Quick answer
- Dubai Islands is Nakheel’s five-island waterfront city off Deira: 18.6 sq km, about 62,000 homes and more than 230,000 future residents, with 21 km of new beachfront.
- On 5 October 2026 Nakheel unveiled Bay Estate, a gated community of about 360 three- and four-bedroom garden villas, attached villas and townhouses around swimmable lagoons.
- Apartments on Dubai Islands start from about AED 2.15M, and the Imperial Realty Live Inventory lists 100 projects there.
- Dubai International Airport is within 10 km and Downtown Dubai within 15 km. Speak to Imperial Realty Dubai in Business Bay for Bay Estate price lists and availability.
Dubai is building a second coastline, and Dubai Islands is where much of it is happening. This month Nakheel unveiled Bay Estate, a gated villa and townhouse community on the islands, and enquiries to the Imperial Realty team have jumped. This guide explains what Dubai Islands is, what Bay Estate offers and what you can buy there today.
What is Dubai Islands?
Dubai Islands is Nakheel’s five-island masterplan off the historic Deira coastline. According to Nakheel, the development will:
| Dubai Islands at a glance | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total area | 18.6 sq km across five islands |
| Homes | About 62,000 |
| Future residents | More than 230,000 |
| Hotel keys | More than 11,000 |
| Branded residences | More than 4,000 |
| New coastline | About 57 km, including 21 km of beachfront |
| Leisure | Two 18-hole championship golf courses and 8 marinas |
Three bridges connect the islands to the mainland, with direct access to the Al Shindagha Corridor. Dubai International Airport is within 10 km and Downtown Dubai within 15 km, much closer to the city centre than Dubai’s other new waterfront districts.
Bay Estate by Nakheel: the October 2026 launch
On 5 October 2026 Nakheel, a member of Dubai Holding Real Estate, unveiled Bay Estate as a gated waterfront community on Dubai Islands. The key facts from Nakheel’s announcement:
- About 360 homes, all three- and four-bedroom: garden villas, attached villas and townhouses.
- Beachfront and waterfront plots for buyers who want to build their own home.
- Three collections: Cala centres on secluded lagoon living, Verda on green spaces and family homes, and Agora on a more social, connected neighbourhood.
- A large setting: the wider masterplan covers 653,709 sq m, with 2.4 km of beachfront and 6.5 km of waterfront.
- Amenities: swimmable lagoons, beach access, a beach club, clubhouse, marina facilities, retail and wellness spaces, sports courts, children’s play areas and landscaped pedestrian routes.
- Security: dedicated gated access and controlled entry points.
- Scale: more than 12,000 residents at full completion.
Nakheel has not published prices in its announcement. Prices, the payment plan and handover dates come with the developer’s sales release, and allocations at Nakheel launches move quickly. Message Imperial Realty on WhatsApp to be first in line for the Bay Estate price list.
Apartments on Dubai Islands you can buy today
If you prefer an apartment, several towers on Dubai Islands are already selling. Prices below are each developer’s latest published starting price:
- Samana Ocean Crest (Samana Developers, from AED 2.15M)
- Samana Ocean Bay (Samana Developers, from AED 2.89M)
- Samana Ocean Pearl (Samana Developers, from AED 3.94M): handover Q4 2027
- Samana Ocean Pearl 2 (Samana Developers, from AED 4.28M)
These are only a few of the 100 Dubai Islands projects in our Live Inventory. Open it to filter by price, bedrooms, payment plan and handover date, and to see floor plans for each project.
Dubai Islands vs other waterfront districts
| Dubai Islands | Palm Jebel Ali | Dubai Creek Harbour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Off Deira, near the airport | Jebel Ali, south-west Dubai | Next to Ras Al Khor |
| Main product | Villas, townhouses, apartments | Villas and low-rise apartments | Apartments |
| Example on our site | Samana Ocean Crest from AED 2.15M | Palm Central Private Residences from AED 2.7M | Creek Haven at Dubai Creek Harbour from AED 2.72M |
For trophy beachfront homes in the city, compare with Solaya by Meraas at La Mer, from AED 14.2M.
Who is Dubai Islands right for?
- Families who want a villa near the city. Bay Estate’s garden villas and townhouses sit around lagoons and green spaces, yet the airport is within 10 km and Downtown Dubai within 15 km. Few new villa communities are this close to the centre.
- Holiday-home and rental investors. With more than 11,000 hotel keys, beach clubs and marinas planned, Dubai Islands is being shaped as a leisure destination, which supports short-stay demand. Check each building’s holiday-home rules before you buy.
- Buyers who want to build. Nakheel’s beachfront and waterfront plots at Bay Estate let you design your own home on the water. That is rare this close to Deira and Downtown.
- Long-term buyers. Most of the district is still being delivered. If you buy early you are buying into the plan, so choose phases and developers with a clear delivery record.
What to check before buying on Dubai Islands
- Which island and which phase. Infrastructure is delivered in stages. Ask which roads, bridges, schools and retail open before your handover.
- View and water access. Lagoon, beach, marina and skyline views carry very different prices for similar layouts.
- The payment plan. Compare how much you pay before handover with how much you pay at completion.
- Service charges. Communities with lagoons, beach clubs and marinas usually have higher charges per square foot. Use our rental yield calculator to test your numbers.
- Developer track record. Nakheel built Palm Jumeirah and is now delivering Palm Jebel Ali and Dubai Islands.
Buy on Dubai Islands with Imperial Realty Dubai
Imperial Realty Dubai works with Nakheel, Samana and every major developer on Dubai Islands. That means we can compare Bay Estate villas with island apartments, and with waterfront projects elsewhere in Dubai, side by side. For most off-plan purchases the developer pays the agency, so our advice usually costs you nothing.
Want the Bay Estate price list or a shortlist of Dubai Islands apartments? Message Imperial Pacific Real Estate on WhatsApp at +971 58 584 4383, call +971 4 452 8881, or visit us at The Exchange Tower in Business Bay. You can also book a free discovery call on imperialrealty.ae.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bay Estate on Dubai Islands?
Bay Estate is a gated waterfront community by Nakheel on Dubai Islands, unveiled on 5 October 2026. It offers about 360 three- and four-bedroom garden villas, attached villas and townhouses, plus beachfront and waterfront plots, across three collections: Cala, Verda and Agora.
How much does property on Dubai Islands cost?
Among the projects Imperial Realty tracks, apartments on Dubai Islands start from about AED 2.15M. Villas and townhouses such as those at Bay Estate are priced individually by Nakheel; ask Imperial Pacific Real Estate for the current price list and payment plan.
Where is Dubai Islands?
Dubai Islands lies off the historic Deira coastline. It is connected to the mainland by three bridges with direct access to the Al Shindagha Corridor; Dubai International Airport is within 10 km and Downtown Dubai within 15 km, according to Nakheel.
Can foreigners buy property on Dubai Islands?
Yes. Dubai Islands is a Nakheel master development where international buyers can purchase property. Imperial Realty Dubai confirms the ownership terms for each project in writing before you reserve.
Is Dubai Islands a good investment?
It depends on your goal. Dubai Islands combines new beachfront, marinas and golf with entry prices below more established waterfront areas, but most of the district is still being built. Imperial Realty compares handover dates, payment plans and expected rents for each project before recommending one.
Sources: Nakheel: Nakheel unveils Bay Estate, a new gated waterfront community at Dubai Islands (5 Oct 2026) · Middle East Construction News: Nakheel unveils Bay Estate, Dubai Islands · samanadevelopers.com
Imperial Realty (Imperial Pacific Real Estate L.L.C) is a Dubai real estate agency at The Exchange Tower, Business Bay. Prices quoted are starting prices published by developers on the date of writing and can change; an advisor confirms the latest figures before you reserve.
