThe Meriva Collection
Ellington’s first hospitality-led project: five buildings, a beachfront residence and a hotel around a lagoon.
Off-plan1–5 bedFromAED 2.7M*HandoverJune 2030
3 – 6MDeveloper renderNakheel · Island BBay Villas
Nakheel’s gated villa community on Dubai Islands B, with 1.3 km of beach and a rock-edge promenade.
Under constructionTownhouses & villasFromAED 4M*Handover2027The next phases of the master plan
Island E & the next islands
The islands still to be built: Bay Estate on Island E, and the golf, park and resort land of the 2022 master plan.
Nakheel’s 2022 master plan includes premium golf courses, about two square kilometres of parks and more than 80 resorts and hotels. None of the golf courses is open, and Nakheel publishes no island boundaries or timetable for these phases.
Property Finder lists Bay Estate as the first residential community on Island E, with townhouses and villas; it had not been announced by Nakheel by 29 September 2026.
Illustration (AI)- Planned
- Golf courses, ~2 km² of parks, 80+ resorts and hotels (Nakheel, 2022)
- First project
- Bay Estate (pre-launch)
Daily life
Beaches, boats and the first resorts.
What there is to do today, and what is still planned. We only list what is open, and say so when it is not.
Dubai Islands Beach
Opened by Nakheel in May 2023: free, open from sunrise to sunset, and the first family beach in Dubai where dogs may swim, with a 460 m² dog park.
The resorts
Hotel Riu Dubai (800 rooms, December 2020), Centara Mirage Beach Resort (607 rooms, October 2021) and the Sea Point Hotel, ex-Park Regis (159 keys, March 2024). The Rixos is under construction.
Nakheel Marinas
Opened in May 2023 with 248 wet berths for boats of up to 47 m, 40 dry berths and 13 superyacht spaces.
Souk Al Marfa
Opened in August 2021 with 400 stores on 1.9 km of waterfront; Khaleej Times reported very few shops open in April 2024. Status today unconfirmed.
Deira Mall
Designed at 600,000 m² with 1,100 retail spaces; the site is still under construction in OpenStreetMap and no opening date is published.
Golf and parks
The 2022 master plan includes golf courses and about two square kilometres of parks; none of the golf courses is open yet.
Getting around
Close to the airport, by road.
Today the islands are reached by bridges from Al Khaleej Street, fed by Infinity Bridge from Bur Dubai. A 1,425 m, eight-lane bridge from the islands to Bur Dubai (AED 786 million) is targeted for the end of 2026, and the Al Khaleej Street tunnel was 80 % complete in May 2026. There is no metro station on the islands.
Schools nearby
- Al Ittihad Private School, Al Mamzar · American · 3.8 km · KHDA “Good”
- Sabari Indian School, Hor Al Anz · Indian · 3.7 km · KHDA “Good”
- Dubai Scholars Private School, Al Qusais · British · 6.2 km · KHDA “Good”
- The Millennium School, Al Qusais · Indian · 6.4 km · KHDA “Very Good”
- American International School, Al Qusais · American · 6.5 km · KHDA “Good”
Straight-line distances from Hotel Riu Dubai. KHDA ratings as listed by WhichSchoolAdvisor on 5 June 2026 (2023-24 inspection cycle); check the latest report before enrolling. No school is open on the islands yet.
- DXB airport
- Terminal 1: 12.6 km, 15 min · Terminal 3: 13.1 km, 22 min
- Burj Khalifa · Downtown
- 18.2 km, 20 min
- DIFC
- 15.7 km, 18 min
- City Centre Deira
- 10.1 km, 14 min
- Dubai Marina Mall
- 35.9 km, 34 min
- Metro
- Gold Souq (Green Line): 5.8 km, 8 min · no line to the islands announced
Road distances and free-flow times computed from Hotel Riu Dubai on OpenStreetMap data (OSRM router), 29 September 2026. Journey times depend on traffic.
Market figures
Prices, rents and yields.
Average prices and rents per square foot from Bayut’s August 2026 indices, and our count of the sales registered with the Dubai Land Department (area “Palm Deira”) in 2026.
| Dubai Islands | Sale, AED / sq ft (12 months) | Rent, AED / sq ft / year (12 months) | Gross yield · indicative, not guaranteed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartments | 2,473 (+5.98 %) | 123 (−1.35 %) | ≈ 5.0 % |
| Villas | 2,041 (+0.07 %) | — | — |
| All properties | 2,448 (+5.39 %) | — | — |
| DLD sales, H1 2026 (our count) | 3,598 sales · AED 13.02 billion · 2,729 / sq ft | Almost all off-plan | — |
Sources: Bayut sale and rental indices for Dubai Islands, data as of August 2026; Dubai Land Department open data (area “Palm Deira”, sales only), counted by us on 29 September 2026: 3,598 sales worth AED 13,023,877,202 from January to June 2026, weighted AED 2,729 per sq ft, with no ready apartment resale in the period. Gross yield = average rent per sq ft ÷ average sale price per sq ft, computed by us (123 ÷ 2,473): gross, before fees and service charges, indicative and not guaranteed. The sale index is mostly off-plan while rents come from the few finished buildings, so treat it with care.
Questions
Living on Dubai Islands, explained.
It is still a building site: the first homes were handed over in 2026 and there is no school, clinic or supermarket on the islands yet. Schools rated Good to Very Good are 4 to 7 km away in Al Mamzar and Al Qusais, and Dubai Hospital, Al Kuwait Hospital and Belhoul Speciality Hospital are about 2.3 km away in Al Baraha.
An indicative gross yield of about 5.0 % for apartments, computed from Bayut’s August 2026 indices, before service charges; it is not guaranteed and rests on few finished buildings. Ask us for the rents actually achieved in a given building.
Because the DLD area was named when the project was Palm Deira. Sales on Dubai Islands are still registered under “Palm Deira”, and the nearest metro in those records is “Palm Deira”, the former name of Gold Souq station.
Nakheel’s page names Central, Marina, Shore, Golf and Elite islands, while its releases since 2025 use letters (Island A, Island B) and portals mention Island E. Nakheel does not publish which letter matches which name, so we do not guess: each project page gives the location its developer states.
The 2022 master plan announced a Blue Flag beach, and in December 2023 Nakheel said eight of its beaches at Jebel Ali, Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Islands held Blue Flag status, without saying how many are on Dubai Islands.
Sources · Facts checked 29 September 2026
- en.wikipedia.org · wiki/Dubai_Islands
- mediaoffice.ae · en/news/2022/August/22-08/Nakheel-unveils-Master-Plan-vision-for-Dubai-Islands
- nakheel.com · en/media-centre/press-releases/news-detail/2026/04/20/nakheel-awards-aed-527-mil
- nakheel.com · en/developments/nakheel-collections/dubaiislands
- timeoutdubai.com · news/dubai-beach-for-dogs-opens-at-dubai-islands-beach
- mediaoffice.ae · en/news/2025/april/06-04/rta-awards-contract-for-construction-of-bridges-connect
- constructionreviewonline.com · rta-awards-aed-786-million-contract-for-dubai-island-bur-dubai-8-lane-bridge/
- mediaoffice.ae · en/news/2026/may/17-05/rta
- mediaoffice.ae · en/news/2023/december/28-12/nakheel-blue-flag
- whichschooladvisor.com · uae/school-news/the-complete-list-of-khda-ratings-for-dubai-private-schools-2026
- openstreetmap.org · relation/8122161
- bayut.com · property-market-analysis/index/sale/apartments/dubai/dubai-islands/
- bayut.com · property-market-analysis/index/sale/villas/dubai/dubai-islands/
- bayut.com · property-market-analysis/index/sale/properties/dubai/dubai-islands/
- bayut.com · property-market-analysis/index/rent/apartments/dubai/dubai-islands/
- dubailand.gov.ae · en/open-data/real-estate-data/
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