Dubai Islands

Dubai Islands is a group of man-made islands off the coast of Deira, built by Nakheel. It was launched as Palm Deira in 2004, renamed Deira Islands in 2013 and became Dubai Islands in 2022. Almost everything for sale here is off plan.

The islands add about 40 km of coastline and 21 km of beach to the city, and a bridge has linked them to Deira since 2016. Three beach hotels are already open: Hotel RIU Dubai, Centara Mirage Beach Resort and Park Regis by Prince. The homes around them are mostly still being built.

Who does Dubai Islands suit?

Buyers who want a beachfront home at a lower price than Palm Jumeirah or Dubai Marina, and who are happy to buy early in a district that is still taking shape. It also suits people whose work is in Deira, Dubai Creek or the airport, which are a short drive across the bridge.

It suits people who want a finished neighbourhood today less well. Shops, schools and transport are still arriving, and a lot of the island is a building site.

What can you buy here?

What is nearby?

• The beach hotels already open on the islands, with their restaurants and beach clubs.
• Deira across the bridge, with the old souks, the creek and Dubai International airport.
• Dubai Creek Harbour and Downtown Dubai, a drive inland along the creek.

What should you check before you commit?

• The handover date on any project, and what the payment plan looks like against it.
• What will be built around your plot, because a sea view today can face a new building later.
• How you will get around. No metro reaches the islands yet, so plan on driving.
• The developer's record on finished projects; our guide on how to check a developer shows how.