Palm Central Private Residences Palm Jebel Ali

Nakheel built Palm Jumeirah, which is enough to place it. Now part of Dubai Holding, it is the developer behind several of the reclaimed island projects and a number of very large master communities, and its work has changed the shape of the city's coastline more than any other developer's.

What do they build?

Master communities at large scale, across apartments, townhouses and villas, plus retail and leisure destinations. Jumeirah Village Circle and Jumeirah Village Triangle are Nakheel master plans, as are Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Islands, Jumeirah Park and Al Furjan.

Where do they build?

Across its own master plans rather than as a buyer of individual plots. The names most buyers encounter are Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Islands, Jumeirah Village Circle and Triangle, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Park and Nad Al Sheba.

What should you check before buying?

• Whose building it actually is. This is the important one. Nakheel masterplans a district, then other developers build on plots within it. A JVC apartment is in a Nakheel community but is usually not a Nakheel building, and the two have nothing to do with each other for quality purposes.
• Master community service charges as well as building ones. In a Nakheel community you generally pay both.
• How complete the district is. Some Nakheel communities are mature and some are still being filled in by third party developers.
• Beach and marina access rights on the island projects, which vary by building and are worth confirming rather than assuming.

Are they a safe developer to buy from?

On their own buildings, yes: the ownership and the delivery record are both strong. But most buyers who think they are buying Nakheel are buying from someone else inside a Nakheel community, so the useful check is who built your specific building. We will tell you.