A European buyer has paid AED560 million for a beachfront plot on Dubai’s Naïa Island, one of the priciest land deals in UAE history.
A European buyer has purchased one of the most valuable beachfront plots ever sold in the UAE. The coastal estate sits on Dubai’s Naïa Island and changed hands for AED560 million, or about $152.5 million.
According to an exclusive report by Arabian Business, the deal ranks among the most expensive land transactions ever recorded in the country. Property brokers Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty handled the sale and said it points to demand from ultra-high-net-worth individuals chasing scarce waterfront land in Dubai’s luxury market.
The buyer’s identity has not been revealed. The sale was an off-market transaction, in line with the secrecy that surrounds deals of this size. The estate spans more than 80,000 square feet, far larger than many of Dubai’s most prestigious waterfront plots. The brokerage called it one of the last remaining opportunities of its kind in the emirate.
Naïa Island Sets New Dubai Property Record
The deal sets a fresh benchmark for beachfront ownership in Dubai, where land parcels of this scale have historically been out of reach. It also tops a previous record on the same island, where a 53,000 square foot estate sold for AED377 million, or $102.7 million, earlier this year.
For scale, many plots on Jumeirah Bay Island run between 14,000 and 25,000 square feet, with only a few reaching around 37,000 square feet. At more than 80,000 square feet, the Naïa Island plot stands well above those.
Dubai built its high-end coastal identity through island projects such as Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Bay Island, and now Naïa Island. Price data cited by the brokerage shows Jumeirah Bay Island recorded around 24 percent year-on-year price growth last year, while Palm Jumeirah posted average annual growth of about 5 percent.
Dubai Waterfront Property Draws Global Buyers
Buyer interest in Naïa Island leans heavily international. Europe and the UK account for roughly 45 percent of demand, followed by Asia at 20 percent, the Middle East at 18 percent, and North America at 10 percent, based on figures from the brokerage.
George Azar, Chairman and CEO of Sotheby’s International Realty across the UAE, UK, and Saudi Arabia, said the deal shows Dubai’s pull among the world’s wealthiest investors. He noted the discretion involved in such acquisitions and described Dubai as offering strong value for elite buyers.
Every transaction on the island is done off-market and is not publicly advertised, which adds to its exclusivity. Investors increasingly treat rare waterfront land in Dubai as a long-term, generational asset rather than a quick property play.
Naïa Island sits between Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah 3. The project will host the region’s first Cheval Blanc Maison, with residences, suites, and private villas. It was unveiled by Dubai-based investment firm Shamal Holding in August 2025.
Construction is under way, though no official completion date has been confirmed. The development is expected to open in 2029 and supports the Dubai 2030 vision for premium tourism. The island will feature only low-rise buildings, a design choice meant to keep Dubai’s landmarks in view from anywhere on the island.
