Dubai Islands: the area, the buildings and what homes sell for

What is Dubai Islands

Dubai Islands is a group of man-made islands off the coast of Deira, built by the master developer Nakheel, with a planned area of 17 square kilometres.

Nakheel published a master plan for Dubai Islands in August 2022. The Dubai Media Office reported the plan on 22 August 2022. The plan describes five islands. The plan gives a total area of 17 square kilometres.

The project had a different name before 2022. Dubai Eye 103.8 reported in August 2022 that Dubai Islands was formerly Deira Islands. Dubai Eye also reported that the project is aligned to the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.

The master developer

Nakheel is the master developer of Dubai Islands. In its press release of 22 August 2022, published by Zawya, Nakheel calls itself a Dubai-based master developer. The same release lists its master developments. The list includes Palm Jumeirah, The World, Jumeirah Village, Al Furjan, International City and Dubai Islands.

Nakheel now has a new parent group. Yahoo Finance reported on 21 April 2026 that Nakheel is part of Dubai Holding Real Estate.

Size and scale

Sources give different figures for the size of the project. The figures come from different versions of the plan.

• Area: Sources disagree. Nakheel's 2022 plan gives 17 square kilometres. MEED's report on the 2013 Deira Islands launch gives 15.3 square kilometres. The two figures belong to different versions of the plan.
• Number of islands: Sources disagree. Nakheel describes five islands. Wikipedia describes four artificial islands.
• Coastline: Sources disagree. Wikipedia says the project added 40 km of coastline. Yahoo Finance reported on 21 April 2026 that the full master plan has about 57 km of coastline.
• Beaches: Nakheel's 2022 plan calls for over 20 km of beaches, as reported by Dubai Eye 103.8. Yahoo Finance and Wikipedia both give 21 km of beaches.
• Homes: Blackridge Research lists 38,479 planned residential units. Hotelier Middle East wrote in 2023 that more than 38,000 residences would be built.
• Residents: Yahoo Finance reported in April 2026 that the full master plan is for upwards of 231,000 residents.
• Open space: Nakheel's 2022 plan calls for about 2 square kilometres of parks and open space. Blackridge Research lists 1,987,294 square metres of open space.
• Hotels: Sources disagree. Nakheel's 2022 plan calls for over 80 resorts and hotels. Hotelier Middle East says there will be almost 100 hotels in the end.

The five islands

Hotelier Middle East wrote in 2023 that the five islands are Marina Island, Central Island, Shore Island, Golf Island and Elite Island. The list below gives what each source says about each island.

• Central Island: Hotelier Middle East says this is one of the largest islands. It calls it the watersports hub. The plan includes a surfing park, a theme park and a water park. Hotelier Middle East says RIU and Centara already operate hotels here. It says the island is planned for 37 hotels and resorts.
• Shore Island: Hotelier Middle East calls this a "rejuvenating resort" island. It says this is likely the "Sports Country Club Island" in the plans. The plan includes a country club and a soccer and tennis academy. Hotelier Middle East also lists a private beach club, a nine-hole golf course, a boutique resort and a marina.
• Elite Island: Hotelier Middle East says Nakheel plans this as a private island. It will have waterfront villas and a clubhouse.
• Marina Island: Hotelier Middle East names this island. Our research notes do not give more detail about its contents. We could not confirm its plan.
• Golf Island: Hotelier Middle East names this island. Our research notes do not give more detail about its contents. We could not confirm its plan.

Island letters

Some sources use letters (Island A, Island B, and so on) and not names. The letters and the contents do not match across sources. Sources disagree, as the list below shows.

• Nakheel's construction page for Bay Villas places Bay Villas on Island B.
• Blackridge Research treats Island A as Central Island. It says Island A has 37 hotels and resorts.
• ResortX calls Island C the "Oasis" island. ResortX says Island C has an 18-hole golf course.
• ResortX calls Island D the sports island. ResortX says Island D has a 9-hole golf course.
• Hotelier Middle East puts the nine-hole golf course on Shore Island.

We could not confirm one official link between each letter and each name. Readers can check the current names with Nakheel.

Freehold status

We could not confirm the freehold status of Dubai Islands. Our research did not retrieve a Dubai Land Department (DLD) designation. It also did not retrieve an official Nakheel statement on freehold status. Buyers can ask the DLD or Nakheel to confirm the status of a specific plot or unit.

Sources: Dubai Media Office, Nakheel unveils Master Plan vision for Dubai Islands, 22 Aug 2022; Zawya (Nakheel press release), Nakheel unveils Master Plan vision for Dubai Islands, 22 Aug 2022; Yahoo Finance, Nakheel advances Dubai Islands project with $144m Island B contract, 21 Apr 2026; Dubai Eye 103.8, Nakheel unveils master plan for developing Dubai Islands, Aug 2022; Hotelier Middle East, What is Dubai Islands? The UAE's next man-made island explained, 2023; Blackridge Research, Nakheel's Dubai Island Project: Aligned with Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, n.d.; MEED, Nakheel receives three bids for Deira Mall, n.d.; Wikipedia, Dubai Islands, accessed Oct 2026; Nakheel, Bay Villas Dubai Islands, n.d.; ResortX, Dubai Islands (Palm Deira) construction updates, n.d.

Where you can live in Dubai Islands: the residential projects

Homes in Dubai Islands are in 10 residential areas: Other buildings, Ellington Sands, Hado by Beyond, The Meriva Collection, Edgewater Residences, Beach Walk Residences, Beach Residences Dubai Islands, Samana Ocean Pearl.

Map of the Dubai Islands projects

Other buildings

87 residential buildings: 86 apartments, 1 villas and townhouses. 2 completed, 85 off-plan. 2,360 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Imtiaz Ghd Real Estate Development, Avenew Real Estate Development, Citi Developers Real Estate Development.

And 73 more projects or buildings: see the map.

Ellington Sands

4 residential buildings: 4 apartments. 0 completed, 4 off-plan. 851 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Ellington Properties Development.

Hado by Beyond

3 residential buildings: 3 apartments. 0 completed, 3 off-plan. 624 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Sandy Shores Real Estate S.O.C.

The Meriva Collection

6 residential buildings: 6 apartments. 0 completed, 6 off-plan. 491 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Crestarc Developers.

Edgewater Residences

2 residential buildings: 2 apartments. 0 completed, 2 off-plan. 28 sales in 12 months. Main developers: M G S Development.

Beach Walk Residences

4 residential buildings: 4 apartments. 1 completed, 3 off-plan. 28 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Imtiaz Real Estate Investment & Development, Imtiaz Ghd Real Estate Development.

Beach Residences Dubai Islands

4 residential buildings: 4 apartments. 0 completed, 4 off-plan. 11 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Nakheel And Excelsior Real Estate.

Samana Ocean Pearl

3 residential buildings: 3 apartments. 0 completed, 3 off-plan. 5 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Samana Star Real Estate Development.

Bay Grove Residences

5 residential buildings: 5 apartments. 0 completed, 5 off-plan. 2 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Dubai Islands.

Bay Residences Dubai Islands

1 residential buildings: 1 apartments. 0 completed, 1 off-plan. 1 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Nakheel And Excelsior Real Estate.

Source: Dubai Land Department sale records and our building list, 15 October 2026. A project is a group of buildings with one name; a building with no group is listed on its own. Per sq ft is the median of apartment sales in 12 months.

Dubai Islands property prices and sales

Apartments in Dubai Islands sold for a median of AED 2,734 per sq ft in the 12 months to 10 October 2026, across 4,559 apartment sales.

Where Dubai Islands ranks in Dubai

Rank among 66 Dubai communities with 300 or more sales in 12 months. See what the sales records say.

Dubai Islands apartment price per sq ft, by quarter

The median price of an apartment sold in Dubai Islands was AED 2,481 per sq ft in 2026 Q3. The highest quarter in the last three years was 2026 Q2, at AED 2,987. A median moves when the mix of homes sold changes.

What the sale records show now

• Sales rose. Dubai Islands had 1,438 sales in the last 6 months, against 1,410 in the same months a year before (+2%).
• New buildings keep launching. 40 buildings had their first sale in the last 12 months, with 2,875 sales between them.
• Most sales are off-plan. 100% of sales in 12 months were of homes not yet finished.
• Homes due. Land Department projects in Dubai Islands due by June 2027 hold 904 homes.

Dubai Islands price per sq ft by district

The 10 Dubai Islands buildings with the most sales in 12 months

Source: Dubai Land Department sale records and project register, as built into BUY DUBAI on 15 October 2026. Price per sq ft is a median of apartment sales. Yield is asking rent against sold price. Dates are registration dates.

Where is Dubai Islands in Dubai

Dubai Islands lies in the sea off the coast of Deira, in the north-east of Dubai, at about 25.31°N 55.31°E.

Wikipedia gives the position of Dubai Islands as about 25.31°N 55.31°E. Wikipedia says the islands lie off the coast of Deira.

The northern coastal sector

Wikipedia's list of communities in Dubai places this area in the northern coastal sector. The sector is on the north bank of Dubai Creek. It extends to the border with Sharjah. Wikipedia says the sector corresponds to historic Deira and its artificial island.

The mainland coast

The Deira Corniche is a promenade on the mainland coast. Wikipedia says the Deira Corniche is in north-eastern Dubai, in Deira. Wikipedia says the Corniche borders Al Dhagaya, Ayil Nasir and Al Hamriya Port.

Al Khaleej Road runs along this coast. Wikipedia says Al Khaleej Road runs parallel to the Deira Corniche. The route number is not clear. Sources disagree: one Wikipedia article calls it route D 90, and another calls it D 92.

Where the islands meet the mainland

The road link to the islands is in Deira. The RTA said on 8 December 2024 that the ramped entry and exit bridges to Dubai Islands sit at the junction of Al Khaleej Street and Abu Baker Al Siddique Street.

A second link goes to the Bur Dubai side. Nakheel says the Infinity Bridge links the islands to the city. The RTA says the Al Shindagha corridor serves Deira and Bur Dubai. The RTA says the same corridor also serves Dubai Islands, Deira Waterfront, Dubai Maritime City and Port Rashid.

Neighbouring areas

Our sources name these areas near Dubai Islands:

• Deira: Wikipedia says the islands lie off the coast of Deira.
• Al Mamzar: Time Out Dubai reported on 19 May 2026 that Al Mamzar benefits from the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel. Gulf Daily News reported on 17 May 2026 that the tunnel will take the ramp from Dubai Islands towards Al Mamzar.
• Abu Hail and Al Wuheida: Time Out Dubai lists both as residential areas that benefit from the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel.
• Hamriya Port (Al Hamriya Port): Time Out Dubai lists Hamriya Port among the places that the tunnel serves. Wikipedia says the Deira Corniche borders Al Hamriya Port.
• Dubai Waterfront and Waterfront Market: Time Out Dubai lists both among the places that the tunnel serves.
• Deira Waterfront: The RTA says the Al Shindagha corridor serves Deira Waterfront.
• Al Dhagaya and Ayil Nasir: Wikipedia says the Deira Corniche borders these two areas.
• Al Baraha: Wikipedia says Al Baraha is on the mainland. It holds three hospitals. See the Living section.
• Bur Dubai, Dubai Maritime City and Port Rashid: The RTA says the Al Shindagha corridor links these areas with Dubai Islands.

We could not confirm the exact distance from Dubai Islands to each of these areas. Our sources do not give these distances.

Sources: Wikipedia, Dubai Islands, accessed Oct 2026; Wikipedia, List of communities in Dubai, accessed Oct 2026; Wikipedia, Deira Corniche, accessed Oct 2026; Wikipedia, Al Murar, accessed Oct 2026; RTA (rta.ae), Opening a bridge to ease traffic flow from Sheikh Rashid Road towards Infinity Bridge, 8 Dec 2024; Dubai Media Office (RTA), RTA opens 3-Lane Bridge to Ease Traffic Flow from Sheikh Rashid Road Towards Infinity Bridge, 8 Dec 2024; Nakheel, Dubai Islands Waterfront Living & Luxury Properties, 2026; Time Out Dubai, New 1.6km Al Khaleej Street Tunnel being built, 19 May 2026; Gulf Daily News (RTA statement), RTA completes 80% of 1,650m Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project, 17 May 2026; Wikipedia, Al Baraha, accessed Oct 2026

Dubai Islands roads, traffic, parking and transport

Dubai Islands connects to the mainland by ramped bridges at Al Khaleej Street in Deira and by the Infinity Bridge towards Bur Dubai, and Nakheel says the islands are also reachable by sea.

Nakheel says people can reach the islands by road and by sea. Nakheel says the Infinity Bridge links the islands to the city. Nakheel says interconnected bridges link the islands to each other. Nakheel also says the islands have waterfront access for cruises and water transport.

The Deira entry and exit bridges

The RTA said on 8 December 2024 that it completed five bridges. These bridges give ramped access to and from Dubai Islands. The RTA says their total length is 2,571 metres. The RTA says their capacity is about 20,700 vehicles an hour.

The RTA says the ramped entry and exit bridges sit at the junction of Al Khaleej Street and Abu Baker Al Siddique Street.

Economy Middle East described some of these ramps:

• A two-lane bridge from the islands to Al Khaleej Street northbound.
• A three-lane bridge from the islands to Al Khaleej Street southbound.
• A two-lane bridge from Al Khaleej Street southbound into the islands.

Sources disagree on the number of bridges. Gulf News described works in 2020. It said the entrances from Deira were three bridges spanning 1.6 km. The RTA's later account gives five bridges with a total of 2,571 metres. The two accounts appear to describe different stages of the work.

The Infinity Bridge

The Infinity Bridge is part of the RTA's Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project. The RTA gives these details:

• The bridge is about 295 metres long.
• It has six lanes in each direction.
• It has a 3-metre track for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Its arch has the shape of the infinity symbol. The arch rises 42 metres above the deck, the RTA said on 11 May 2025.

On 8 December 2024 the RTA opened a three-lane bridge. The bridge carries traffic from Sheikh Rashid Road towards the Infinity Bridge. The Dubai Media Office reported this opening on the same day.

The Al Shindagha corridor

The Al Shindagha corridor is a large RTA road project. Yahoo Finance reported that the corridor has 15 intersections over 13 km. It said the RTA split the work into five phases.

The RTA says the corridor serves Deira and Bur Dubai. It also serves Dubai Islands, Deira Waterfront, Dubai Maritime City and Port Rashid.

The RTA gives details of one bridge on Al Khaleej Street. This bridge is 570 metres long. It has three lanes. It runs towards Bur Dubai. It carries traffic from Dubai Islands towards the Shindagha Tunnel. Its capacity is 4,800 vehicles an hour.

Gulf News published a report with the title "New 1.4km bridge to connect Bur Dubai with Dubai Islands". Economy Middle East reported that the RTA awarded a contract for bridge construction linking Dubai Islands and Bur Dubai. We could not confirm how these reports relate to the Infinity Bridge figures above.

Drive times

We give only drive times that a source states. The RTA said on 11 May 2025 that it completed all phases of the corridor on the Bur Dubai side. The RTA gives these times:

• The completed phases cut travel time on the corridor from 80 minutes to 12 minutes.
• A trip from Jumeirah Street to the Infinity Bridge now takes five minutes.

We could not confirm drive times from Dubai Islands to other places, such as the airport or Downtown Dubai. Our sources do not give them.

The Al Khaleej Street Tunnel

The RTA is building a new tunnel on Al Khaleej Street. Gulf Daily News reported on 17 May 2026 the RTA's statement on the project. The report gives these details:

• The tunnel is 1,650 metres long.
• It has three lanes in each direction.
• It was 80% complete in May 2026.
• It will also take the ramp from Dubai Islands towards Al Mamzar.
• The Cairo Street roundabout will become a junction with traffic signals.
• The Al Wuheida Street roundabout will also become a junction with traffic signals.

Time Out Dubai reported on 19 May 2026 that the tunnel is 1.6 km long. Time Out Dubai lists Dubai Islands among the places that benefit from the tunnel. It also lists Dubai Waterfront, Waterfront Market and Hamriya Port. It names Abu Hail, Al Wuheida and Al Mamzar as residential areas that benefit.

We could not confirm a completion date for the tunnel. Our sources give the progress figure only.

Metro, buses and boats

We could not confirm a Dubai Metro station on Dubai Islands. We could not confirm RTA bus routes to the islands. Our research did not retrieve RTA public transport data for the islands.

Nakheel says the islands have waterfront access for cruises and water transport. We could not confirm a regular public ferry or water taxi route. Readers can check current routes with the RTA.

Parking

We could not confirm parking rules on Dubai Islands. Our sources do not say if parking is free or paid. They do not name a parking operator.

Sources: Nakheel, Dubai Islands Waterfront Living & Luxury Properties, 2026; RTA (rta.ae), Opening a bridge to ease traffic flow from Sheikh Rashid Road towards Infinity Bridge, 8 Dec 2024; Dubai Media Office (RTA), RTA opens 3-Lane Bridge to Ease Traffic Flow from Sheikh Rashid Road Towards Infinity Bridge, 8 Dec 2024; Economy Middle East, RTA awards $214 million contract for bridge construction linking Dubai Islands, Bur Dubai, n.d.; Gulf News, New 1.4km bridge to connect Bur Dubai with Dubai Islands, n.d.; RTA (rta.ae), Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, n.d.; Dubai Media Office (RTA), RTA Completes All Phases of Al Shindagha Corridor Development Project on Bur Dubai side, 11 May 2025; Yahoo Finance, Dubai's RTA awards bridge contract to improve access to Dubai Islands, n.d.; Gulf Daily News (RTA statement), RTA completes 80% of 1,650m Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project, 17 May 2026; Time Out Dubai, New 1.6km Al Khaleej Street Tunnel being built, 19 May 2026

Living in Dubai Islands

Dubai Islands is still under development, and the master plan centres on beaches, hotels, marinas, golf and parks, while hospitals are on the mainland in Al Baraha.

Dubai Islands is not finished. Blackridge Research expects completion by 2030. Blackridge says Island A was the first island under construction. It says the other islands were in planning. Much of what this section describes is in the plan, not yet open.

Beaches and the sea

Nakheel's 2022 plan calls for over 20 km of beaches, as reported by Dubai Eye 103.8. The plan includes a Blue Flag certified beach. Yahoo Finance reported in April 2026 that the full plan has 21 km of beaches.

We could not confirm which beaches are open to the public today. We could not confirm which beach has Blue Flag status today.

Hotels and resorts

Hotels are a large part of the plan. Nakheel's 2022 plan calls for over 80 resorts and hotels. Hotelier Middle East says there will be almost 100 hotels in the end. Sources disagree on this number.

Some hotels already operate. Hotelier Middle East wrote in 2023 that Central Island already houses RIU and Centara. Hotelier Middle East says Central Island is planned for 37 hotels and resorts.

Marinas and boats

Blackridge Research lists 9 marinas. Blackridge says these marinas will hold about 614 boats and yachts. Hotelier Middle East also gives nine marinas.

Blackridge's timeline records the launch of Nakheel Marinas Dubai Islands in May 2023. We could not confirm which marinas are open today.

Golf

Nakheel's 2022 plan includes golf courses that overlook the Gulf, as reported by Dubai Eye 103.8. Hotelier Middle East gives two golf courses.

Sources disagree on where the golf courses will be. ResortX says Island C has an 18-hole course and Island D has a 9-hole course. Hotelier Middle East puts the nine-hole course on Shore Island. We could not confirm the opening dates of the golf courses.

Sport, leisure and parks

The plan includes many leisure facilities. Hotelier Middle East gives these plans:

• Central Island: a surfing park, a theme park and a water park. Hotelier Middle East calls Central Island the watersports hub.
• Shore Island: a country club, a soccer and tennis academy, a private beach club and a boutique resort with a marina.
• Elite Island: a clubhouse for the island's waterfront villas.

Nakheel's 2022 plan calls for about 2 square kilometres of parks and open space. Blackridge Research lists 1,987,294 square metres of open space. We could not confirm which parks are open today.

The Infinity Bridge has a 3-metre track for pedestrians and cyclists, according to the RTA. This track gives a walking and cycling link from the Bur Dubai side.

Shops and malls

We could not confirm a shopping mall that is open on Dubai Islands today. MEED published a report with the title "Nakheel receives three bids for Deira Mall". The report relates to the earlier Deira Islands plan. We could not confirm the current status of Deira Mall.

We could not confirm supermarkets or other daily shops on the islands. Our sources do not list them.

Hospitals and clinics

We could not confirm a hospital or clinic on Dubai Islands. The nearest hospitals that our sources name are on the mainland.

Wikipedia says Al Baraha, on the mainland, holds these hospitals:

• Al Baraha Hospital
• Dubai Hospital
• Belhoul Speciality Hospital

We could not confirm the drive time from Dubai Islands to Al Baraha.

Mosques

We could not confirm a mosque on Dubai Islands. Our sources do not list mosques on the islands or in the master plan.

The mainland waterfront

The Deira Corniche is a promenade on the mainland coast near the islands. Wikipedia says it borders Al Dhagaya, Ayil Nasir and Al Hamriya Port.

Sources: Blackridge Research, Nakheel's Dubai Island Project: Aligned with Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, n.d.; Dubai Eye 103.8, Nakheel unveils master plan for developing Dubai Islands, Aug 2022; Yahoo Finance, Nakheel advances Dubai Islands project with $144m Island B contract, 21 Apr 2026; Hotelier Middle East, What is Dubai Islands? The UAE's next man-made island explained, 2023; ResortX, Dubai Islands (Palm Deira) construction updates, n.d.; RTA (rta.ae), Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, n.d.; MEED, Nakheel receives three bids for Deira Mall, n.d.; Wikipedia, Al Baraha, accessed Oct 2026; Wikipedia, Deira Corniche, accessed Oct 2026

Schools in and near Dubai Islands

We could not confirm any KHDA-rated school on Dubai Islands or a named school near it, because our research did not retrieve KHDA data for this area.

The KHDA rates private schools in Dubai. Our research did not retrieve KHDA ratings for schools on or near Dubai Islands. For this reason, we do not name any school on this page.

Schools on the islands

We could not confirm a school that is open on Dubai Islands today. Nakheel's 2022 master plan, as reported by the Dubai Media Office and Dubai Eye 103.8, focuses on islands, beaches, hotels, parks and golf. Our sources do not say how many school plots the plan includes.

The plan is large. Yahoo Finance reported in April 2026 that the full plan is for upwards of 231,000 residents. Blackridge Research lists 38,479 planned residential units. We could not confirm how the plan will provide schools for these residents.

Schools near the islands

The nearest mainland areas that our sources name are Deira, Al Mamzar, Abu Hail and Al Wuheida. Time Out Dubai names Abu Hail, Al Wuheida and Al Mamzar as residential areas near the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel. We could not confirm the schools in these areas or their KHDA ratings.

How to check

• Check the current KHDA rating of a school directly with the KHDA.
• Ask Nakheel which school plots are in the Dubai Islands master plan.
• Check the school run by road. The RTA says the islands connect to Al Khaleej Street by ramped bridges. Peak traffic on these roads can change trip times.

Sources: Dubai Media Office, Nakheel unveils Master Plan vision for Dubai Islands, 22 Aug 2022; Dubai Eye 103.8, Nakheel unveils master plan for developing Dubai Islands, Aug 2022; Yahoo Finance, Nakheel advances Dubai Islands project with $144m Island B contract, 21 Apr 2026; Blackridge Research, Nakheel's Dubai Island Project: Aligned with Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, n.d.; Time Out Dubai, New 1.6km Al Khaleej Street Tunnel being built, 19 May 2026; RTA (rta.ae), Opening a bridge to ease traffic flow from Sheikh Rashid Road towards Infinity Bridge, 8 Dec 2024

Who lives in Dubai Islands

We could not confirm the current population of Dubai Islands, but the full master plan is for upwards of 231,000 residents, as reported by Yahoo Finance in April 2026.

Our research did not retrieve a population figure from the Dubai Statistics Centre for Dubai Islands. We could not confirm how many people live on the islands today.

The planned population

Yahoo Finance reported on 21 April 2026 that the full master plan is for upwards of 231,000 residents. This figure is for the finished project. It is not the population today.

Blackridge Research lists 38,479 planned residential units. Hotelier Middle East wrote in 2023 that more than 38,000 residences would be built. The two sources give similar figures.

Types of homes

Our sources name some types of homes in the plan:

• Bay Villas: Nakheel has a construction progress page for Bay Villas Dubai Islands. Nakheel places Bay Villas on Island B.
• Elite Island villas: Hotelier Middle East says Elite Island will be a private island with waterfront villas and a clubhouse.

We could not confirm the number of homes that are finished and occupied today.

Visitors and hotel guests

Many people on the islands today may be hotel guests. Hotelier Middle East wrote in 2023 that RIU and Centara already operate on Central Island. The plan has over 80 resorts and hotels, according to Nakheel's 2022 plan as reported by Dubai Eye 103.8. We could not confirm visitor numbers.

What we could not confirm

• The current number of residents.
• The mix of nationalities.
• The share of owners and tenants.
• The share of families and single people.

We do not guess these figures. We will add them when an official source publishes them.

Sources: Yahoo Finance, Nakheel advances Dubai Islands project with $144m Island B contract, 21 Apr 2026; Blackridge Research, Nakheel's Dubai Island Project: Aligned with Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, n.d.; Hotelier Middle East, What is Dubai Islands? The UAE's next man-made island explained, 2023; Nakheel, Bay Villas Dubai Islands, n.d.; Dubai Eye 103.8, Nakheel unveils master plan for developing Dubai Islands, Aug 2022

Dubai Islands service charges and running costs

We could not confirm the service charges or cooling costs for Dubai Islands, because our research did not retrieve the RERA service charge index for the area.

The RERA service charge index gives approved service charges for buildings and communities in Dubai. Our research did not retrieve the index entries for Dubai Islands. We do not give a service charge figure on this page.

Service charges

We could not confirm the service charge per square foot for any project on Dubai Islands. We could not confirm the master community charge that Nakheel applies to the islands.

The islands have many shared facilities in the plan. These include over 20 km of beaches, about 2 square kilometres of parks and open space, and nine marinas. The sources for these figures are Dubai Eye 103.8 and Blackridge Research. Shared facilities can affect service charges. We could not confirm how Nakheel will share these costs.

Cooling

We could not confirm whether homes on Dubai Islands use district cooling. We could not confirm a cooling provider. Our sources do not give cooling fees.

Other running costs

We could not confirm road toll gates on the routes to Dubai Islands. We could not confirm parking fees on the islands. Our sources do not give these costs.

How to check

• Ask the developer or owners' association for the RERA-approved service charge of the exact building.
• Ask Nakheel for the master community charge.
• Ask the developer if the building uses district cooling and who supplies it.

Sources: Dubai Eye 103.8, Nakheel unveils master plan for developing Dubai Islands, Aug 2022; Blackridge Research, Nakheel's Dubai Island Project: Aligned with Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, n.d.

New projects and what is coming to Dubai Islands

Nakheel continues to build the islands towards an expected completion by 2030, and the RTA is finishing the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel, which will carry the ramp from Dubai Islands towards Al Mamzar.

Island construction

Blackridge Research says Island A was the first island under construction. Blackridge says the other islands were in planning. Blackridge expects the project to be complete by 2030.

Yahoo Finance published a report on 21 April 2026. The title of the report is "Nakheel advances Dubai Islands project with $144m Island B contract". We could not confirm the scope of this contract or the contractor.

Nakheel has a construction progress page for Bay Villas Dubai Islands. Nakheel places Bay Villas on Island B. We could not confirm the handover date for Bay Villas.

Planned facilities

The master plan includes facilities that are not yet open. Our sources give these plans:

• Central Island: a surfing park, a theme park and a water park, according to Hotelier Middle East. Hotelier Middle East says the island is planned for 37 hotels and resorts.
• Shore Island: a country club, a soccer and tennis academy, a private beach club, a nine-hole golf course, a boutique resort and a marina, according to Hotelier Middle East.
• Elite Island: a private island with waterfront villas and a clubhouse, according to Hotelier Middle East.
• Golf: golf courses that overlook the Gulf, according to Nakheel's 2022 plan as reported by Dubai Eye 103.8. Hotelier Middle East gives two golf courses.
• Beaches: over 20 km of beaches with a Blue Flag certified beach, according to Nakheel's 2022 plan.
• Parks: about 2 square kilometres of parks and open space, according to Nakheel's 2022 plan.
• Marinas: nine marinas for about 614 boats and yachts, according to Blackridge Research.

We could not confirm opening dates for these facilities.

Hotels

Sources disagree on the number of hotels. Nakheel's 2022 plan calls for over 80 resorts and hotels. Hotelier Middle East says almost 100 hotels in the end. We could not confirm which new hotels will open next.

Roads

The RTA is building the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel. Gulf Daily News reported on 17 May 2026 that the tunnel was 80% complete. It reported these details from the RTA:

• The tunnel is 1,650 metres long with three lanes in each direction.
• It will take the ramp from Dubai Islands towards Al Mamzar.
• The Cairo Street and Al Wuheida Street roundabouts will become signalised junctions.

Time Out Dubai reported on 19 May 2026 that the tunnel will benefit Dubai Islands, Dubai Waterfront, Waterfront Market and Hamriya Port. We could not confirm the date when the tunnel will open.

The RTA said on 11 May 2025 that it completed all phases of the Al Shindagha corridor on the Bur Dubai side. We could not confirm the status of the remaining corridor work on the Deira side.

Sources: Blackridge Research, Nakheel's Dubai Island Project: Aligned with Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, n.d.; Yahoo Finance, Nakheel advances Dubai Islands project with $144m Island B contract, 21 Apr 2026; Nakheel, Bay Villas Dubai Islands, n.d.; Hotelier Middle East, What is Dubai Islands? The UAE's next man-made island explained, 2023; Dubai Eye 103.8, Nakheel unveils master plan for developing Dubai Islands, Aug 2022; Gulf Daily News (RTA statement), RTA completes 80% of 1,650m Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project, 17 May 2026; Time Out Dubai, New 1.6km Al Khaleej Street Tunnel being built, 19 May 2026; Dubai Media Office (RTA), RTA Completes All Phases of Al Shindagha Corridor Development Project on Bur Dubai side, 11 May 2025

Dubai Islands history

Dubai Islands started as the Deira Islands project and took its current name when Nakheel published a new master plan in August 2022.

Early work

Blackridge Research gives 2005 as the year construction started. We could not confirm this date with Nakheel.

ResortX uses the name "Palm Deira" in the title of its page about Dubai Islands. We could not confirm the official link between the names Palm Deira and Dubai Islands.

Deira Islands

The project was earlier called Deira Islands, Dubai Eye 103.8 reported in August 2022. MEED reported on the 2013 Deira Islands launch. MEED gives an area of 15.3 square kilometres for that version of the plan. MEED's report has the title "Nakheel receives three bids for Deira Mall".

Bridge works

Gulf News described road works in 2020. It said the entrances from Deira were three bridges spanning 1.6 km.

The 2022 master plan

Nakheel published a master plan for Dubai Islands in August 2022. The Dubai Media Office reported the plan on 22 August 2022. The plan describes five islands with a total area of 17 square kilometres. Dubai Eye 103.8 reported that the plan is aligned to the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.

Dubai Eye 103.8 reported these targets in the plan:

• Over 80 resorts and hotels.
• Over 20 km of beaches, with a Blue Flag certified beach.
• About 2 square kilometres of parks and open space.
• Golf courses that overlook the Gulf.

2023 to 2026

• 2023: Hotelier Middle East wrote that RIU and Centara already operated on Central Island.
• May 2023: Blackridge Research records the launch of Nakheel Marinas Dubai Islands.
• 8 December 2024: The RTA said it completed five bridges with ramped access to and from Dubai Islands. The bridges total 2,571 metres. The RTA also opened a three-lane bridge from Sheikh Rashid Road towards the Infinity Bridge.
• 11 May 2025: The RTA said it completed all phases of the Al Shindagha corridor on the Bur Dubai side. It said corridor travel time fell from 80 minutes to 12 minutes.
• 21 April 2026: Yahoo Finance reported on an Island B contract. It described Nakheel as part of Dubai Holding Real Estate.
• 17 May 2026: Gulf Daily News reported that the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel was 80% complete.

Expected completion

Blackridge Research expects the project to be complete by 2030. We could not confirm this date with Nakheel.

Sources: Blackridge Research, Nakheel's Dubai Island Project: Aligned with Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, n.d.; ResortX, Dubai Islands (Palm Deira) construction updates, n.d.; Dubai Eye 103.8, Nakheel unveils master plan for developing Dubai Islands, Aug 2022; MEED, Nakheel receives three bids for Deira Mall, n.d.; Gulf News, New 1.4km bridge to connect Bur Dubai with Dubai Islands, n.d.; Dubai Media Office, Nakheel unveils Master Plan vision for Dubai Islands, 22 Aug 2022; Hotelier Middle East, What is Dubai Islands? The UAE's next man-made island explained, 2023; RTA (rta.ae), Opening a bridge to ease traffic flow from Sheikh Rashid Road towards Infinity Bridge, 8 Dec 2024; Dubai Media Office (RTA), RTA Completes All Phases of Al Shindagha Corridor Development Project on Bur Dubai side, 11 May 2025; Yahoo Finance, Nakheel advances Dubai Islands project with $144m Island B contract, 21 Apr 2026; Gulf Daily News (RTA statement), RTA completes 80% of 1,650m Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project, 17 May 2026

Dubai Islands vs Deira, Al Mamzar, Dubai Creek Harbour, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Maritime City

Dubai Islands is a new island project by Nakheel off the Deira coast, and our sources compare it with nearby areas mainly through road links, while our notes have little data on Dubai Creek Harbour.

This comparison uses only facts from our sources. Our sources say less about the other areas than about Dubai Islands. Where we have no data, we say so.

Dubai Islands vs Deira

• Location: Wikipedia says Dubai Islands lies off the coast of Deira. Wikipedia places both in the northern coastal sector on the north bank of Dubai Creek.
• Age: Wikipedia calls the sector historic Deira and its artificial island. Dubai Islands is still under construction, with completion expected by 2030, according to Blackridge Research.
• Link: The RTA says the island bridges join the mainland at the junction of Al Khaleej Street and Abu Baker Al Siddique Street, in Deira.
• Waterfront: Deira has the Deira Corniche promenade, according to Wikipedia. Dubai Islands plans over 20 km of beaches, according to Nakheel's 2022 plan.
• Name: Dubai Islands was formerly Deira Islands, according to Dubai Eye 103.8.

Dubai Islands vs Al Mamzar

• Type of area: Time Out Dubai calls Al Mamzar a residential area. Dubai Islands is a master development with homes, hotels and leisure in the plan.
• Road link: Gulf Daily News reported that the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel will take the ramp from Dubai Islands towards Al Mamzar.
• Tunnel: Time Out Dubai lists both Al Mamzar and Dubai Islands as places that benefit from the tunnel.

Dubai Islands vs Dubai Creek Harbour

Our research notes do not contain facts about Dubai Creek Harbour. We could not confirm its developer, size, location or links to Dubai Islands. We do not make a comparison without sources.

Dubai Islands vs Palm Jumeirah

• Developer: Nakheel lists both Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Islands among its master developments, according to its 2022 press release published by Zawya.
• Parent group: Yahoo Finance reported in April 2026 that Nakheel is part of Dubai Holding Real Estate.
• Other details: Our research notes do not give the size, population or facilities of Palm Jumeirah. We could not confirm a direct comparison of these points.

Dubai Islands vs Dubai Maritime City

• Road link: The RTA says the Al Shindagha corridor serves both Dubai Islands and Dubai Maritime City. It also serves Deira, Bur Dubai, Deira Waterfront and Port Rashid.
• Other details: Our research notes do not give the developer, size or facilities of Dubai Maritime City. We could not confirm a direct comparison of these points.

Summary table in words

• Master developer: Dubai Islands and Palm Jumeirah both have Nakheel as master developer. We could not confirm the master developer of the other areas from our notes.
• Status: Dubai Islands is under construction. Our notes describe Deira as historic.
• Shared roads: The Al Shindagha corridor links Dubai Islands with Deira, Bur Dubai and Dubai Maritime City. The Al Khaleej Street Tunnel links Dubai Islands towards Al Mamzar.

Sources: Wikipedia, Dubai Islands, accessed Oct 2026; Wikipedia, List of communities in Dubai, accessed Oct 2026; Wikipedia, Deira Corniche, accessed Oct 2026; Blackridge Research, Nakheel's Dubai Island Project: Aligned with Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, n.d.; RTA (rta.ae), Opening a bridge to ease traffic flow from Sheikh Rashid Road towards Infinity Bridge, 8 Dec 2024; Dubai Media Office (RTA), RTA opens 3-Lane Bridge to Ease Traffic Flow from Sheikh Rashid Road Towards Infinity Bridge, 8 Dec 2024; Dubai Eye 103.8, Nakheel unveils master plan for developing Dubai Islands, Aug 2022; Time Out Dubai, New 1.6km Al Khaleej Street Tunnel being built, 19 May 2026; Gulf Daily News (RTA statement), RTA completes 80% of 1,650m Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project, 17 May 2026; Zawya (Nakheel press release), Nakheel unveils Master Plan vision for Dubai Islands, 22 Aug 2022; Yahoo Finance, Nakheel advances Dubai Islands project with $144m Island B contract, 21 Apr 2026

Common questions about Dubai Islands

These answers use only the sources listed below, and they say clearly when we could not confirm a fact.

Sources: Zawya (Nakheel press release), Nakheel unveils Master Plan vision for Dubai Islands, 22 Aug 2022; Yahoo Finance, Nakheel advances Dubai Islands project with $144m Island B contract, 21 Apr 2026; Dubai Eye 103.8, Nakheel unveils master plan for developing Dubai Islands, Aug 2022; MEED, Nakheel receives three bids for Deira Mall, n.d.; Dubai Media Office, Nakheel unveils Master Plan vision for Dubai Islands, 22 Aug 2022; Wikipedia, Dubai Islands, accessed Oct 2026; Hotelier Middle East, What is Dubai Islands? The UAE's next man-made island explained, 2023; RTA (rta.ae), Opening a bridge to ease traffic flow from Sheikh Rashid Road towards Infinity Bridge, 8 Dec 2024; Nakheel, Dubai Islands Waterfront Living & Luxury Properties, 2026; Dubai Media Office (RTA), RTA Completes All Phases of Al Shindagha Corridor Development Project on Bur Dubai side, 11 May 2025; RTA (rta.ae), Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, n.d.; Gulf Daily News (RTA statement), RTA completes 80% of 1,650m Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project, 17 May 2026; Blackridge Research, Nakheel's Dubai Island Project: Aligned with Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, n.d.; Wikipedia, Al Baraha, accessed Oct 2026