Inside Meraas Developments in Dubai: Communities, Projects and Prices
*The prices mentioned in the article are current as of the date of publication
5 min.
27th February 2026
Meraas was founded in 2007 and became a subsidiary of Dubai Holding in 2020. Since then it has delivered over 80 million sqft of property across Dubai, including more than 3,500 residential units. In 2025, Meraas ranked among Dubai's top developers in the luxury segment, with one of the highest average transaction values in the market.
The company builds at lower density than most Dubai developers. Wide pavements, shade, public art and low to mid-rise scale are consistent across every community. Residents in Dubai often say they can identify a Meraas community before they see the name. That physical quality comes from treating the space between buildings with the same attention as the buildings themselves.
Meraas currently builds across various communities in Dubai, each with a different character.
City Walk is a mixed-use urban district in Al Wasl, developed and launched by Meraas in 2013. It sits between Jumeirah Street and Sheikh Zayed Road, 5 minutes from Downtown Dubai. The district has over 1 million sqft of retail and entertainment space, while The Green Planet and Coca-Cola Arena are within walking distance. Buildings are arranged around tree-lined streets and public plazas, an unusual format in Dubai at the time of launching.
Residential projects in City Walk:
Central Park at City Walk — apartments surrounding a large urban park with pools, sports courts, jogging track and a dog park. 1–4BR, multiple completed and ongoing phases, from AED 1.8M in earlier phases
City Walk Crestlane — five phases of mid-rise apartments set around water features and lagoon-facing gardens. Crestlane Phase 4 and Crestlane Phase 5 launched December 2025, adding 360 units. 1–4BR and duplexes from AED 2.8M
Verve City Walk — 1–4BR apartments and a 5BR penthouse from AED 2.1M, handover Q3 2028, 75/25 payment plan
City Walk Northline — 304 apartments across three towers, 1–3BR from AED 1.83M, handover Q3 2027
Apartments in City Walk average about AED 3,100 per sqft, with 1-bedroom rents around AED 158,000 annually and gross rental yields near 5.5–6% based on 2025 transactions.
d3 was established in 2013 by TECOM Group as a free zone dedicated to creative industries. In January 2026, Meraas announced the full residential expansion. At its center is the Design Line, a car-free shaded pedestrian route connecting all parts of the district.
The neighbourhood is organised into various zones:
Creekside — waterfront promenades along Dubai Canal with terraces and shaded walkways
Design HQ — the institutional core hosting design organisations, exhibitions and workspaces
SOHO — cafés, concept retail, dining and flexible social spaces
The Sanctuary — a landscaped wellness area for quieter, slower-paced living
Mindspace — studios, offices and collaborative workspaces.
Current residential projects in d3:
Design Quarter — the first residential project in the district, 1–3BR apartments from AED 1.87M, handover Q1 2027, 60/40 payment plan
- Atélis at d3 — 280-unit canal-facing tower, 1–4BR, Sky Villas and penthouses from AED 2.1M, handover Q3 2029.
- The Edit at d3 — 557 apartments across three canal-facing towers, launched November 2025, 1–4BR from AED 2M, handover Q2 2030, 75/25 payment plan
- Artistry One Residences — a sculptural tower with 227 branded residences from AED 2.2M, handover Q1 2029.
Apartments in d3 average about AED 2,700 per sqft, with gross rental yields typically around 6–8%. Downtown and DIFC are roughly 5–10 minutes by car, and Dubai International Airport is about 20 minutes away.
City Walk is a mixed-use urban district in Al Wasl, developed and launched by Meraas in 2013. It sits between Jumeirah Street and Sheikh Zayed Road, 5 minutes from Downtown Dubai. The district has over 1 million sqft of retail and entertainment space, while The Green Planet and Coca-Cola Arena are within walking distance. Buildings are arranged around tree-lined streets and public plazas, an unusual format in Dubai at the time of launching.
Residential sub-communities:
Port de La Mer — low-rise 1–4BR apartments and penthouses with marina views, from approximately AED 1.7M.
Sur La Mer — completed 3–5BR townhouses with Italian-style interiors and private lifts
Beachfront villas — a limited number of custom-built homes with private pools and direct beach access, starting around AED 20M
La Mer also has a yacht marina, Laguna Waterpark and a seaside promenade. There are two recent projects within La Mer: Solaya at La Mer, offering nine low-rise buildings designed in collaboration with Foster + Partner, and Jumeirah Asora Bay, a collection of just 29 ultra-luxury residences.
Rental yields in La Mer typically range from 5 to 6%, with apartment prices averaging roughly AED 3,000–3,200 per sqft for existing stock, with new launches such as Solaya commanding significantly higher entry prices.
Nad Al Sheba Gardens is a gated community in the Meydan corridor, approximately 10 minutes from Downtown Dubai. Currently being released in phases, each adding new residential clusters while preserving the low-density feel.
Property types include 3BR townhouses and 4–7BR villas with private gardens and open-plan layouts. The most recent release, Nad Al Sheba Gardens Phase 11, offers homes from AED 6.15M on a 80/20 payment plan with handover in June 2029.
Other Meraas Communities in Dubai
Meraas' other communities show how the company works in different pricing ranges while following the same development principles.
At the very top sits Jumeirah Bay Island, holding the Bvlgari Lighthouse — a residential tower with a three-level Sky Villa. A Sky Villa sold for about AED 410M, the highest apartment transaction ever recorded in Dubai. Supply is extremely limited and resales are rare, so pricing behaves closer to trophy property.
Madinat Jumeirah Living introduced freehold ownership in Umm Suqeim, an area where foreigners historically could not buy property. Due to the high demand for real estate in the functioning resort district, new releases frequently sell out before construction.
Pearl Jumeirah, through Nikki Beach Residences, was one of the first big branded beachfront residential projects in Dubai, years before branded residences became a big investment segment in the emirate. The Acres then moves away from coastline and towers entirely, with over 40% of the masterplan dedicated to open space and landscaping, while Bluewaters adds the entertainment-anchored island format centred around Ain Dubai.
These projects show that Meraas typically enters a niche market in Dubai's real estate right before it becomes popular, positioning its communities as reference points for future developments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Meraas?
Meraas is a Dubai developer founded in 2007 and incorporated into Dubai Holding in 2020. The company is known for creating entire districts as destinations first and residential addresses second. Meraas is behind some of Dubai’s most recognisable locations, including City Walk, Bluewaters Island, La Mer and Jumeirah Bay Island.
Are Meraas communities freehold?
Yes. All Meraas residential projects are sold as freehold, meaning buyers receive full ownership registered with the Dubai Land Department. This applies to every community in the portfolio.
A consistent pattern with Meraas is introducing freehold ownership into areas where buyers previously could not purchase property. La Mer and Port de La Mer brought it to Jumeirah, Madinat Jumeirah Living to Umm Suqeim, and d3 became freehold residential when it had previously functioned purely as a creative business district.
Why do some Meraas projects sell out quickly?
Many launches happen inside areas that are already active destinations. Buyers are choosing functioning neighbourhoods, which tends to accelerate early demand.
Which Meraas community has the highest ROI?
Based on 2025 transaction data, d3 consistently shows the strongest gross rental yields in the Meraas portfolio, ranging from 6–8% depending on unit type and floor. Port de La Mer typically delivers 5–6%, which is solid for a prime beachfront address in Jumeirah where capital values are among the highest in Dubai.
Which Meraas community is considered the most expensive?
Jumeirah Bay Island holds the highest values in the portfolio and among the highest in Dubai overall. Ultra-prime residences there, including Sky Villas at the Bvlgari Lighthouse, have recorded some of the largest residential transactions in the city.
Is d3 becoming a residential neighbourhood or remaining a business district?
Both. The district started as a creative business hub, and the residential projects expanded it. Offices, studios, exhibitions and cafés remain the core, while housing allows people to live within the same environment
Why is City Walk one of Meraas’ most important communities?
City Walk was one of the first centrally located residential districts in Dubai built around pedestrian streets. It sits near Downtown but functions as its own walkable neighbourhood, which created consistent residential demand. In 2025 the area recorded around a 5% gross rental yield and more than 400 resale transactions.
Why is Madinat Jumeirah Living notable?
Madinat Jumeirah Living introduced freehold ownership in Umm Suqeim, an area traditionally dominated by hotels and private villas. Residents live inside a fully established coastal district with immediate access to existing infrastructure and public spaces.
What makes Meraas different within Dubai’s residential market?
Its projects show a consistent approach: Meraas develops popular destinations before introducing housing. As a result, the communities function as established districts from the start.
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