Where to invest in Dubai and the UAE: area research

Al Marjan Island

Man-made island group and the location of the Wynn Al Marjan Island integrated resort, driving RAK's branded-residence and hospitality pipeline.

Master developer

Marjan

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Apartments, branded residences, hotels

Al Reem Island

Established high-density island district close to the Abu Dhabi CBD, converted to full freehold status for all nationalities.

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Apartments, offices

Aljada

Arada's largest mixed-use master community in Sharjah, combining residential districts with a business and entertainment core.

Master developer

Arada

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Apartments, townhouses, offices

Business Bay

Central mixed-use business and residential district on the Dubai Water Canal, adjacent to Downtown Dubai.

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Apartments, offices, branded residences

DAMAC Hills

Established DAMAC golf-course master community in Dubailand, mixing villas, townhouses and apartment buildings around the Trump International Golf Club Dubai.

Master developer

DAMAC Properties

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Villas, townhouses, apartments

DAMAC Islands

DAMAC master community in Dubailand themed on island destinations, launched in 2024 and sold largely as townhouses and villas.

Master developer

DAMAC Properties

Stage

Emerging

Dominant types

Townhouses, villas

DAMAC Lagoons

DAMAC master community of Mediterranean-themed clusters around man-made lagoons, adjacent to DAMAC Hills, now extended by the DAMAC Lagoons District mixed-use core.

Master developer

DAMAC Properties

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Townhouses, villas, apartments, offices

DAMAC Riverside

DAMAC waterfront master community in Dubai Investments Park near Expo City, built around a water-canal spine with townhouse and apartment phases.

Master developer

DAMAC Properties

Stage

Emerging

Dominant types

Townhouses and apartments

Downtown Dubai

Emaar's flagship central district around Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall.

Master developer

Emaar Properties

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Apartments, branded residences, hotels

Dubai Creek Harbour

Emaar master community on Dubai Creek beside the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, planned around a central island district, marina and Dubai Square retail anchor.

Master developer

Emaar Properties

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Apartments, waterfront towers

Dubai Design District (d3)

Dubai Holding creative and design business district beside Business Bay, now being extended into a waterfront residential neighbourhood.

Master developer

Dubai Holding

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Apartments, offices, creative workspace

Dubai Hills Estate

Emaar and Meraas joint master community built around an 18-hole golf course, Dubai Hills Mall and a central park.

Master developer

Emaar Properties / Meraas

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Villas, townhouses, apartments

Dubai International Financial Centre

Dubai's financial free zone and independent legal jurisdiction, with a concentrated commercial, branded-residence and prime-apartment market.

Master developer

DIFC Authority

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Offices, apartments, branded residences

Dubai Islands

Nakheel master-developed archipelago off Deira, planned across five islands with beachfront villas, apartments and hotel plots.

Master developer

Nakheel

Stage

Emerging

Dominant types

Villas, apartments, hotels

Dubai Marina

Established high-rise waterfront district around a man-made marina, one of Dubai's deepest resale and rental markets.

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Apartments

Dubai South

Government-backed master district around Al Maktoum International Airport, combining logistics, aviation and residential districts.

Master developer

Dubai South Properties

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Apartments, townhouses, logistics

Emaar South

Emaar golf-course master community inside Dubai South, near Al Maktoum International Airport and Expo City.

Master developer

Emaar Properties

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Apartments, townhouses, villas

Expo City Dubai

Master-planned district on the Expo 2020 site in Dubai South, being converted into a mixed-use residential and business city.

Master developer

Expo City Dubai Authority

Stage

Emerging

Dominant types

Apartments, townhouses, offices

Hudayriyat Island

Modon-developed leisure and residential island off Abu Dhabi, combining sports and beach destinations with new residential districts.

Master developer

Modon Properties

Stage

Emerging

Dominant types

Villas, townhouses, apartments

Jumeirah Golf Estates

Established golf-course community around the Earth and Fire courses, host of the DP World Tour Championship, with villas, townhouses and low-rise apartments.

Master developer

Jumeirah Golf Estates

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Villas, townhouses, apartments

Jumeirah Village Circle

High-density freehold apartment district in central Dubai, dominated by mid-rise buildings from mid-market and emerging developers.

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Apartments, townhouses

Madinat Jumeirah Living

Meraas low-rise residential community opposite Madinat Jumeirah and the Burj Al Arab in Umm Suqeim.

Master developer

Meraas

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Apartments

Masaar

Arada forest-themed gated master community in Al Suyoh, Sharjah, delivered in villa and townhouse districts.

Master developer

Arada

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Villas and townhouses

Meydan

Mixed district around Meydan Racecourse and the Dubai Water Canal extension, including Meydan Horizon and District One.

Master developer

Meydan Group

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Apartments, villas

Mina Al Arab

RAK Properties waterfront master community with island, beach and lagoon districts including Raha Island.

Master developer

RAK Properties

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Apartments, villas

Mohammed Bin Rashid City

Large mixed master district south-east of Downtown Dubai, containing District One, Meydan Horizon and several developer sub-communities.

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Villas, apartments

Mohammed Bin Zayed City

Motor City

Established mid-market community around Dubai Autodrome, now the location of Sobha's Solis development.

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Apartments, townhouses

Nad Al Sheba Gardens

Meraas gated villa and townhouse community in Nad Al Sheba, close to Meydan and Downtown Dubai.

Master developer

Meraas

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Villas and townhouses

Palm Jebel Ali

Nakheel master-developed palm-shaped island community on Dubai's southern coastline, delivered in fronds of beachfront villas ahead of later apartment phases.

Master developer

Nakheel

Stage

Emerging

Dominant types

Beachfront villas

Palm Jumeirah

Completed Nakheel palm-shaped island with beachfront villas, apartment buildings, branded residences and resorts.

Master developer

Nakheel

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Villas, apartments, branded residences

RAK Central

Master developer

Marjan

Saadiyat Island

Aldar-led cultural and beachfront island holding the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the new Marsa Al Saadiyat waterfront phase.

Master developer

Aldar Properties

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Villas, apartments, branded residences

Siniya Island

Island master community developed by Sobha Realty under a partnership with Umm Al Quwain, planned around beachfront and golf districts.

Master developer

Sobha Realty

Stage

Emerging

Dominant types

Apartments, villas

Sobha Hartland

Sobha-developed freehold waterfront community inside Mohammed Bin Rashid City, largely delivered, with apartments, villas and two international schools on site.

Master developer

Sobha Realty

Stage

Established

Dominant types

Apartments, villas, townhouses

Sobha Hartland II

Sobha's second Mohammed Bin Rashid City master community, built around lagoons and still largely under construction.

Master developer

Sobha Realty

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Apartments, villas, townhouses

The Oasis by Emaar

Emaar villa and mansion master community on the Dubai–Al Ain corridor, planned around water canals, lakes and parkland.

Master developer

Emaar Properties

Stage

Emerging

Dominant types

Villas and mansions

The Valley

Emaar townhouse and villa master community on the Dubai–Al Ain Road.

Master developer

Emaar Properties

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Townhouses and villas

Uptown Dubai

Master developer

DMCC

Yas Island

Aldar leisure and residential island holding Ferrari World, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Mall and the new Yas Point waterfront destination.

Master developer

Aldar Properties

Stage

Developing

Dominant types

Apartments, villas