Wasl Properties

Wasl Properties is one of Dubai’s largest semi-government real estate developers and asset managers, established on 25 May 2008 by the Dubai Real Estate Corporation (DREC). Chaired by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Deputy Ruler of Dubai) and led by CEO H.E. Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Wasl manages over 55,000 residential and commercial units, 32 hotels, and several large-scale master developments across Dubai.

Wasl Properties was established on 25 May 2008 by the Dubai Real Estate Corporation (DREC), created through the merger of two public-sector organisations — the Dubai Development Board and the Real Estate Department. It was formed to professionally manage DREC’s assets and drive Dubai’s urban development in line with the emirate’s long-term vision.

Wasl Tower is Wasl’s iconic 303-metre, 64-storey mixed-use skyscraper on Sheikh Zayed Road, completed in 2025. Designed by global architects UNStudio with structural engineering by Werner Sobek, it features a distinctive twisting ceramic fin facade. The tower houses Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai (259 rooms — Dubai’s second Mandarin Oriental), 229 luxury branded residences, Grade A offices, 10 world-class restaurants, a helipad, and a pedestrian bridge connecting directly to Burj Khalifa Metro station. It won CTBUH 2025 Awards for Construction Excellence and Facade Excellence.

Wasl’s landmark developments include Wasl Tower (Sheikh Zayed Road, 303m), Wasl Gate (Jebel Ali, mixed-use master community), Wasl 1 (Za’abeel luxury residences), Hyatt Regency Creek Heights (twin towers, Dubai’s first freehold Wasl project), Park Views Residences (600 units sold out in 36 hours), Wasl Green Park (Ras Al Khor), Wasl Port Views, Dar Wasl, Wasl 51, Wasl Village, and South Garden. The company also manages Jumeirah Golf Estates and Emirates Golf Club.

Wasl operates across four integrated business verticals: Wasl Properties (residential and commercial development and management of 55,000+ units), Wasl Hospitality (32 hotels with 5,400+ rooms and 1,416 serviced apartments), Dubai Golf (Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates), and real estate investment management. Wasl is also a key partner in government initiatives including Food Tech Valley and Dubai CommerCity.

Wasl is a semi-government entity — established by and accountable to the Dubai Real Estate Corporation (DREC), a government body. It is chaired by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai. While operating commercially, Wasl is deeply aligned with Dubai’s public urban planning objectives and plays a central role in the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.

Wasl Gate is Wasl’s flagship master-planned mixed-use community in Jebel Ali, designed as a ‘city within a city’ on Sheikh Zayed Road. The development combines apartments, townhouses, retail galleries, office buildings, and recreation and entertainment spaces. Within Wasl Gate is South Garden — a residential cluster emphasising landscaping, pedestrian-friendly courtyards, and a strong community social environment, offering studios to 3-bedroom apartments.

Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai is a five-star luxury hotel occupying floors 16–38 of Wasl Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, opened in October 2025. It is Dubai’s second Mandarin Oriental property, featuring 259 rooms and suites, 10 world-class restaurants and bars, an award-winning spa, and the city’s first-ever Mandarin Oriental branded residences (224 luxury apartments on the upper floors). The hotel is directly connected to Burj Khalifa Metro station via a pedestrian bridge.

Yes. Wasl’s freehold projects — including Wasl Tower, Wasl 1, Park Views Residences, and select phases of Wasl Gate — are available for purchase by foreign nationals with full freehold ownership rights. Wasl entered Dubai’s freehold market in 2014 with the Hyatt Regency Creek Heights project, and has since expanded its freehold offerings significantly. Properties valued at AED 2 million+ may qualify buyers for the UAE Golden Visa.

Wasl is one of Dubai’s most sustainability-focused major developers. Wasl Tower incorporates ceramic fins, solar thermal panels, bronze-coated reflective glazing, and passive cooling systems delivering a 40% reduction in lighting energy consumption. Grey return water is recycled for irrigation. At the urban scale, Wasl is co-developing Food Tech Valley with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to enhance national food security, and has received both the Dubai Quality Award and the Dubai Chamber CSR Label.

Wasl’s upcoming and recently launched developments include One B Tower (luxury residences and duplexes in Business Bay), Avenue Park Towers (mixed-use near Max Metro Station), Ashwood Estates (freehold residential and leisure in Jumeirah Golf Estates), and a new chapter of Jumeirah Golf Estates — a premium freehold residential community centred around world-class golf and tennis. Wasl Tower branded residences at Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai are also available for purchase.

Wasl, Emaar, and DAMAC occupy different roles in Dubai’s real estate landscape. Emaar is Dubai’s largest listed developer, known for iconic master communities like Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina. DAMAC specialises in ultra-luxury branded residences. Wasl is unique as a semi-government institution — the custodian of Dubai’s legacy property assets while also developing premium new projects. Wasl’s scale (55,000+ units, 32 hotels, golf clubs) and government backing give it unmatched diversification and institutional stability, making it a distinct choice for investors seeking security and long-term value.