About Nakheel

Nakheel is a Dubai master developer and a member of Dubai Holding Real Estate. In March 2024, Nakheel and Meydan were incorporated into Dubai Holding.

The company's portfolio includes Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai Islands, Jumeirah Islands and Al Furjan. Nakheel attributes more than 300 km of added Dubai coastline to its waterfront developments.

Palm Jebel Ali

Palm Jebel Ali spans 13.4 sq km and comprises seven interconnected islands, 16 fronds and more than 90 km of beachfront. In June 2026, Nakheel said the first villa handovers were scheduled to begin later that year as the destination moved into a phased delivery period.

AED 5 billion of construction contracts awarded in 2024 cover 723 Beach and Coral Collection villas across Fronds K to P. A June 2026 Palm Central Private Residences phase added 222 homes across three buildings.

Dubai Islands

At Dubai Islands, current milestones include AED 2.6 billion in construction contracts for Bay Villas and an AED 527 million infrastructure contract for Island B.

Established Dubai communities

Nakheel's wider portfolio includes established destinations such as Palm Jumeirah and Jumeirah Islands, alongside current launches and infrastructure work across Dubai.

Dubai waterfront communities led by Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Dubai Islands

Master developerWaterfrontPalm Jebel AliDubai IslandsDubai

Who owns Nakheel?

Nakheel is a subsidiary of Dubai Holding. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum directed the incorporation of Nakheel and Meydan into Dubai Holding on 16 March 2024, and the same directive abolished the boards of directors of both companies. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum leads the combined group and is listed as Chairman on Nakheel's own leadership page. Nakheel now operates inside Dubai Holding Real Estate alongside Meraas and Dubai Properties, and Khalid Al Malik, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Real Estate, is the executive quoted in Nakheel's press releases. Nakheel has no shares traded on an exchange, so it publishes no shareholder register.

Source: UAE Government Media Office — incorporation of Nakheel and Meydan into Dubai Holding, 16 March 2024 · Dubai Holding — Nakheel and Meydan incorporation, 16 March 2024

Track record

Buildings that made the name

  1. 01 Dragon Mart Opened 2004 at Dubai International City; Dragon Mart 2 followed in 2015, taking the pair to 3,500 stores. 2004 completed
  2. 02 Ibn Battuta Mall Opened 4 April 2005 at Jebel Ali; 521,000 sq m. 2005 completed
  3. 03 Palm Jumeirah Reclamation began in June 2001; Nakheel announced the first residential handovers in 2006. 2006 completed
  4. 04 Nakheel Mall Opened 28 November 2019 on Palm Jumeirah; five levels, built for AED 1.2bn. 2019 completed
  5. 05 The Palm Fountain Guinness World Records confirmed it as the largest fountain, 7,327 sq m, on 22 October 2020. 2020 completed
  6. 06 Jebel Ali Village Handover of 892 villas and townhouses began 17 August 2026 on 80 hectares. 2026 completed

Nakheel track record: delivered and under construction

Added to Dubai's original coastline
410 km
Nakheel portfolio figure
Waterfront developed
300 km
Nakheel portfolio figure
Land under master development
15,000 hectares
Nakheel portfolio figure
People living in Nakheel communities
About 700,000
Nakheel portfolio figure
Homes handed over at Jebel Ali Village
892
Handover began 17 August 2026
Villas under construction on Palm Jebel Ali
1,272
728 on Fronds K–P, 544 on Fronds A–F, at 20 August 2026

Delivered Under construction

Delivered destinations and homes under construction are counted separately and are never added together.Contract values name a single project or phase, not a company total. Coastline and land figures are Nakheel's own published portfolio figures, not delivery counts.

Project Area Type Status Date
Dragon Mart 1 Dubai International City Retail trading hub, 240,000 sq m Delivered 2004
Ibn Battuta Mall Jebel Ali Retail centre, 521,000 sq m Delivered 4 April 2005
Palm Jumeirah Palm Jumeirah Reclaimed island community First handovers 2006
Dragon Mart 2 Dubai International City Retail extension, 175,000 sq m Delivered 2015
Nakheel Mall Palm Jumeirah Retail centre, five levels Delivered 28 November 2019
The Palm Fountain, The Pointe Palm Jumeirah Largest fountain, 7,327 sq m Delivered 22 October 2020
Jebel Ali Village Jebel Ali 892 villas and townhouses on 80 hectares Handover started 17 August 2026
Como Residences Palm Jumeirah 75-storey tower, 81 apartments Under construction Contract 23 September 2024
Palm Jebel Ali, Fronds K–P Palm Jebel Ali 728 villas in finishing stage Under construction Status at 20 August 2026
Palm Jebel Ali, Fronds A–F Palm Jebel Ali 544 villas, AED 3.5bn contracts Under construction Completion targeted Q4 2028
Bay Villas Dubai Islands 636 homes, AED 2.6bn contract Under construction Contract 18 August 2025
Palm Central Private Residences Palm Jebel Ali 222 residences in three buildings Current release 24 June 2026
Dubai Islands, Island B Dubai Islands AED 527m infrastructure contract Infrastructure works 20 April 2026

Source: Nakheel — Palm Jebel Ali villas head for first handovers this year · checked 20 August 2026

What Nakheel is known for

Added to Dubai's coastline
410 km
Land under master development
15,000 hectares
Residents in Nakheel communities
About 700,000
Palm Jebel Ali
7 islands · 16 fronds · 120 km of coastline
Contracts awarded on Palm Jebel Ali
Over AED 13bn to August 2026
Guinness World Records title
Largest fountain, 7,327 sq m, 2020

Coastline, land and resident figures are published by Nakheel.Palm Jebel Ali dimensions and contract totals come from the company's August 2026 release.

Palm Jebel Ali represents one of the most significant expansions of Dubai's urban coastline in a generation.
Khalid Al Malik Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Holding Real Estate Nakheel, 27 April 2026

Where Nakheel builds

Palm Jebel AliPalm Central, Palm Jebel AliBay Villas, Dubai IslandsVillas in DubaiTownhouses in Dubai

Current projects via GRAF

Bay Villas — Dubai Islands — Island B, Dubai Islands

Bay Villas — Dubai Islands

Island B, Dubai Islands

From See project page

View project →
Palm Jebel Ali — Beach & Coral Villas — Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai

Palm Jebel Ali — Beach & Coral Villas

Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai

From See project page

View project →
Palm Central Private Residences — Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai

Palm Central Private Residences

Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai

From See project page

View project →

How Nakheel differs from other Dubai developers

Nakheel builds the land before it builds on it. Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Dubai Islands are reclaimed ground, which is why its numbers are measured in kilometres of coastline rather than plots bought.

Creates the land
Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Dubai Islands are reclaimed. Nakheel puts 410 km of added coastline against Dubai's original shoreline.
Owned by the emirate's holding company
A subsidiary of Dubai Holding since 16 March 2024, when the boards of Nakheel and Meydan were abolished by directive.
Names its contractors and contract values
AED 3.5bn to Ginco and UNEC for 544 villas, AED 2.6bn to Fibrex for Bay Villas, AED 527m to Al Nasr for Island B, AED 1.8bn to ALEC for Como Residences.
Keeps and runs its retail
Ibn Battuta Mall since 2005, Dragon Mart since 2004, Nakheel Mall since 2019.
Publishes no financial statements
Nakheel has no listed shares and Dubai Holding does not report Nakheel results separately. Its published numbers are project figures, not accounts.
Sells inside masterplans it controls
Palm Jebel Ali covers 7 islands and 16 fronds; Dubai Islands covers 18.6 sq km and 49,000 planned homes.
Why GRAF recommends Nakheel

Nakheel suits a buyer who wants a specific address on Dubai's waterfront — a frond, an island, a beach plot — rather than a unit type at a price point.

What the record shows
  1. Contracts are named, dated and pricedAED 13bn+ awarded on Palm Jebel Ali by August 2026, with contractors named in each release: Ginco, UNEC, Shapoorji Pallonji Mideast, Fibrex, Al Nasr, ALEC.
  2. Construction stages are published by frondAt 20 August 2026, 728 villas on Fronds K–P are in finishing and 544 on Fronds A–F are at substructure, superstructure and MEP stage.
  3. It has handed over on the same model beforePalm Jumeirah handovers began in 2006; Jebel Ali Village handovers of 892 homes began 17 August 2026.
What to check before signing
  1. Which frond and which phasePalm Jebel Ali handover dates differ by frond. Fronds K–P are in finishing; Fronds A–F are targeted for Q4 2028 completion.
  2. The escrow and project numberNakheel publishes no accounts, so the DLD project register is the place to read progress and escrow status for the specific phase.
  3. Handover wording in the SPANakheel's June 2026 release states first Palm Jebel Ali handovers begin later in 2026, and its August 2026 release describes phased handover through 2027. Confirm the date for the unit named on the contract.

GRAF editorial team

Nakheel — frequently asked questions

Who owns Nakheel?

Nakheel is a subsidiary of Dubai Holding. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum directed the incorporation of Nakheel and Meydan into Dubai Holding on 16 March 2024, and the boards of both companies were abolished by the same directive. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum leads the group.

Source: UAE Government Media Office, 16 March 2024

What did Nakheel build?

Nakheel developed Palm Jumeirah, where the first residential handovers were announced in 2006. It also built Ibn Battuta Mall, opened 4 April 2005, Dragon Mart in 2004 and 2015, and Nakheel Mall on Palm Jumeirah, opened 28 November 2019.

Source: Nakheel — About Us

How large is Palm Jebel Ali?

Palm Jebel Ali covers seven islands and 16 fronds, with 120 kilometres of coastline and more than 90 kilometres of beachfront.

Source: Gulf News — Palm Jebel Ali Frond F release, 20 August 2026

When do the first Palm Jebel Ali villas hand over?

Nakheel stated on 16 June 2026 that the first villa handovers were scheduled to begin later that year. Its 20 August 2026 release describes a phased handover starting late 2026 and continuing through 2027.

Source: Nakheel — Palm Jebel Ali villas head for first handovers this year, 16 June 2026

How many Palm Jebel Ali villas are under construction?

At 20 August 2026, 728 villas on Fronds K to P were in internal and external finishing, and 544 villas on Fronds A to F were at substructure, superstructure and MEP stage. Contracts awarded on the destination pass AED 13 billion.

Source: Gulf News — Palm Jebel Ali Frond F release, 20 August 2026

What is Dubai Islands?

Dubai Islands is a Nakheel destination of 18.6 square kilometres across five interconnected islands, with about 57 kilometres of coastline including 21 kilometres of beachfront. The masterplan provides for 49,000 homes and more than 231,000 residents.

Source: Nakheel — Island B infrastructure contract, 20 April 2026

Does Nakheel publish financial results?

Nakheel has no shares traded on an exchange and publishes no financial statements. Dubai Holding does not report Nakheel results separately. The figures Nakheel publishes are project figures: contract values, unit counts and construction stages.

Source: Dubai Holding — Nakheel and Meydan incorporation, 16 March 2024

Guides that cover this developer

Dubai Islands Villas 2026: Bay Villas, Bay Estates & What to Avoid
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Dubai Islands Villas 2026: Bay Villas, Bay Estates & What to Avoid

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Luxury Developers in Dubai: Ultra-Premium Projects & Investment Returns

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Dubai Off-Plan Investment Guide 2026: Areas, Payment Plans & ROI
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Official sources
Official websiteNakheel — official siteNakheel Properties — WikipediaNakheel Properties — Wikidata (Q1964041)Nakheel — LinkedInDubai Holding — parent group
About this profile

Maintained by the GRAF editorial team from public sources and our own project data. Updated 20 August 2026. Contact us

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