Dubai Islands

Dubai Islands is a group of five man-made islands off the Deira coast, developed by Nakheel and known as Deira Islands until it was renamed in 2022. The islands sit just north of the old city, between the mouth of Dubai Creek and Al Mamzar, and are reached by bridge from Deira. Nakheel's master plan covers beaches, marinas, parks, golf, hotels and homes, with long stretches of shoreline facing the Gulf.

Some of it is already open. Resort hotels including Hotel RIU Dubai and Centara Mirage Beach Resort are operating, and there is a public beach with Blue Flag certification. The rest is largely a construction site: most residential projects, from Nakheel's own Bay Villas and Bay Grove Residences to apartment buildings by private developers such as Ellington, are off-plan, with handovers spread from late 2026 to the end of the decade.

Buying here is a bet on how the islands will feel when they are finished. The appeal is new beachfront homes close to the airport and the older parts of the city. The risks are years of construction, community facilities that do not exist yet, and a resident population that will take time to grow. It suits patient buyers more than anyone who needs a finished neighbourhood now.

• 01

  New beaches

  The islands add many kilometres of new shoreline to Dubai, including a public beach that holds Blue Flag certification for water quality and safety.

• 02

  Close to the airport

  Dubai International Airport is about 15 to 20 minutes away by car, which suits frequent flyers and airline staff.

• 03

  Hotels already open

  Hotel RIU Dubai and Centara Mirage Beach Resort are running, and more hotels and branded residences, including a Rixos, are under construction.

• 04

  Old Dubai next door

  The Gold Souk, Al Ras and the Deira waterfront are a short drive across the bridge, and Al Mamzar Beach Park is close by.

For now, daily life on the islands is limited. The hotels have restaurants and pools that are open to visitors, and the beaches are the main draw at weekends. Groceries, schools and most services are on the mainland in Deira and Al Mamzar, a short drive across the bridge, with Al Ghurair Centre and Deira City Centre about 15 to 20 minutes away.

Nakheel's plans include marinas, golf courses, parks and retail on the islands, but residents should expect to rely on Deira for everyday needs for several years. The upside of the location is the old city on the doorstep: the souks, the Creek and its abra crossings, and Al Mamzar Beach Park are all close.

There is no metro on the islands. The nearest stations are on the Green Line in Deira, such as Gold Souk and Al Ras, a short drive from the bridges. By road, Al Khaleej Road runs along the Deira waterfront to the Infinity Bridge, which crosses the mouth of Dubai Creek to Bur Dubai, and routes through Deira lead to the airport and to Sharjah. Traffic in Deira and towards Sharjah can be slow at peak times.

There are no schools on Dubai Islands yet. Families currently look at schools on the mainland in Deira, Al Mamzar, Al Qusais and Al Garhoud, or at Deira International School in Dubai Festival City, about 20 minutes away. For healthcare, Dubai Hospital in Al Baraha is about 10 minutes away, and Deira has plenty of private clinics and medical centres.

Almost everything for sale is off-plan. The mix includes Nakheel's Bay Villas, with townhouses and villas, some on the beach, and Bay Grove Residences, with apartments; apartments, townhouses and villas at Rixos Dubai Islands Hotel and Residences; and apartment projects by private developers, including Ellington Cove and Ellington Sands. Nakheel sells plots to other developers, so expect many more launches and a wide range of build quality.

Before committing, look at the developer's track record, the handover date and payment schedule, and how close the plot is to the beach and to finished roads and services. Rental demand may take time to build in the first years after handover, while the islands fill up, so investors should plan for that. Buyers so far are a mix of investors and end users buying for the future, mostly on payment plans.