First villas on Dubai's Palm Jebel Ali sell out as hundreds queue through night

Agents lined up from the early hours to put downpayments on $5.4m homes

House hunters queued from 3am on Wednesday to be among the first to buy property on Dubai's Palm Jebel Ali, amid a frenzy for luxury real estate in the city.

Hundreds of people waited outside developer Nakheel's sales centre to snap up the first available properties on the man-made island, which is 20km south of the Palm Jumeirah.

The waterfront villa project was revealed earlier this week amid strong demand for luxury homes.

The project, which will be centred on four fronds of the island, is to offer two types of villas – coral villas and beach villas.

The fact that a launch can cause so much frenzy says that the demand is still very high

Matthew Solomon,
Haus & Haus

The first properties were expected to be handed over in 2027, real estate agents said.

“People were queuing up from 3am,” said Matthew Solomon, sales team manager with estate agents Haus & Haus.

“The demand for these sort of high-end properties is continuing to grow and grow.

“The fact that a launch can cause so much frenzy says that the demand is still very high.”

The Palm Jebel Ali project, centred on four fronds of the island, will offer two types of villas. Photo: Nakheel

Wednesday's sales included villas of up to 8,000 square feet, which fetched about Dh20 million ($5.4 million), Mr Solomon said.

Other sales included 12,000 square-foot villas, which were commanding fees of Dh30 million to Dh35 million, and plots were going for between Dh25 million and Dh30 million.

He said the properties appealed to those looking for modern luxury.

“You see a lot of people buying those kind of villas on Palm Jumeirah and renovating them to be more contemporary,” Mr Solomon said.

“The master plan for Palm Jebel Ali is showing the properties there are going to be more modern, like a Beverly Hills style.

“The days when people would be happy with a traditional-style villa are gone.”

The project, which was launched this week, follows the unveiling of new master plan for the Palm Jebel Ali development by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in June.

“We are delighted to bring Palm Jebel Ali to market at this exciting time, with the island playing a transformative role in shaping the city’s future, raising the global benchmark on waterfront living,” Rasha Hasan, chief commercial officer of Nakheel, said on Monday.

Nakheel's website stated “the island will offer enhanced waterfront living, extensive green spaces and people-oriented mobility, while utilising smart city technology to streamline transportation management”.

The company also said the island would be home to more than 80 hotels and resorts, as well as several unique retail and dining experiences.

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Palm Jebel Ali over the years - in pictures

November 25, 2008: A bridge under construction at the Palm Jebel Ali. Philip Cheung / The National

November 25, 2008: Construction at the Palm Jebel Ali. Philip Cheung / The National

A Nakheel safety board outside the Palm Jebel Ali project site in Dubai on August 29, 2009. Randi Sokoloff / The National

November 25, 2008: A man walks from a construction site on the the Palm Jebel Ali. Philip Cheung / The National

November 25, 2008: Construction of a bridge at the Palm Jebel Ali. Philip Cheung / The National

November 25, 2008: Construction at the Palm Jebel Ali. Philip Cheung / The National

November 25, 2008: Construction of a bridge at the Palm Jebel Ali. Philip Cheung / The National

November 25, 2008: Construction of a bridge at the Palm Jebel Ali. Philip Cheung / The National

This September 2021 satellite photo shows southern Dubai. Right to left, you can see Palm Jebel Ali, Jebel Ali Port, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah. Photo: Planet Labs

The early stages of construction of the Palm Jebel Ali from the mainland in November, 2009. Photo: The National

Half-constructed sections of the bridge leading to Palm Jebel Ali. Satish Kumar / The National

An aerial view of the Palm Jebel Ali. Steve Crisp / Reuters

An aerial photo shows the Palm Jebel Ali's proximity to Jebel Ali Port, the 11th largest in the world. Razan Alzayani / The National