Meraas

Meraas is a Dubai-based master developer and a member of Dubai Holding Real Estate, founded in 2007 under the chairmanship of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The name ‘Meraas’ is Arabic for ‘legacy’, reflecting the company’s mission to create enduring destinations that enrich urban life in Dubai. Meraas became a subsidiary of Dubai Holding in 2020.

Meraas was founded in 2007 in Dubai. In 2020, following a directive from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Meraas became a subsidiary of Dubai Holding. It now operates under the Dubai Holding Real Estate platform alongside Nakheel and Dubai Properties.

Meraas is the master developer behind some of Dubai’s most iconic destinations, including Bluewaters Island (home to Ain Dubai, the world’s largest observation wheel), City Walk, La Mer, Port de La Mer, Dubai Harbour (the region’s largest marina), Jumeira Bay, Pearl Jumeira, Madinat Jumeirah Living, The Acres, and Nad Al Sheba Gardens.

Meraas developments span some of Dubai’s most prestigious and vibrant districts, including Bluewaters Island (off JBR), Jumeirah Bay Island, City Walk (Al Wasl), La Mer and Port de La Mer (Jumeirah), Dubai Harbour, Pearl Jumeira, Madinat Jumeirah Living (Umm Suqeim), Nad Al Sheba, The Acres (Dubailand), and Dubai Design District (d3).

Meraas develops a curated range of luxury and premium property types, including waterfront apartments, urban residences, penthouses, townhouses, villas, and branded residences. Notable examples include Bvlgari Residences on Jumeira Bay Island, Nikki Beach Residences in Pearl Jumeira, Bluewaters Residences, and the ultra-luxury Bvlgari Lighthouse with sky-villas from AED 70 million.

Yes. Meraas is a wholly government-backed developer, operating as a member of Dubai Holding Real Estate — a platform owned by the Government of Dubai. This backing provides significant financial stability, access to prime land, and alignment with Dubai’s long-term urban master plan, making Meraas one of the most secure and credible developers in the UAE.

Meraas is uniquely positioned as Dubai’s premier lifestyle and destination developer. Unlike developers who focus purely on residential units, Meraas creates complete urban ecosystems — integrating residences with world-class retail, entertainment, dining, hospitality, and waterfront experiences. Each Meraas community is a destination in its own right, attracting both residents and millions of visitors annually.

Ain Dubai is the world’s tallest and largest observation wheel, standing at over 250 metres with more than 9,000 tonnes of steel. It is the centrepiece of Bluewaters Island — Meraas’s flagship man-made island development located 400 metres off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR). Ain Dubai opened in 2021 and has become one of Dubai’s most recognisable global icons.

Meraas is considered one of Dubai’s most reliable investment choices. Properties in Meraas communities recorded an average price appreciation of 8.5% in 2024 — exceeding the general Dubai market growth of 6.2%. As a government-backed developer in prime locations, with a strong track record of on-time delivery and quality, Meraas offers strong long-term value and rental yield potential.

Meraas payment plans vary by project. Common structures include 50/50 plans (e.g., 50% during construction, 50% on handover), 60/40 plans, and 65/35 plans for villa communities like The Acres. Entry-level projects start from as little as a 5% down payment. Specific terms are tailored to each development.

Meraas’s active and upcoming developments include Bvlgari Lighthouse (sky-villas from AED 70M, Jumeira Bay Island), The Acres Phase 2 & Estates 2 (5–7 bedroom villas from AED 14M), Design Quarter at Dubai Design District (d3), Jumeirah Residences Emirates Towers, Central Park Apartments at City Walk, and new phases within Madinat Jumeirah Living. The developer continues to expand its d3 masterplan into a creative waterfront neighbourhood.

Meraas, Emaar, and Nakheel are all pillars of Dubai’s real estate landscape, and Meraas and Nakheel are both now part of the same Dubai Holding Real Estate platform. Meraas is best known for curated lifestyle destinations and premium mixed-use communities with a strong design identity. Emaar is Dubai’s largest listed developer, known for iconic master communities and commercial landmarks like Burj Khalifa. Nakheel is the large-scale waterfront master developer behind Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Islands. Together under Dubai Holding Real Estate, Meraas and Nakheel collectively manage 752 million square feet of land bank.