Nima

Emaar Properties is the Dubai master developer behind Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Dubai Hills Estate and Dubai Creek Harbour. It is listed on the Dubai Financial Market. Most Emaar projects in Dubai are not single towers. They are buildings inside a master plan where the roads, parks, schools and retail are designed together. That is the practical difference for a buyer: you are buying into a scheme, not just a unit.

Emaar builds apartments, townhouses and villas, plus hotels, offices and malls. This guide covers the communities where it builds, what we list from Emaar today, how an off-plan purchase works, and what to check before you commit. Our page lists 122 Emaar off-plan projects across more than 20 communities, with entry prices from AED 1,120,000 and a smallest unit of 607 sq ft.

Emaar's master communities in Dubai

Search demand for Emaar is mostly demand for its communities. People look for Emaar South, Emaar Beachfront, The Valley and Dubai Creek Harbour by name. The table below sets out each community and links to our page for it, where you can compare individual buildings.

Each community page answers a different question from this one. If you already know you want Dubai Hills or Emaar South, start there. If you are still choosing between Emaar communities, stay here.

Open districts and gated communities

The communities fall into two groups. Downtown, Dubai Marina, Dubai Creek Harbour and Emaar South are open districts, with public streets, mixed use and a lot of apartments. Dubai Hills Estate and Arabian Ranches are gated, with more villas and a quieter, suburban feel. Which type suits you depends on whether you want walkable city life or space and a garden.

The same split shows in who buys. Apartment districts attract investors and first-time buyers. Villa communities such as The Valley and The Oasis tend to attract families who plan to live there.

Emaar off-plan projects we list, October 2026

The figures below come from the live project list on this page as of October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in the developer's current release and change as units sell. Treat them as a guide to where each community starts, not as a quote.

A further group of single-project listings sits in Expo City, Zabeel, Arabian Ranches, Bluewaters, DIFC and elsewhere. Browse the full list below this guide. For a wider view of every launch in one area, see our Dubai Creek Harbour off-plan page, where Emaar has the largest share of what we list.

Two things stand out. Dubai Creek Harbour and Dubai Hills Estate together account for about half of the projects, so competition between similar buildings is real. And the cheapest entry points are in Emaar South, Dubai Creek Harbour and Dubai Hills Estate, while The Valley and The Oasis start much higher because they are villa communities.

How buying off-plan from Emaar works

The steps are the same for most Dubai off-plan developers. Emaar's own sales pages and the Dubai Land Department (DLD) set the rules. Always confirm the details of a specific project in writing.

1. Expression of interest. For new launches, buyers often register interest first. This is not a purchase. It tells the sales team which unit types you want.
2. Unit selection and booking deposit. You choose a unit and pay a booking deposit to reserve it. Ask whether the deposit is refundable and under what conditions.
3. Sale and purchase agreement (SPA). The SPA sets the price, the payment schedule and the expected handover. Read the clauses on delay, cancellation and transfer before signing.
4. Registration with the DLD. Off-plan sales are registered on the DLD's Oqood system. Registration is what makes your purchase an official record, and a registration fee is payable to the DLD.
5. Escrow. The DLD requires developers to hold buyers' off-plan payments in a project escrow account at a regulated bank. The money is released against construction progress. Pay only into the account named in your contract.
6. Payment plan stages. Plans usually split the price into a deposit, instalments during construction and a final payment at handover. Some projects offer part of the balance after handover. The exact split differs for every project, so check the current offer for the building you want.
7. Handover and snagging. Before you accept the unit, inspect it and list defects. The developer should fix them. Keep a dated record with photographs.

The DLD explains project registration, escrow and initial sale registration on its frequently asked questions page. For project launches, floor plans and community maps, use Emaar's own website.

Emaar resale or off-plan?

The choice is mainly between certainty and timing.

Buying a finished Emaar home

In a completed building you can see the unit, the views, the neighbours and the service charge bills. You can often move in or rent it out quickly. You pay for that certainty, and the choice of units is limited to what owners are selling.

Buying off-plan from Emaar

You pay in stages, often start with a smaller upfront sum, and can pick from a full release of units, including better floors and views. In return you wait for handover and accept that the final result will differ slightly from the brochure. Construction timelines can move, so avoid planning your life around one date.

A sensible approach is to price the same type of unit in a finished building in the same community and compare it with the off-plan price. The gap tells you what you are paying for newness and for the payment plan.

Emaar compared with other big Dubai developers

Emaar is not the only developer that builds whole communities. The table below is a neutral guide to where each of the largest developers is known to build. It is not a ranking.

The practical point is that you rarely compare developers in the abstract. You compare a specific building with a specific neighbour. A unit in Dubai Hills Estate competes with other Dubai Hills units, whoever built them, and the community and the unit usually matter more than the developer's name.

What to check before buying an Emaar project

The phase, not just the community

In a phase that is barely started you live next to construction for years. In a finished phase you pay more, but you can see what you are buying. Ask what else is planned beside your building.

Service charges

Service charges differ by community and building, and many buyers underestimate them. Ask for the current rate per sq ft for a comparable finished building, since the new one will not have a track record.

Supply nearby

Where a master plan releases several towers of similar apartments, they compete with each other at resale. Count how many comparable units are being built or listed in the same community.

Paperwork

• The SPA, with the payment schedule and the handover wording.
• The project's registration and escrow details on the DLD system.
• The exact unit number, size and floor plan you are buying.
• Who receives each payment, and the receipts for every one.
• What happens if handover is late or you want to sell before completion.

Your own use

Decide early whether you will live in the unit, rent it out or resell it. That decides whether you want a villa in The Valley, an apartment in Dubai Creek Harbour or something closer to the centre in Downtown. If you are unsure, our community pages above show the buildings side by side, and the list below shows every Emaar project we currently hold.