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
an hour ago
- Arabian Business
Dubai property sales hit $14bn in July as off-plan demand and rents surge, top developers revealed
Dubai's residential real estate market continued its upward trajectory in July 2025, with Betterhomes reporting strong growth in both sales and leasing, driven by robust off-plan demand and an influx of new tenants. Drawing on data from Property Monitor and its own transactions, the firm highlighted significant month-on-month gains in volumes, values, and rental activity. Average price per square foot: AED1,893 ($516), up 3.3 per cent from June Total transactions: 18,816, up 20.5 per cent month-on-month Total sales value: AED51.3bn ($13.96bn), a 10.6 per cent increase Off-plan sales: 65 per cent of transactions, up from 62 per cent in June The top-performing villa communities in the month were The Wilds, Grand Polo Club & Resort and The Oasis. Meanwhile, the top-performing apartment communities were Jumeirah Village Circle, Business Bay and Damac Riverside. Average Dubai Land Department sale prices July 2025 Apartments: AED1.99m ($541,500) Townhouses: AED3.25m ($884,200) Villas: AED9.7m ($2.64m) Betterhomes' own portfolio showed higher average apartment prices at AED2.33m ($633,800) but lower villa prices at AED6.1m ($1.66m). Christopher Cina, Director of Sales at Betterhomes, said: 'The continued strength of Dubai's off-plan sector shows enduring confidence in the city's long-term growth. We're seeing demand from both seasoned investors and first-time buyers eager to secure properties before completion'. Top 5 off-plan developers by sales value Sobha Realty: AED2.7bn ($735.6m) Emaar: AED2.6bn ($708.4m) Binghatti: AED1.7bn ($463.1m) Damac: AED1.6bn ($435.6m) H&H: AED1.5bn ($408.8m) Top 5 title deed developers by sales value Emaar: AED5.9bn ($1.61bn) Aldar: AED4.6bn ($1.25bn) Damac: AED2.5bn ($680.6m) Nakheel: AED1.7bn ($463.1m) Sobha Realty: AED1.5bn ($408.8m) Renting in Dubai Leasing activity also strengthened in July, with Dubai residential market recording 39,251 rental transactions, a 3.4per cent month-on-month rise. New contracts made up 40 per cent of these deals, up from 37 per cent in June, indicating an influx of fresh tenants into the market Al Khail Heights registered the highest apartment rental growth at 1.5 per cent month-on-month, reaching an average of AED67,500 ($18,400) annually, while Jumeirah led villa rental growth with a 4.2 percent increase to AED498,000 ($135,600) per year. Across Dubai, average rents by property type were: Apartments: AED72,000 ($19,600) Townhouses: AED172,000 ($46,800) Villas: AED255,000 ($69,500) Betterhomes recorded a 10 per cent month-on-month increase in tenant leads in July, reflecting continued demand across its rental portfolio. Average leasing prices within the company's transactions stood at AED141,000 ($38,300) for apartments, AED190,000 ($51,700) for townhouses, and AED368,000 ($100,200) for villas. Dubai real estate outlook 2025 Betterhomes says the combination of rising sales volumes, strong off-plan absorption, and robust rental demand reaffirms Dubai's standing as a leading global property hub. With investor confidence high and fresh tenant inflows accelerating, the company expects momentum to carry through the remainder of 2025.
Arabian Business
an hour ago
- Arabian Business
Emirates NBD's zero-fee trading hits $1.4bn in first year
Emirates NBD is celebrating one year since the launch of its zero-transaction-fee trading initiative for UAE-listed equities on its award-winning ENBD X digital wealth platform — a move that has boosted market participation and broadened access to local investments. Since its debut on 26 August 2024, the initiative has delivered impressive results: More than 300,000 commission-free trades executed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), and Nasdaq Dubai AED5bn ($1.36bn) in total trade volume Access to more than 150 UAE-listed equities via the ENBD X app Emirates NBD trading The zero-fee model has attracted a growing base of first-time investors, young professionals, and everyday savers, helping democratise wealth creation and align with the UAE's 'We the UAE 2031' strategy to deepen capital market development and enhance financial inclusion. ENBD X integrates banking, investment, and advisory services into one seamless digital experience, offering real-time trading, instant onboarding, and customisable price alerts for timely market decisions. Marwan Hadi, Group Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, said: 'We are pleased to see an outstanding response to the zero-transaction-fee trading initiative that we launched on our digital wealth platforms, accessible via ENBD X. 'One year on, our customers have embraced purposeful investment by investing in local equities. As a leading national bank, we are proud to transform how people invest, by providing an inclusive, accessible, transparent and affordable platform, while also supporting local businesses. 'This has contributed profoundly to the long-term growth of the UAE economy in line with the vision of our wise leadership.' The initiative follows Emirates NBD's earlier launch of fractional bonds on ENBD X, underscoring the bank's commitment to innovation and broadening access to financial markets. By removing barriers to entry, Emirates NBD is positioning ENBD X as a gateway to the UAE's financial future, driving both personal wealth creation and national economic growth.
Arabian Business
an hour ago
- Arabian Business
Dubai traffic: How the RTA is using AI to slash congestion and boost road efficiency
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has rolled out 'Data Drive – Clear Guide', a next-generation digital platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse five years of historical traffic data alongside real-time road conditions — enabling instant, data-driven decisions to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow across the emirate. The platform aggregates and processes vast traffic datasets from leading international providers, delivering accurate, minute-by-minute insights via an interactive map. It allows users to pinpoint specific roads or areas, assess average speeds, track traffic density, and measure travel times, making it a powerful tool for both operational teams and strategic planners. AI traffic analysis in Dubai Key capabilities include: Analysing historical and live traffic flow to spot recurring congestion patterns Identifying times of smooth traffic flow and bottlenecks in the network Sending instant alerts on traffic disruptions, jams, or unusual slowdowns Monitoring traffic diversions and event-related road performance in real time Automatically generating before-and-after reports to evaluate the impact of roadworks or infrastructure upgrades By replacing older, manual data-gathering processes that often took weeks, the platform can now deliver the same insights within minutes. This dramatically improves response times, enabling RTA teams to take swift action to manage incidents, optimise diversions, and minimise delays. The launch is part of RTA's wider vision to harness AI, intelligent analytics, and autonomous mobility solutions to make Dubai the world's smartest city and a global leader in innovation, sustainability, and transport efficiency. According to RTA, the platform will play a vital role in enhancing digital transformation within the emirate's transport sector, providing stakeholders with the tools they need to plan smarter, respond faster, and keep Dubai moving efficiently.
