- Home
- Off-plan
- Developers
- Meraas
Developer profile
Meraas
Dubai Holding's lifestyle developer: prime addresses, premium prices, long build times
Meraas is the Dubai Holding developer behind City Walk, Bluewaters Island, La Mer, Jumeira Bay and, more recently, Nad Al Sheba Gardens and The Acres. It holds land in locations private developers rarely get, and no cancelled residential project of its was found in our research. The trade-offs are long gaps between launch and construction, premium prices, high service charges in its coastal and city-centre communities, and very limited financial disclosure. It suits buyers who put location and long-term value ahead of rental yield.
What Meraas does well
- Owned by Dubai Holding, and no cancelled or abandoned residential project was found in our research (October 2026).
- Prime land that private developers rarely get: the Jumeirah coast, City Walk, Dubai Design District and Sheikh Zayed Road.
- Strong demand at launch: La Rive at Port de La Mer sold out before its official launch (2019) and Atélis at d3 sold out shortly after launch (2025).
- Off-plan mortgage partnerships with five financing partners (Emirates NBD, ADIB, CBD, ADCB and a mortgage broker), signed April–September 2026.
- Villa service charges are moderate: about AED 6–10/sq ft a year at The Acres (2026).
Check before you buy
- Main construction contracts often come long after launch. The Acres launched in September 2024 but its contracts were awarded in November 2025 and April 2026. Check the DLD construction percentage, not just the brochure date.
- Handover dates differ between sources. Bluewaters Bay is shown as March 2027, Q3 2027 and late 2027 (2026). Rely on the date in your SPA.
- Service charges are high in coastal and city-centre communities: AED 18–38/sq ft a year reported at City Walk, Bluewaters and Port de La Mer (2026).
- No post-handover plans on 2024–26 launches. Expect a 20% booking payment plus the 4% DLD fee.
- The top end has softened: Bluewaters Island transaction prices fell 14% in the six months to October 2026 (Bayut).
History
The milestones that shaped Meraas.
- 2007Founded in Dubai to build retail, leisure and hospitality destinations as well as homes.
- 2013City Walk opened in December. Construction began on Bluewaters Island in May.
- 2016–2017The Outlet Village (2016), La Mer beach, Al Seef and the Bulgari Resort on Jumeira Bay (2017) opened.
- 2018Bvlgari Residences handovers began in February. Bluewaters Island opened in November.
- 2019First Bluewaters Residences handovers (February). City Walk Phase 3 homes completed. La Rive at Port de La Mer sold out before launch. Cherrywoods, its first townhouse community, launched.
- 2020Became a subsidiary of Dubai Holding.
- 2021Ain Dubai observation wheel opened on Bluewaters.
- 2022Cherrywoods completed in May. Bluewaters Bay launched.
- 2024The Acres launched in September from AED 5.09m. New Nad Al Sheba Gardens phase launched in December.
- 2025Launched Atélis (May), Jumeirah Residences Emirates Towers (June), Solaya at La Mer (September), The Edit at d3 (November) and Crestlane 4 and 5 at City Walk (December). AED 2bn+ contract for Design Quarter at d3 (March).
- 2026Unveiled an expanded Dubai Design District residential masterplan (January). Five off-plan mortgage partnerships signed. Named UAE Developer of the Year (June). About AED 1bn contract for Nad Al Sheba Gardens Phase 7 (September).
Delivery track record
Meraas builds less, and more slowly, than Emaar or DAMAC, but no cancelled or abandoned residential project was found in our research. Its delays, where they happen, are usually months rather than years. A broker analysis of DLD data (October 2026) reports that all contracted units were delivered on or before their DLD-registered handover dates, but also that about 12% of projects completed between 2014 and 2025 missed their originally marketed date by more than six months. The difference matters: the DLD-registered date can be later than the date in the marketing. The clearest example is Cherrywoods, estimated for July 2021 and completed in May 2022. The current pattern is to launch early and award the main contract later, so build periods of 24–42 months often start a year or more after sales begin. The Acres, due Q4 2027 with contracts awarded in November 2025 and April 2026, is the project to watch.
| Project | Promised handover | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherrywoods, Dubailand (about 900 townhouses) | July 2021 (estimate) | Completed May 2022, about 10 months late | Propsearch, October 2026 |
| Bluewaters Residences (698 apartments) | Original date not published | Construction began May 2013; island opened November 2018; first handovers February 2019 | Propsearch; Wikipedia |
| Bvlgari Residences, Jumeira Bay | Original date not published | First handovers February 2018 | Wikipedia; broker project guide |
| Design Quarter at d3 | Launched January 2023 | Main contract awarded March 2025 for completion by mid-2027 | Dubai Holding, March 2025 |
| The Acres, phase 1 | Q4 2027 | Launched September 2024; main contract November 2025; remaining 557 villas contracted April 2026. Some listings show Q2 2028 for phase 2 (October 2026) | Dubai Holding, April 2026; Property Finder |
| Bluewaters Bay | March 2027, Q3 2027 or late 2027 (sources differ) | Launched late 2022; construction since February 2023 | Propsearch; broker payment-plan guide, July 2026 |
Meraas projects selling or being built now
Starting prices are launch or asking prices at the date shown. Prices move, payment plans change and some projects sell out quickly, so ask us for today’s availability.
| Project | Area | Type | Bedrooms | Sizes | Starting price | Price per sq ft | Payment plan | Handover | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Edit at d3 (Towers A, B and C; 557 homes) | Dubai Design District | Apartments and penthouses | 1–4 | AED 2.0m (listed October 2026) | 75/25 | Q1 2030 (Bayut); June 2030 (broker guide) | Selling | ||
| Atélis at d3 (280 homes) | Dubai Design District | Apartments, penthouses and villas | 1+ | AED 2.1m (listed October 2026) | 75/25 | Q3 2029 | Sold out (January 2026) | ||
| Design Quarter at d3 (558 homes, 3 buildings) | Dubai Design District | Apartments | 1–3 | AED 1.87m (March 2026) | 60/40 | Mid-2027 | Under construction (AED 2bn+ contract, March 2025) | ||
| City Walk Crestlane 1 (Buildings A and B) | City Walk | Apartments and penthouses | 1–4 | AED 2.62m (listed October 2026) | 75/25 | Q3 2029 (Bayut); Q4 2028 (broker guide) | Selling; AED 590m+ main contract awarded September 2026 | ||
| City Walk Crestlane 4 (201 homes) and 5 (159 homes) | City Walk | Apartments, including 4-bed park duplexes | 1–4 | AED 2.7m (Crestlane 4) and AED 2.8m (Crestlane 5) (listed October 2026) | 75/25 | Q2 2030 | Selling | ||
| City Walk Northline (304 homes, 3 towers) | City Walk | Apartments | 1–3 | AED 1.83m (March 2026) | AED 3,090–3,200 DLD pre-registrations (October 2026) | 75/25 | July 2027 | Under construction (contract November 2025) | |
| Verve City Walk | City Walk | Apartments | AED 2.1m (March 2026) | 75/25 | Q3 2028 | Selling | |||
| Central Park at City Walk (Thyme, Erin and others) | City Walk | Apartments | 1–4 | AED 1.8m (March 2026) | 70/30 | Thyme August 2026; Erin Q3 2026; remaining buildings by 2028 | Under construction; first buildings handing over | ||
| Nourelle Building 2 | Madinat Jumeirah Living, Umm Suqeim | Apartments | 1+ | AED 3.68m (listed October 2026) | 75/25 | Q2 2029 | Selling; groundworks started August 2026 | ||
| Jumeirah Residences Emirates Towers (754 homes, 2 towers) | Sheikh Zayed Road | Jumeirah-branded apartments | 1–4 | AED 3.51m (listed October 2026) | 60/40 | Q3 2030 | Selling | ||
| Solaya at La Mer (Buildings 1–7, with Brookfield) | La Mer, Jumeirah 1 | Apartments and penthouses | 2+ | AED 14.2m (listed October 2026) | 60/40 | Q2–Q3 2029 | Selling | ||
| Jumeirah Residences Asora Bay (25–29 homes) | La Mer | Jumeirah-branded apartments and penthouses | 4+ | About AED 45m (launch, June 2025) | Selling | ||||
| Bluewaters Bay (Towers 1 and 2) | Bluewaters Island | Apartments | 1–4 | 797–1,681 sq ft | DLD off-plan sales AED 2.77m–5.71m (June–August 2026) | AED 3,280–4,160 DLD (June–August 2026) | 80/20 | March 2027, Q3 2027 or late 2027 (sources differ) | Under construction |
| Nad Al Sheba Gardens Phase 7 (272 homes) | Nad Al Sheba | Townhouses and villas | 3–7 | AED 4.43m (listed October 2026) | AED 1,830–2,700 DLD pre-registrations, phases 3–7 (September–October 2026) | 80/20 (3–5 bed); 60/40 (6–7 bed) | Q2 2028 (Meraas); Q1 2028 (Bayut) | Under construction (about AED 1bn contract, September 2026) | |
| Nad Al Sheba Gardens Phases 9, 10, 11 and 12 | Nad Al Sheba | Townhouses and villas | 3–7 | AED 5.1m (Phase 10), AED 6.15m (Phase 11), AED 9.5m (Phase 9) (listed October 2026) | AED 2,333 community average (Property Finder, October 2026) | 60/40 (Phases 9, 10); 80/20 (Phases 11, 12) | Q4 2028 (Phase 10); Q1 2029 (Phase 9); Q2 2029 (Phase 11); Q3 2029 (Phase 12) | Selling | |
| The Acres (phases 1–3, about 1,199 villas) | Dubailand | Villas | 3–5 | 3,048–12,720 sq ft | AED 5.09m (launch, September 2024); 3-bed AED 5m, 4-bed AED 7m, 5-bed AED 10m (October 2026) | AED 1,468 average (Property Finder, October 2026); DLD AED 1,080–1,750 (August–September 2026) | 65/35 (5% booking plus 5% on SPA) | Q4 2027 (phase 1); Q2 2028 (phase 2, per listings) | Under construction |
| The Acres Estates (186 homes) | Dubailand | Villas | 5–7 | 6,913–11,090 sq ft | AED 14.5m (5-bed), AED 16.0m (6-bed), AED 22.2m (7-bed) (price sheet, February 2025) | AED 2,065–2,097 (February 2025) | 10/55/35 | August 2028 (estimate); one listing shows Q4 2027 | Selling |
| Port de La Mer later phases (La Voile, Le Soleil) | La Mer, Jumeirah 1 | Apartments and townhouses | 1–5 | AED 4,700 DLD at Le Ciel (September 2026) | La Voile under development; Le Soleil planned (Propsearch, October 2026) | ||||
| Bulgari Ocean Mansions (7 homes) | Jumeira Bay Island | Bulgari-branded mansions | Selling |
Completed projects
| Project | Area | Completed | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Walk (Phases 1–3 and residential buildings) | Al Wasl | 2013–2019 | Retail and apartments | Opened December 2013; Phase 3 homes completed February 2019. DLD sales of ready homes at AED 2,400–4,010/sq ft (October 2026). |
| Bvlgari Residences | Jumeira Bay Island | 2018 | Bulgari-branded apartments and villas | First handovers February 2018, next to the Bulgari Resort (2017). |
| Bluewaters Residences | Bluewaters Island | 2019 | Apartments, townhouses and penthouses | 698 apartments and 17 townhouses. DLD sales at AED 3,830–5,320/sq ft (September 2026). |
| Port de La Mer (La Côte, Le Pont, La Sirène 4–6) | La Mer, Jumeirah 1 | 2021–2023 | Low-rise apartments | La Côte has 408 homes. DLD sales at AED 2,880–4,700/sq ft (September 2026). |
| Cherrywoods | Dubailand | 2022 | Townhouses | About 900 homes. Completed May 2022, about 10 months late. DLD resales AED 3.05m–4.7m (August–September 2026). |
| Central Park at City Walk (Building 1, Celadon, Myrtle, Viridian) | City Walk | Completed (year not published) | Apartments | Later buildings still under construction (October 2026). |
| Madinat Jumeirah Living (Lamtara, Rahaal, Asayel, Jadeel, Lamaa) | Umm Suqeim | 2021–2025 | Apartments | Next to Madinat Jumeirah. |
| Nikki Beach Residences | Pearl Jumeira | Completed (year not published) | Apartments | 63 homes beside a 132-key resort. |
How owners have done
Meraas homes are among the most expensive per sq ft in Dubai, with a Meraas-wide median of AED 3,302/sq ft on DLD data to 25 September 2026 (broker analysis). Recent results are mixed. Villas have held up: Nad Al Sheba Gardens averages AED 2,333/sq ft, up 6.8% in the year to October 2026, and Property Finder's median 3-bed there is AED 6.55m. The Acres has been flat: launched from AED 5.09m in September 2024, its median 3-bed listing is AED 5.8m but the average price per sq ft was down 1.1% in the year to October 2026. At the top end, Bluewaters Island transaction prices fell 14% in the six months to October 2026, while Dubai prices overall were 10.2% below the February 2026 peak in August. Off-plan resale prices at Bluewaters Bay are AED 3,280–4,160/sq ft on DLD data (June–August 2026); launch prices were not published, so the gain cannot be measured. Yields are modest for the price: up to 5.86% at Bluewaters and 4.62% for Nad Al Sheba Gardens villas (October 2026).
| Community | Price per sq ft | Change | Gross yield | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Walk | AED 2,400–4,010 DLD ready sales (October 2026) | 5.5–6% (broker estimate, March 2026) | Propsearch (DLD data); broker estimate | |
| Bluewaters Island (apartments) | AED 3,830–5,320 DLD sales (September 2026) | Transaction prices −14% over six months (October 2026) | Up to 5.86% (October 2026) | Propsearch (DLD data); Bayut |
| Port de La Mer | AED 2,880–4,700 DLD sales (September 2026) | 5–6% (broker estimate, 2026) | Propsearch (DLD data); broker estimate | |
| Nad Al Sheba Gardens (villas) | AED 2,333 average (October 2026) | +6.8% (October 2026) | 4.62% (October 2026) | Property Finder |
| The Acres (villas) | AED 1,468 average (October 2026) | −1.1% (October 2026) | Property Finder | |
| Cherrywoods (townhouses) | AED 1,060–1,460 DLD resales (August–September 2026) | Propsearch (DLD data) |
Bayut and Property Finder figures are mostly asking prices and rents, not completed sales. Yields are gross, before service charges, maintenance and empty periods.
Payment plans and what’s on offer
- Payment plans
- Apartments at City Walk, d3 and Madinat Jumeirah Living are usually 75/25: 20% on booking, about 55% in instalments and 25% on handover. Villas are 80/20 or 60/40. The Acres is 65/35 with 5% on booking and 5% on signing the SPA; The Acres Estates is 10/55/35. Jumeirah Residences Emirates Towers and Solaya are 60/40 (July 2026).
- Post-handover plans
- None on 2024–26 launches. Some earlier Central Park phases offered two years after handover.
- DLD fee waivers
- Time-limited promotions only, such as a 4% DLD fee waiver reported on some Acres villas (broker guide, July 2026).
- Golden Visa
- Homes bought for AED 2m or more qualify, and nearly all Meraas homes cost more than that. Dubai Holding Real Estate launched a Golden Visa help service for Meraas and Nakheel buyers on 29 June 2026.
- Mortgages on off-plan
- Dubai Holding Real Estate signed off-plan financing partnerships with Emirates NBD (April 2026), a mortgage broker (May), ADIB (May, Sharia-compliant), Commercial Bank of Dubai (June) and ADCB (September 2026).
- Branded residences
- Bvlgari (Jumeira Bay), Jumeirah Residences Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Residences Asora Bay and Nikki Beach Residences.
- Service charges
- AED per sq ft a year (2026 broker ranges; sources differ): City Walk and Bluewaters apartments 18–28, with some quotes up to 35–38 including cooling; Port de La Mer and Madinat Jumeirah Living 18–30; The Acres villas 6–10. Check the building's Mollak figure.
Who Meraas suits
Meraas suits buyers who want a prime, walkable address on the Jumeirah coast, at City Walk or in Dubai Design District, with government-backed ownership, and who care more about long-term value and lifestyle than yield. Its villa communities suit families wanting a gated home near Meydan (Nad Al Sheba Gardens) or a greener option in Dubailand (The Acres). It suits less well yield-first investors, buyers who need a post-handover plan, and anyone who needs the keys by a fixed date, because build programmes are long and contracts are often awarded well after launch.
Thinking of buying? We have sold off-plan for the major developers and can compare Meraas projects with similar homes from others, including resales that may cost less than a new launch.
Meraas FAQs
Is Meraas a good developer?
Meraas is owned by Dubai Holding and built City Walk, Bluewaters, La Mer and Jumeira Bay. No cancelled residential project was found in our research, and it was named UAE Developer of the Year in June 2026. The trade-offs are long build programmes, premium prices, high service charges and very little published financial information.
Who owns Meraas?
Since 2020 Meraas has been a subsidiary of Dubai Holding, the investment company of the Ruler of Dubai. It sits within Dubai Holding Real Estate, alongside Nakheel and Dubai Properties, under CEO Khalid Al Malik.
What is the Meraas payment plan?
Usually 75/25 for City Walk, d3 and Madinat Jumeirah Living apartments, 80/20 or 60/40 for villas, and 65/35 at The Acres with 5% on booking plus 5% on signing (2026). Expect to pay 20% on booking plus the 4% DLD fee on most launches. There are no post-handover plans on current launches.
Does Meraas deliver on time?
Usually within months. A broker analysis of DLD data (October 2026) says contracted units were delivered on or before their DLD-registered dates, but about 12% of projects missed the originally marketed date by more than six months. Cherrywoods was due July 2021 and completed May 2022. Expect three to five years from launch to keys on current projects.
What are Meraas service charges?
High in coastal and city-centre communities: broker figures range from AED 18 to 38 per sq ft a year at City Walk, Bluewaters and Port de La Mer, against AED 6–10 for villas at The Acres (2026). Check the Mollak figure for the exact building.
What rental yield do Meraas properties give?
Bluewaters apartments up to 5.86% gross (Bayut, October 2026) and Nad Al Sheba Gardens villas 4.62% (Property Finder, October 2026). Brokers quote 5–6% at City Walk and Port de La Mer (2026).
How much is an apartment at City Walk?
New launches start from AED 1.83m at Northline and AED 2.1m at Verve (March 2026), and AED 2.62m–2.8m at Crestlane (October 2026). Ready City Walk homes sold for AED 2,400–4,010/sq ft on DLD data (October 2026).
How much are villas at The Acres and Nad Al Sheba Gardens?
The Acres starts at about AED 5m for a 3-bed, with The Acres Estates up to AED 22.2m for a 7-bed (2025–26). Nad Al Sheba Gardens launches start at AED 4.43m (Phase 7, October 2026), and the median 3-bed listing there is AED 6.55m (October 2026).
When is The Acres handover?
Phase 1 is due Q4 2027 and some phase 2 listings show Q2 2028 (October 2026). The main contracts were awarded in November 2025 and April 2026, so check the latest DLD construction percentage before you buy.
Can I get a mortgage on a Meraas off-plan property?
Yes. Dubai Holding Real Estate signed off-plan financing partnerships in 2026 with Emirates NBD, ADIB, Commercial Bank of Dubai, ADCB and a mortgage broker, covering Meraas, Nakheel and Dubai Properties projects.
Sources and how we checked (30)
Facts checked October 2026 from the developer’s own announcements and results, Dubai Land Department records (via Property Finder, DXBinteract and Propsearch), Bayut market reports and the press. Figures given by the developer are labelled as theirs. This page is information, not financial advice.
- Meraas (Wikipedia)
- Dubai Holding (Wikipedia)
- Dubai Holding press releases, 2025–2026
- Meraas named UAE Developer of the Year (Dubai Holding, 11 June 2026)
- Meraas awards AED 1bn contract for Nad Al Sheba Gardens Phase 7 (Dubai Holding, 24 September 2026)
- Meraas awards AED 2.4bn contracts for The Acres (Dubai Holding, 30 April 2026)
- Meraas awards AED 2bn+ contract for Design Quarter at d3 (Dubai Holding, 11 March 2025)
- Meraas launches Crestlane 4 and 5 at City Walk (Dubai Holding, 3 December 2025)
- Meraas awards AED 590m+ contract for City Walk Crestlane (Dubai Holding, 7 September 2026)
- Meraas unveils Jumeirah Residences Emirates Towers (Dubai Holding, 9 June 2025)
- Meraas new projects (Bayut, October 2026)
- Meraas payment plans explained (Dealr, July 2026)
- Meraas investor guide 2026 (Oliva)
- Dubai service charges by area and developer 2026 (Oliva)
- Meraas developer page (Real Estate Club Dubai)
- Who is Meraas (Metropolitan Premium Properties)
- Meraas communities 2026 (Haus51, March 2026)
- Nakheel vs Meraas, DLD data to September 2026 (Top Realtors)
- Cherrywoods (Propsearch, October 2026)
- Bluewaters Island (Propsearch, October 2026)
- Bluewaters Bay (Propsearch, October 2026)
- Port de La Mer (Propsearch, October 2026)
- The Acres (Propsearch, October 2026)
- Nad Al Sheba Gardens (Propsearch, October 2026)
- City Walk (Propsearch, October 2026)
- Villas for sale in The Acres (Property Finder, October 2026)
- Villas for sale in Nad Al Sheba Gardens (Property Finder, October 2026)
- Apartments for sale on Bluewaters Island (Bayut, October 2026)
- The Acres Estates price sheet (Off Plan Insider, February 2025)
- Dubai property prices August 2026, ValuStrat data (Property Portfolio Investor, 16 September 2026)