Top 5 New Off-Plan Projects in Dubai to Watch in 2027
Every week brings a new launch in Dubai, and most lists of the “best” projects are simply the latest brochures in a new order. Buyers who did well in the last cycle chose differently: they backed developers with finished buildings behind them, in areas where demand was already visible, ahead of a catalyst that would lift the whole address.
In 2026, Imtiaz sold out two releases on Sheikh Zayed Road on their launch days. Which of next year's launches are most likely to do the same, and which deserve a closer look before you commit?
This guide applies those three tests to what is coming next. It shows what buyers chose in 2026, the five projects and master plans we would watch most closely into 2027, how to read a launch offer, and how to pick the right one for your plan.
The Dubai Off-Plan Property Market in 2026: What Buyers Chose
In 2026 the Dubai off-plan property market rewarded large communities from developers buyers know, at entry prices most investors can reach. Three trends stand out: master-planned communities on a city scale, waterfront and island addresses, and launches that sell out within a day.
What buyers chose: Dubai's best-selling off-plan projects in 2026
The list is led by Azizi Milan, Azizi's Venice community in Dubai South and DAMAC Lagoons, where buyers can enter at a median price of around $160,000–215,000. Higher up the price scale, Creek Bay at Dubai Creek Harbour and Damac Islands 2 drew strong demand for waterfront homes. The common thread is a recognisable developer, an entry price within reach and an address that is already taking shape.
For the off-plan property market in Dubai as a whole, this matters at the next stage too: the deeper the pool of buyers in a community today, the easier it is to sell or let a home there tomorrow. Our look at Dubai South explains why the area attracts so much of that demand.
Best Off-Plan Projects in Dubai to Watch in 2027
Finding the best off-plan property in Dubai starts with three tests, and we chose these five by them: the developer has finished buildings or recent handovers to show, buyers are already active in the area, and a catalyst is on a dated plan. Prices and payment plans are quoted only where the developer has published them.
1. Emaar's new master plan behind Dubai Hills Estate
Emaar has announced a Dh200 billion master plan for nearly 150,000 residents, with more than 4.5 million square metres of built-up area across five zones, from a business hub to a villa enclave (Gulf News, 11 June 2026). Reports place it behind Dubai Hills Estate; Emaar has said the full unveiling is imminent and has not yet published prices or a name.
It belongs on a 2027 watch-list because of who is building it and where. Emaar handed over 4,621 homes in Dubai in 2026, more than any other developer (DXB Interact), and Dubai Hills Estate next door shows what a finished Emaar community does for values; our Dubai Hills Estate investment guide looks at it project by project. The approved Gold Line metro, due in 2032, has a planned station at Al Barsha South, on the edge of Dubai Hills.
Less of a fit if you want a home within three years: a plan of this size will be built in phases over many years.
Numbers: Dh200 billion master plan · about 150,000 residents · Emaar off-plan median $594 per sq ft in 2026
Infrastructure today: Dubai Hills Estate next door, with its mall, schools, hospital and park
Catalyst: Gold Line metro (approved April 2026, opening 2032)
Fits: long-term buyers who want an early phase in Emaar's next flagship community
2. Sobha Sanctuary, off Al Ain Road
Sobha Sanctuary is a Dh50 billion community of about 20,000 homes, 18,000 apartments and 2,000 villas, off Al Ain Road next to Sobha Elwood (Gulf News, 26 January 2026). Roughly half the land is set aside for parks, water and community facilities, with two international schools, a hospital facility and a central park planned. The first release, around 250 villas, started from Dh3.99 million (about $1.09 million), with first handovers from the third quarter of 2029.
Sobha handed over 1,348 homes in 2026 so far (DXB Interact), and resales in Sobha One trade at about the developer's own current price, a sign that buyers value the brand. With most of the 2,000 villas still to come in later phases, 2027 is when the wider release of Sanctuary should take shape.
Less of a fit if you are looking for a lower budget: villas here start well above the city's typical off-plan purchase, and apartments are expected in later phases.
Numbers: about 20,000 homes · first villas from about $1.09 million · Sobha off-plan median $768 per sq ft in 2026
Infrastructure today: Sobha Elwood next door; Al Ain Road access
Catalyst: schools, hospital and central park inside the plan
Fits: families and long-term investors wanting a villa in a green, master-planned community
3. Palm Jebel Ali: Aldar and Dubai Holding in 2027, Nakheel now
Palm Jebel Ali is the city's next large island, with seven interconnected islands and more than 90 km of beachfront. Nakheel released a new phase of Palm Central Private Residences in June 2026: 222 homes in three low- to mid-rise buildings, from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom townhouses, after a strong response to the first release in October 2025 (Dubai Holding). Aldar and Dubai Holding plan to launch ultra-luxury branded and non-branded homes with direct beach access on the island in 2027 (Dubai Holding, 2026).
Few addresses in Dubai will add this much new beachfront in the coming decade, and Aldar's arrival brings Abu Dhabi's largest developer to the island. Nakheel's Palm Central homes start from Dh2.7 million (about $735,000) for a one-bedroom (The National, 24 June 2026), and Aldar and Dubai Holding have not yet published prices; Dubai Islands, the closest comparable waterfront district, traded at a median of about $773 per square foot in 2026.
Less of a fit if you need rental income soon: the island is at an early stage, and most homes will be finished later in the decade.
Numbers: 222 homes in Nakheel's June 2026 phase · one-bedroom homes from about $735,000 · Aldar–Dubai Holding launch planned for 2027
Infrastructure today: island works under way; retail centre and Friday mosque planned
Catalyst: one of Dubai's last large new beachfronts
Fits: buyers with a long horizon who want a scarce waterfront address
4. Dubai Design District (d3) by Meraas
Meraas has unveiled a residential master plan for Dubai Design District, an 18 million square foot district between Downtown Dubai and Dubai Creek, with canal-front homes, a waterfront promenade and a shaded pedestrian spine (Dubai Media Office, 5 January 2026). Its recent releases sold well: Atelis, a 280-home waterfront tower, sold out quickly, followed by The Edit, three towers with 557 homes.
The appeal is location. d3 sits a short drive from Downtown and Business Bay, with views towards the Creek and the Ras Al Khor wildlife sanctuary, and further releases under the new plan are the ones to watch in 2027. Nearby off-plan homes in Dubai Creek Harbour traded at a median of $713 per square foot in 2026, a useful benchmark for future d3 prices.
Less of a fit if you want a large family home: the plan is built around apartments in towers.
Numbers: 18 million sq ft master plan · Atelis 280 homes sold out · The Edit 557 homes
Infrastructure today: d3 creative district open; Downtown and Business Bay nearby
Catalyst: canal-front homes and promenade under the new plan
Fits: buyers who want a central, design-led apartment close to Downtown
5. RAW District by Imtiaz, and its next community in Dubailand
Imtiaz's RAW District on Sheikh Zayed Road sold out on launch day, and so did RAW District 2, a Dh1.5 billion second phase launched in July 2026 (Imtiaz). The first phase was among Dubai's four best-selling off-plan projects in the first nine months of 2026, at a median of about $485 per square foot, with completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2029 (DXB Interact; Imtiaz). Imtiaz is also growing in Dubailand, where it is building The Cove series and has a new community planned in Dubai Land Residence Complex (Imtiaz).
Imtiaz has been delivering as it grows: it handed over Beach Walk, its first residential project on Dubai Islands, in March 2026. Its next releases on Sheikh Zayed Road and in Dubailand are among the most likely sell-outs of 2027, and the speed of those sell-outs is a reason to have your shortlist ready early.
Less of a fit if you want a villa: Imtiaz's current launches are mostly apartments.
Numbers: 1,129 deals in 2026 · median about $216,500 per home · completion Q1 2029
Infrastructure today: Sheikh Zayed Road frontage and metro access along the corridor
Catalyst: a new Dubailand community planned
Fits: investors wanting an entry-level apartment from a developer whose launches sell quickly
Also on the radar
Latest Off-Plan Projects in Dubai: Launches and 2027 Handovers
The latest off-plan property in Dubai comes from two directions: new phases in established communities and first releases in new master plans. Dubai off-plan property projects now range from single towers to city-scale developments.
Among the most closely watched launches of 2026 were Sobha Sanctuary in January, Nakheel's Palm Central phase in June and the two RAW District releases in June and July; for 2027, the largest Dubai off-plan property developments and Dubai off-plan property launches announced so far are Aldar and Dubai Holding's homes on Palm Jebel Ali and the first phases of Emaar's new master plan.
For buyers interested in off-plan property with 2027 handover in Dubai, Dubai Hills Estate is a good example of how much is close to completion: six projects there are scheduled by their developers to hand over during 2027, including Golf Grand, Park Gate, Greenside Residence and Parkside Views. Buying close to handover shortens the wait for rent while keeping part of the payment plan.
What Rental Yield Can You Expect From an Off-Plan Apartment in JVC?
Service charges come off this figure and differ from building to building, which is one more reason the building matters as much as the district.
Off-plan property news in Dubai moves quickly. For off-plan property updates in Dubai, we check launch details against developer announcements before publishing, and every date in this guide carries its source; treat the dates as developer targets and confirm progress on the Dubai Land Department website.
Dubai Off-Plan Property Deals: How to Read a Launch Offer
A good off-plan deal in Dubai is the combination of an early price, a payment plan you can comfortably carry and a developer you trust. Promotions come and go; those three last for the life of the purchase.
What off-plan payment plans look like in Dubai today
What to look for in off-plan property deals in Dubai:
The launch price list. Developers usually raise prices as each phase sells. In Sobha One the developer's price went from $585 per square foot at launch to $626 in 2026 (DXB Interact). The earliest phase is the cheapest one.
The payment plan. A larger share at handover keeps more cash with you during construction; a larger share during construction means less to find at the keys. Post-handover plans spread payments beyond completion.
Fee offers. Some developers cover part of the DLD fee or service charges for a period. Treat these as a bonus once the price and the developer pass your tests, and get the offer confirmed in writing by the developer.
The price per square foot. Compare it with recent sales in the same area; a launch offer is only a deal if the starting price is sensible.
"One client from Saudi Arabia had spoken to five agents before we sat down. We started with his strategy, the budget, the timeline and what the unit had to do for him, and only then looked at launches; after that, the right unit was easy to find. With a new launch every week, a clear strategy is what stops you buying the brochure."
How to Choose the Right Off-Plan Project for Your Goal
Choose by your goal first, then test the project against four criteria: developer, location, price per square foot against the area, and payment plan.
Four checks on any project:
- Developer. Finished buildings you can visit and homes handed over in the past year; our guide to assessing off-plan risk shows where to check.
- Location. What is already open nearby, and which catalysts have dates; the best areas to invest in Dubai compares districts.
- Price per square foot. Compare with recent sales in the area, including finished homes nearby.
- Payment plan. Make sure every instalment fits your income, including the payment due at handover.
"A client from Italy spent several months with us comparing projects before he bought. What he valued most was being told plainly which ones did not fit his plan. In a busy launch year, ruling options out is half the work, and it is what lets you act quickly when the right launch opens."
Where Dubai's Next Off-Plan Opportunities Are Taking Shape
The pattern behind these five is consistent: the strongest new off-plan projects in Dubai pair a developer that delivers with an address that is still growing.
For 2027, that points to the next phases of the city's big master plans and to the remaining waterfront, where supply is naturally limited.
Off-plan property growth in Dubai has historically rewarded buyers who entered those places early, chose their developer carefully and kept to a payment plan they could carry. The opportunity is in preparing before the launch, so the decision on launch day is already made.
Five Things to Remember About New Off-Plan Projects in Dubai
- Judge a launch by the developer's finished buildings before its brochure.
- Early phases carry the lowest prices, and prices usually rise as a project sells.
- A catalyst only counts when it has a published date.
- The best payment plan is the one you can carry comfortably to handover.
- Prepare your shortlist before the launch, because the best units go first.
FAQ
What are the best off-plan projects in Dubai to watch in 2027?
On our three tests, developer record, current demand and dated catalysts, the five to watch are Emaar's new master plan behind Dubai Hills Estate, Sobha Sanctuary, the 2027 releases on Palm Jebel Ali, Meraas's d3 waterfront plan and Imtiaz's next RAW District and Dubailand launches.
Which developers are launching new projects in Dubai in 2026 and 2027?
Emaar, Sobha, Nakheel, Meraas, Imtiaz, and Aldar with Dubai Holding have all announced major launches or master plans for 2026–2027, alongside the developers that led sales this year, such as Azizi, DAMAC and Binghatti.
How do I book a unit in a new off-plan launch?
You pay a booking deposit to reserve the unit, sign the reservation form and then the sales agreement, and the developer registers the purchase with the Dubai Land Department in the interim register, known as Oqood. Payments go into the project's escrow account.
Are launch prices really cheaper in Dubai off-plan projects?
Usually, yes. Developers raise prices as phases sell: in Sobha One the developer's price per square foot rose from $585 at launch to $626 in 2026 (DXB Interact). Buying in the first phase is typically the lowest price you will see in that project.
