Dubai Islands: The Next Chapter in Dubai’s Waterfront Living

A rendering of Dubai Islands with images of buildings, the ocean and boats.

Overview

Dubai Islands is Nakheel’s latest mega-development—a cluster of five interconnected man-made islands spanning 17 km² – equivalent to the size of 2,300 football pitches!

These series of islands are going to reshape the northern coastline. This huge project combines residential, hospitality, retail, and leisure to extend Dubai’s waterfront living, adding to the growing number of islands that accentuate our thriving coastlines.

Scale and Masterplan

Size and Units

Island A alone is designed for 28,500+ residential units, supported by ~80–85 hotels and resorts across the wider masterplan. Each island brings a mix of mid-rise apartments, villas, retail, and marina access.

Buildings and Services

Expect low to mid-rise buildings giving a more localized and mediterranean feel, community centres dotted around the residential communities, clinics, schools, and 21 kilometers of beautiful beaches. Lifestyle features include marinas, promenades, and Deira Mall, which will offer 600,000 m² of retail.

Location and Connectivity

Access

Dubai Islands sits just off Deira, linked via bridges to Al Khaleej Street. An additional 1.4 km bridge will further improve connectivity to Bur Dubai. Downtown Dubai is ~25 km away around 20–30 minutes by car, making it accessible for both residents and tenants. Dubai continues to spread north with incredible developments in Deira and Maritime City between Port Rashid and Dubai Drydocks.

Market and Pricing

Price Points

Early projects like Sunset Bay by Imtiaz launch from AED 1.7M–1.95m for furnished one-bedrooms, an excellent price point for furnished apartments on the beach. As of mid-2025, average off-plan sales are trending AED 2,160–2,340 psf, still significantly below Palm Jumeirah. Alongside Nakheel, developers like Imtiaz Developments are active, with handovers starting Q4 2026–2027. Other developers include Citi Devleopers, Prestige One Developments, Samana and Peach Homes. These projects will be flagship projects for these companies and they will have to signal excellent build quality, incredible amenities and top tier service in order to fit the mould that Nakheel has laid the foundation for over an incredible 20 year history.

Check out this video by Abhishek Trivedi, CEO and founder of Ura Homes Real Estate LLC about the benefits of investing in Dubai Islands today https://viewit.ae/social-listings/114

Why Invest in Dubai Islands

Dubai Islands presents a compelling investment case, offering waterfront affordability compared to Palm Jumeirah, with early-cycle entry positioning buyers ahead of later phase price increases. This community promises strong rental appeal thanks to upcoming retail, marinas, and hotels, while expanding bridges and infrastructure are set to further enhance long-term value. With the introduction of casions, Etihad Rail, the Al Maktoum Airport, Dubai South and Palm Jebel Ali all coming in the next 5 years, Dubai Islands is sure to be among the top infrastructure projects of this great city.

Conclusion

For buyers, Dubai Islands offers prime waterfront living at early pricing. For tenants, it means affordable sea-view homes with city connectivity both for North and South Dubai. This also marks a strategic urban expansion—creating a northern hub that diversifies tourism, relieves pressure on core districts, and reinforces the emirate’s position as a global real estate and hospitality destination. As always, keep checking Viewit for the latest information on real estate news and projects around the city!

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