Hotel Riu Dubai has 800 keys on the sand, and Centara Mirage Beach Resort has 607. Behind them, the islands' residential districts are being built, tower by tower. Living on Dubai Islands today means buying a home in that second picture, with the first one already in place.
- Three hotels already operate on Dubai Islands, as reported: Hotel Riu Dubai (800 keys), Centara Mirage Beach Resort (607 keys) and Park Regis by Prince (159 rooms).
- Nakheel plans the islands for more than 230,000 residents across about 62,000 homes (October 2026).
- From Island B, BEYOND gives 19 minutes by car to Dubai International Airport and 26 minutes to Downtown Dubai.
- New communities such as SIØRA put 70% of their land into gardens, paths and beach access.
The beach comes first
Dubai Islands have about 21 km of beachfront within 57 km of coastline, on Nakheel's April 2026 figures. That is the reason people choose the islands. Most of Dubai's beach homes sit along the southern coast, from Jumeirah to the Marina; Dubai Islands put the open Gulf on the city's northern side.
The beach is also still being improved. In October 2026 Nakheel contracted the upgrade of about 3 km of Island B's western shoreline and 320 m of new beach near Bay Villas, due in Q4 2027. Our Dubai Islands beaches guide covers where the sand is and what is being added.
Hotels already open
Three hotels operate on the islands, as reported at their openings:
- Hotel Riu Dubai opened on 10 December 2020 with 800 keys.
- Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai opened on 14 October 2021 with 607 keys.
- Park Regis by Prince Dubai Islands followed in March 2024 with 159 rooms.
For a resident, the hotels are the first restaurants, pools and beach clubs on the islands. For an owner who lets a home, they show that visitors already come. Nakheel's full plan for the islands includes more than 11,000 hotel keys, so the hotel side of island life has room to grow by several times.
Getting around
Dubai Islands are a drive-in address, linked by bridges to the Al Shindagha Corridor. The islands connect to the mainland through bridges linked to the Al Shindagha Corridor; the Bur Dubai side of the corridor was completed in May 2025, and a new 1,425 m bridge from Bur Dubai to the islands was awarded in April 2025.
BEYOND's drive times from its SIØRA site on Island B:
| From Island B to | By car |
|---|---|
| Gold Souq Metro Station (Green Line) | 10 min |
| Dubai International Airport | 19 min |
| Dubai Frame | 22 min |
| DIFC | 25 min |
| Downtown Dubai | 26 min |
| Business Bay | 33 min |
The airport time is what sets the islands apart for people who travel. For an owner who lives between London and Dubai, the drive home from the terminal is about 20 minutes. The full road picture is in our Dubai Islands location guide.
A neighbourhood being planned around outdoor life
Nakheel plans Dubai Islands for "more than 230,000 residents across approximately 62,000 homes, alongside more than 11,000 hotel keys and over 4,000 branded residences" (October 2026). The communities inside that plan are being designed for life outside the home.
SIØRA, BEYOND's masterplan on Island B, is one example. Of its 198,400 sqm, 140,000 sqm is landscaped open space, 70% of the land. It has a green spine of more than 400 m, over 10 km of jogging and cycling tracks and direct access to 6 km of open beaches. A resident walks out of the lobby into gardens and reaches the sea on foot.
Inside SIØRA's second phase, SHIONE, the podium carries the daily amenities: an elevated adults' infinity pool with a cascade, a kids' pool and play area with an adventure rock, a canopied jacuzzi, indoor and outdoor gyms, a Zen garden, a meditation lawn, a sunken seating garden, a residents' lounge and a residents' chef's kitchen. Two ground-level pavilions hold retail and food and drink.
That is the pattern on the new islands: the building supplies the pool, the gym and the garden, and the island supplies the beach.
Who it suits
Island life on Dubai Islands suits three kinds of buyer.
Families who want space outside the apartment. A three-bedroom home in a masterplan with 70% open space gives children gardens, pools and a beach within walking distance. On Dubai Islands the median three-bedroom apartment sold for AED 5,801,828 in 2026 (M&M analysis of DLD open data).
Owners of a second home who fly in and out. The islands sit close to the airport and the old city, and the hotels give guests somewhere to stay when the family visits.
Buyers who want to own early. 99% of 2026 apartment sales on the islands were off-plan, so many residents will move in as the homes complete. Buying now, the owner chooses the unit, the floor and the view from the full stock, and pays on a construction plan.
The median one-bedroom on the islands sold for AED 2,389,181 in 2026. A property bought for AED 2M or more, at the purchase price, in the buyer's own name meets the threshold for the UAE Golden Visa; an advisor confirms how it applies to an off-plan purchase.
Where to read more
For the full area overview, with every developer active on the islands, see our Dubai Islands area guide. For prices by bedroom type, see Dubai Islands property prices in 2026.
SHIONE: a home on the Island B beachfront
SHIONE by BEYOND (part of OMNIYAT Group) has 603 homes, from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom duplexes, on Island B's beachfront next to HADO. One-bedroom homes start from AED 2.75M (BEYOND's sales team, 10 November 2026). Half the price is paid on completion, which BEYOND anticipates in Q4 2030. The project is registered with the DLD as project 4501, with escrow at Mashreq Bank.
Our SHIONE investment case shows the homes and the payment plan, and the SHIONE project page has the floor plans and the registration form.
Visit the islands with an M&M advisor
An M&M advisor can drive you from the airport to Island B, walk the beach and the SIØRA site with you and take you through the SHIONE case. Ask the team for a visit.
Figures are past data from the sources named. This article is general information and not tax, legal or financial advice; returns are not guaranteed.
Is Dubai Islands a good place to live?
Dubai Islands suit people who want a beach home close to the airport and the old city. The islands have about 21 km of beachfront, three hotels already operating, and Nakheel plans them for more than 230,000 residents. Most homes are still being built, so buyers today are choosing a home that will be finished in a district that grows around it.
What hotels are on Dubai Islands?
Three hotels operate on Dubai Islands as reported: Hotel Riu Dubai, with 800 keys, opened in December 2020; Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai, with 607 keys, opened in October 2021; and Park Regis by Prince Dubai Islands, with 159 rooms, opened in March 2024. Nakheel's plan for the islands includes more than 11,000 hotel keys in total.
How far is Dubai Islands from the airport?
Nakheel places Dubai International Airport within 10 km of Dubai Islands. BEYOND's drive times from its SIØRA site on Island B give about 19 minutes to the airport, 25 minutes to DIFC, 26 minutes to Downtown Dubai and 10 minutes to Gold Souq Metro Station. Times depend on the hour and the route.
Who should consider living on Dubai Islands?
Families who want the beach and space outside the home, owners who want a second home near the airport, and buyers who want to own early in a new district. One- and two-bedroom apartments suit couples and frequent flyers; three-bedroom homes and duplexes suit families. The off-plan payment plans let buyers spread the cost until the home is finished.
Can foreigners buy and live on Dubai Islands?
Yes. Dubai Islands projects are registered with the Dubai Land Department, under the area name Palm Deira, and international buyers can buy homes there. A property bought for AED 2M or more, at the purchase price, in the buyer's own name meets the Golden Visa property threshold; an M&M advisor confirms how it applies to an off-plan purchase.
