Dubai to develop luxury island near Burj Al Arab
Naia Island Dubai will feature private villas, beachfront residences, estate plots and private beach access at the Cheval Blanc Maison Hotel. Work on the project is under way.
Scheduled to open in 2029, it is close to Jumeirah's coastline near Burj Al Arab and connected to the emirate's principal road network, Dubai Media Office reported.
The hotel will feature 30 suites and 40 private pool villas, offering views of Dubai's landmarks. The project is being overseen by local investment firm, Shamal Holding, in partnership with Cheval Blanc.
'This marks a defining chapter in our vision to create meaningful experiences, and an exciting step forward for Shamal as we continue to curate pioneering firsts that reinforce Dubai's position as a global benchmark for exceptional, world-class living,' said Abdulla Binhabtoor, chief executive of Shamal Holding.
'Naia Island Dubai offers an enduring address, one that invites presence and lives beautifully overtime.'
It is hoped the project will contribute to the Dubai 2030 vision and follows an announcement in June that the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary will be developed at a total cost of Dh650 million.
To be completed over two phases, the first of which will be finished by the end of 2026 at a cost of Dh100 million, the project is aimed at boosting biodiversity and establish the sanctuary as an eco-tourism destination.
The plan is for the development to place Dubai among the world's top three tourism destinations, with designs for the sanctuary based on the needs of both residents and tourists.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Business
9 minutes ago
- Arabian Business
Dubai and Abu Dhabi office markets boom as record sales and new developments reshape skylines in 2025
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are experiencing a surge in office market activity, with record sales, soaring rents and a wave of new developments set to transform both cities' commercial skylines, according to Knight Frank's H1 2025 Office Market Review. In Dubai, 83 office transactions worth more than AED10m ($2.72m) were completed in the first half of 2025 — a 207 per cent jump from the 27 deals recorded in the same period last year. Downtown led the market, with average prices surpassing AED 5,000 ($1,361) per square foot, while Business Bay crossed the AED 2,000 ($544) per square foott mark for the first time, after 21.2 per cent growth since 2020. Dubai office demand Off-plan office sales, concentrated mainly in Business Bay, are on the rise. The submarket is set to deliver more than 1.3 million sqft through this model, reflecting investor confidence in Dubai's prime financial hubs. DIFC remains the costliest office location in the city, averaging AED 400 ($109) per square foot for fitted offices, while robust rental growth is also being seen in The Greens (AED260/$71psf), Dubai Design District (AED 280/$76psf) and Business Bay (AED251/$68psf). Demand is being driven by the business services sector (38 per cent of total), followed by tech (31 per cent), real estate (12 per cent) and banking and finance (10 per cent). Faisal Durrani, Partner – Head of Research, Knight Frank MENA, said: 'Confidence in Dubai as a global business hub remains exceptionally strong. Indeed, this is reflected in record low vacancy rates for Grade A stock across the city, which stands in sharp contrast to many other global gateway cities. 'The technology and trading systems sector has emerged as major driver of demand, while sustained activity from financial, real estate and business consulting firms underscores the city's appeal to a diverse range of global occupiers. 'Developers are moving quickly to capitalise on current demand, with a further 25.2 million square feet expected by 2030, when we forecast the total office stock in the city to approach 148 million square feet. 'The confidence in the office sector is further evidenced by the boom in high-value transactions, with the number of office sales over AED 10 million setting a record of 83 sales in H1 2025.' The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) recorded its busiest ever first half for new company registrations since opening in 2004, with 1,081 new businesses joining between January and June, bringing the total to 7,700. Knight Frank forecasts Dubai's total gross leasable area will reach 137.8 million sqft by 2030, with 15.8 million sqft in new supply. DIFC will add more than 7 million sqft of build-to-rent office space by 2030, while Business Bay will see strong build-to-sell activity, much of it sold off-plan before completion. Abu Dhabi office demand In the UAE capital, office demand reached over 5 million sqft in H1 2025, up 110 per cent year-on-year. Business services accounted for 32 per cent of demand, followed by government entities (9 per cent). Durrani said: 'New rental contracts in Abu Dhabi have been a primary driver of market activity this year, with transaction volumes experiencing a significant peak in January, signalling fresh demand and business expansion in the UAE capital. 'Mirroring Dubai, with occupancy levels at record highs across grade-A stock, limited availability is driving up rents for best-in-class space'. Musaffah led rental growth in Q2 2025 with a 73 per cent quarter-on-quarter rise, followed by Al Bateen (68 per cent) and Al Hisn (19 per cent). Some older districts such as Al Danah (-2 per cent) and Al Nahyan (-7 per cent) saw slight declines due to higher concentrations of secondary stock. James Hodgetts, Partner – Occupier Strategy & Solutions, MEA, said: 'There is good news on the horizon, with a strong pipeline of high-quality developments poised to be welcome additions to the Abu Dhabi office market. 'This new supply is likely to help ease current constraints, offering occupiers greater choice and setting new benchmarks for quality, sustainability and design.' New completions are set to ease supply pressure, including Aldar's HB Tower on Yas Island (238,647 sqft) and the Saas Business Tower on Al Reem Island (129,210 sqft). Shehzad Jamal, Partner – Strategy and Consultancy, MENA, said: 'Demand is expected to remain robust and will likely continue to outpace the delivery of new premium supply for the remainder of the year, fuelling further rental growth in the prime segment across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 'Pre-leasing activity for the landmark projects scheduled for 2026-2028 will be a key indicator of market sentiment. We expect the performance gap between grade-A, well-located assets and older, secondary stock to widen further as the flight-to-quality trend intensifies in the short-term.'
Arabian Business
36 minutes ago
- Arabian Business
Dubai Municipality launches ‘Eltizam' app to monitor cleanliness
Dubai Municipality has launched a new digital application, Eltizam, to give selected government officials judicial officer status to monitor and document public cleanliness violations. The move aims to strengthen enforcement of existing regulations and support Dubai's goal of maintaining its position as the cleanest city in the world. #DubaiMunicipality has launched a smart digital application, 'Eltizam', designed to empower selected government officials to monitor and document public cleanliness violations. — بلدية دبي | Dubai Municipality (@DMunicipality) August 12, 2025 Dubai Municipality launches cleanliness monitoring app Authorised users can use the app to take photos of violations, automatically capture locations, add notes, and record breaches in real time. The initiative is based on Dubai Law No. 19 of 2024, which regulates judicial officer status in the emirate. The first phase targets eight violations, including spitting in public areas, improper disposal of chewing gum, littering, dumping waste into the sea or beaches, draining vehicle wash water in non-designated areas, lighting fires or barbecuing in unauthorised places, posting materials that deface public spaces, and failing to remove animal waste. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said: 'The launch of Eltizam is a key step in Dubai Municipality's mission to enhance the city's cleanliness, sustainability, and quality of life. By empowering authorised officials with judicial enforcement tools, we are fostering a culture of responsibility and social engagement. This app reflects our vision of a pioneering city where technology and regulation work together to protect Dubai's urban appeal and elevate its position as the most beautiful and cleanest city in the world.' 'Public cleanliness is not a technical issue alone, it is a civic value and a shared commitment. Eltizam reinforces that every official and every citizen plays a role in shaping a sustainable, liveable Dubai for generations to come,' he added. Dubai Municipality said the app is part of wider efforts to adopt community-led tools to improve environmental standards and quality of life in the emirate.
Arabian Business
36 minutes ago
- Arabian Business
Where Dubai rents rose and fell in first half of 2025
Dubai's rental market delivered mixed performance during the first half of 2025, with l uxury waterfront communities posting steep increases whilst budget-friendly neighbourhoods experienced significant declines, according to industry experts and market data. The biggest winners were prime areas like Business Bay and Dubai Marina, where rental rates surged driven by young professionals seeking proximity to Dubai's financial districts. Meanwhile, areas like International City and Discovery Gardens saw rents tumble as regulatory crackdowns and increased competition took their toll. 'Business Bay saw rental rates increase in H1, driven by high demand from young professionals and its proximity to Downtown Dubai and DIFC,' said Ronan Arthur, Director and Head of Residential Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell. 'Dubai Marina also saw rates increase, supported by continued demand for waterfront living, proximity to the beach and JBR.' Luxury villas dominate rental growth Luxury villa communities dominated the gains, with properties in Emirates Hills, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and Dubai Hills Estate recording rental increases of up to 11 per cent, according to Andrew Cummings, Head of Residential Agency at Savills Middle East. Some high-end properties experienced rent hikes as dramatic as 53 per cent, based on Bayut's market data. 'Mid-market apartments in Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, JVC and Dubai Hills Estate recorded the strongest growth in H1 2025, with luxury villas in Emirates Hills, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and Dubai Hills Estate up by around 18-45 per cent in sales prices and villas seeing up to 11 per cent rental increases,' Cummings said. Dubai Hills Estate emerged as the standout performer in the luxury villa segment, with 6-bedroom properties seeing a staggering 52.5 per cent increase in asking rents to AED 2.31 million annually. The community benefited from increased inventory in premium sub-areas like Palm Hills, Maple and Golf Place Terraces. In the affordable apartment segment, Bur Dubai topped rental searches with studios averaging AED 66,350 annually, whilst 2-bedroom units reached AED 80,000. Arjan also proved popular for budget-conscious tenants, with 1-bedroom apartments averaging AED 52,000 and 2-bedroom units at AED 77,000, according to Bayut's latest report. Budget areas face sharp corrections Not all areas shared in the prosperity. International City and Discovery Gardens experienced notable rental declines during the first half, which Arthur attributed to recent regulatory crackdowns on subletting and increased competition from higher-quality nearby units. 'Increased supply, particularly in mid-market and budget-friendly neighbourhoods, has intensified competition among landlords, resulting in more competitive pricing,' he added. In the mid-tier villa segment, Al Furjan saw some of the steepest drops, with 5-bedroom properties falling 12.9 per cent to AED 319,000 annually and 4-bedroom units declining 4.92 per cent to AED 234,000. Certain areas in Jumeirah Village Circle also reported decreases of up to 13 per cent for specific property types. Dubai's Smart Rental Index caps extreme increases The introduction of the Dubai Land Department's Smart Rental Index in January 2025 has begun to show its impact in the market by limiting extreme rent increases. The artificial intelligence-powered tool uses multiple data points including rental contract values, area averages, and building classifications to determine fair rental adjustments whilst requiring landlords to provide 90 days' notice for increases. ' The DLD Smart Rental Index, launched in January 2025, is beginning to limit extreme rental hikes, especially in communities with higher vacancy or ageing stock,' Cummings noted. 'This is creating a more data-driven, transparent negotiation environment for tenants and landlords alike.' The tool has provided tenants with leverage to challenge unjustified hikes whilst encouraging more transparent negotiations between landlords and renters. 'The index has helped stabilise rental prices, mitigate inflation, and support a balanced cost of living. It has also enhanced market transparency, enabling both landlords and tenants to make informed decisions based on standardised data and fostering greater trust in the rental market,' Arthur explained. 'Tenants have successfully used the index to challenge unjustified rent hikes, leading to fairer rental agreements and reduced conflicts between landlords and tenants.' Short-term rentals drive prime area prices The Airbnb effect has become a major factor driving rents higher in prime locations. Short-term rental conversions have tightened long-term supply in Dubai Marina, Business Bay, and Jumeirah Village Circle, pushing up rates for traditional tenants. 'Short-term rentals have kept rents elevated in areas like Dubai Marina, Business Bay, and JVC by reducing long-term supply and increasing demand for furnished, flexible units,' Cummings explained. Arthur noted that areas where landlords convert units to short-term rentals see reduced availability for long-term tenants, driving up rents and making it harder for tenants to find affordable housing. The rental market's performance comes amid broader strength in Dubai's property sector, which defied the usual summer slowdown in July with new rental contracts climbing 12 per cent from June, according to recent Dubai Land Department data. The surge was reportedly driven by families and professionals relocating ahead of the new academic year. Market data from Betterhomes showed 39,251 rental transactions in July alone, with new contracts accounting for 40 per cent of deals – up from 37 per cent in June. Supply pipeline to moderate growth Industry experts predict the divergent trends will continue, with prime areas facing further pressure from short-term rental conversions whilst communities with large completion pipelines may see relief. 'Areas like Dubai South, Emaar South, and The Valley, which are currently attracting tenants due to their affordability, are likely to see further rental increases as demand rises and supply tightens,' Arthur said. Conversely, he expects rental prices may moderate in developments within Jumeirah Village Circle and Business Bay, where high volumes of newly completed units are entering the market. 'One crucial point for landlords: dead occupancy is expensive. Being inflexible on pricing can result in longer vacancy periods, especially in a market where tenants have more options,' said Cummings.
