Off-Plan Villas in Dubai: 7 Villa and Townhouse Projects Worth Considering (2026–2027)

Off-plan villas in Dubai worth considering right now come from five developers, with seven projects standing out: Ellington’s first villa and townhouse community (pre-launch, from AED 2.43m), DAMAC’s Riverside and DAMAC Islands 2, Emaar’s Golf Acres and Selvara 3, Sobha’s The Greens and Nakheel’s Palm Springs. Entry prices run from about AED 2.43m (about £496k) to AED 7.28m (about £1.49m), with handovers targeted between 2027 and 2030.

This is not a “buy everything” list of off-plan villas in Dubai. For each project we set out the asking price, size, price per square foot and handover target, plus the one thing we would check first, because that is the part the brochure leaves out.

Key takeaways

• Lowest entry ticket: Ellington’s pre-launch 2-bed townhouses from AED 2.43m (about £496k), then DAMAC Islands 2 from AED 2.99m for a 4-bed townhouse.
• Most space for the money: DAMAC’s Riverside, with 5-bed townhouses of 3,407 sq ft from about AED 1,270 per sq ft.
• Rarest stock: Emaar’s Selvara 3, standalone 4-bed villas in the low-density Grand Polo Club masterplan.
• Longest wait: Sobha’s The Greens (August 2030) and Nakheel’s Palm Springs (October 2030), which is still at expression-of-interest stage.
• Non-negotiable: pay only into the project’s DLD escrow account (required under Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007) (required under Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007), and treat every handover date as a target, not a promise.

Off-plan villas in Dubai: the shortlist at a glance

These are the off-plan villas in Dubai, plus townhouses, on our shortlist: seven projects from five developers, sorted by developer. “From” prices are the lowest asking prices listed on 12 November 2026; sterling figures are approximate.

Price per sq ft is approximate: the lowest listed price divided by the smallest listed size, and the highest by the largest. Sources: developer listings via Reelly (12 November 2026); Ellington pre-launch price list (November 2026).

How we picked these off-plan villas in Dubai

We filter off-plan villas in Dubai the way we would if our own money were going in. A project made this list only if it met all four tests:

1. A developer with a delivery record. Ellington, Emaar, DAMAC, Sobha and Nakheel have all handed over large Dubai communities before.
2. A villa or townhouse, not another tower unit. Land, outdoor space and family demand behave differently from apartment supply.
3. A price per square foot we can defend against the developer’s own price ladder and the wider villa market.
4. A handover window we would not bet the house on, so the longer waits are flagged clearly.

Ellington’s first villas and townhouses (pre-launch)

Ellington, known for boutique buildings and high-quality finishes, is bringing its next villa and townhouse community to market, with pre-launch prices about 5% below official launch pricing. It is the lowest entry point on this list and the least defined, because the location and masterplan details are still to be confirmed.

• Payment plan: Ellington’s usual structure is 70/30; at this pre-launch stage a 50/50 plan may be available.
• Why consider it: Ellington’s finish quality at townhouse prices, in a family-focused community with parks, water features and lifestyle amenities.
• What to check first: the exact location, the masterplan and the handover date before you sign any expression of interest.

DAMAC: the most space for the money

DAMAC offers the largest homes per dirham on this list, with both projects pricing below AED 1,520 per sq ft. The trade-off is service charges on big homes and a lot of similar stock arriving at the same time.

Riverside by DAMAC

Riverside offers 5-bed townhouses of 3,407 sq ft from AED 4.34m to AED 5.18m (about £886k–£1.06m), which works out at roughly AED 1,270–1,520 per sq ft, with handover targeted for 2027–28. It has the shortest wait of any project here and the most floor space for the price.

• Why consider it: family-sized homes, a near-term handover, and a low price per sq ft.
• What to check first: service charges on a 5-bed home, and who actually rents a house this size in the area.

DAMAC Islands 2

DAMAC Islands 2, in Dubailand, offers 4–5 bed townhouses of 2,186–3,158 sq ft from AED 2.99m to AED 4.80m (about £611k–£980k), roughly AED 1,370–1,520 per sq ft, with handover targeted for mid-2030. It is the lowest-priced 4-bed townhouse on the list.

• Why consider it: the lowest entry ticket for a 4-bed, inside a large themed masterplan.
• What to check first: it is a long runway, and many similar homes are launching in the same masterplan. That is your resale competition at handover.

Emaar: golf course or polo fields

You pay more per square foot for Emaar’s name and masterplans. The two options suit very different buyers: a townhouse on the southern growth corridor, or a standalone villa in an equestrian community.

Golf Acres by Emaar

Golf Acres, in Emaar South, offers 3-bed townhouses of 2,564 sq ft from AED 4.73m (about £966k), roughly AED 1,845 per sq ft, with handover targeted for December 2028. The homes overlook the Emaar South golf course, near Al Maktoum International Airport.

• Why consider it: the Emaar brand, golf-course frontage, and a 2028 handover.
• What to check first: Emaar South is still a long drive from the city today. Buying here is a bet on the south of Dubai growing out to meet it.

Selvara 3 by Emaar

Selvara 3, at Grand Polo Club & Resort, offers standalone 4-bed villas of 3,690–3,832 sq ft from AED 7.28m to AED 7.81m (about £1.49m–£1.60m), roughly AED 1,970–2,040 per sq ft, with handover targeted for May 2029. These are low-density, two-storey homes around polo fields, stables and a clubhouse.

• Why consider it: true standalone villas in a low-density masterplan, a type of stock Dubai does not build much of.
• What to check first: it has the highest price per sq ft on this list. Treat it as a lifestyle purchase first and a yield play second.

Sobha and Nakheel: the 2030 handovers

These two have the longest waits on the list, so they suit buyers who are comfortable holding through construction and want to be early in a new district.

The Greens at Sobha Sanctuary

The Greens, part of Sobha Sanctuary near The Valley, offers 4-bed garden and 5-bed courtyard villas of 2,468–4,141 sq ft from AED 4.07m to AED 7.56m (about £831k–£1.54m), roughly AED 1,650–1,825 per sq ft, with handover targeted for August 2030. Roughly half of the wider Sobha Sanctuary masterplan is planned as open and green space.

• Why consider it: Sobha’s build quality and a nature-led, wellness-focused masterplan.
• What to check first: the longest wait on this list, in a very large masterplan planned for around 20,000 families. Scale cuts both ways.

Palm Springs by Nakheel

Palm Springs, in Hessyan First on the mainland side of Palm Jebel Ali, offers 3–4 bed townhouses and 4–5 bed villas of 2,329–4,921 sq ft from AED 3.8m to AED 8.9m (about £776k–£1.82m), roughly AED 1,630–1,810 per sq ft, with handover targeted for October 2030. It is still at expression-of-interest (EOI) stage.

• Why consider it: the earliest way into the Palm Jebel Ali corridor in southwest Dubai.
• What to check first: an EOI is not a booking. Prices, unit allocation and terms can still change before sales open.

Off-plan villas in Dubai vs townhouses: which suits you?

Choosing between off-plan villas in Dubai and townhouses depends on your budget, how long you can hold, and whether you plan to live in it or rent it out. This is how the two compare on this shortlist.

How buying off-plan villas in Dubai from the UK works

Buying off-plan villas in Dubai from the UK follows the same steps as buying locally, and most of it can be done remotely.

1. Shortlist and reserve. Choose a unit and pay a reservation deposit, usually set by the developer.
2. Sign the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) and check the payment plan, handover clause and late-delivery terms.
3. Register the sale with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) on its off-plan register (Oqood). Budget for the DLD registration fee of 4% of the price.
4. Pay instalments into the project’s escrow account as construction milestones are reached.
5. Snag and take handover, then move in, let the home, or hand it to a property manager.

For the full process, fees and timelines, read our Ultimate Guide to buying in Dubai. If you are moving money from the UK, our currency exchange service and mortgage and finance team can help.

Four things we would never do when buying off-plan villas in Dubai

1. Buy off a render alone. Visit the site or have someone visit for you, and read the masterplan.
2. Pay outside escrow. Instalments should only go into the project’s DLD escrow account, never a personal or intermediary account.
3. Treat a handover date as a promise. It is a target. Plan your finances for a delay.
4. Stretch to flip. Buy something you would be happy to hold through completion.

Frequently asked questions