Regeneration zones
What is planned for each zone, when, and how prices have moved in the areas around it.
The zones on a map
No official boundary has been published, so the zone is shown at a central point.
Dubai 2040 urban centre, Dubai
Deira and Bur Dubai urban centre
What is planned
The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan names Deira and Bur Dubai as one of three existing main urban centres, identified as the historical areas. Phase II of the plan, approved in December 2022, includes an integrated plan for developing the five main urban centres.
Facts
- Role in Dubai 2040
- Existing urban centre; Deira and Bur Dubai described as historical areasSource: Dubai Media Office
Timeline
13 March 2021
Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan launched
Source: Dubai Media Office12 December 2022
Phase II approved with integrated plan for five main urban centres
Source: Dubai Media Office
Dubai 2040 urban centre, Dubai
Downtown and Business Bay urban centre
What is planned
The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan names Downtown and Business Bay as an existing urban centre and the business and financial heart of the city. The Phase II text describes the economic and trade centre as DIFC, Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay and Downtown.
Facts
- Role in Dubai 2040 (2021)
- Existing urban centre: Downtown and Business Bay as the business and financial heartSource: Dubai Media Office
- Role in Dubai 2040 Phase II (2022)
- Economic and trade centre: DIFC, Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay and DowntownSource: Dubai Media Office
Timeline
13 March 2021
Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan launched
Source: Dubai Media Office12 December 2022
Phase II approved with integrated plan for five main urban centres
Source: Dubai Media Office
Dubai 2040 urban centre, Dubai
Dubai Marina and JBR urban centre
What is planned
The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan names Dubai Marina and JBR as an existing urban centre for hospitality and leisure. The Phase II text of December 2022 refers to this centre as the tourism and entertainment hub of Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
Facts
- Role in Dubai 2040 (2021)
- Existing urban centre: Dubai Marina and JBR as the hospitality and leisure centreSource: Dubai Media Office
- Role in Dubai 2040 Phase II (2022)
- Tourism and entertainment hub: Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes TowersSource: Dubai Media Office
Timeline
13 March 2021
Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan launched
Source: Dubai Media Office12 December 2022
Phase II approved with integrated plan for five main urban centres
Source: Dubai Media Office
Dubai 2040 urban centre, Dubai
Expo 2020 Centre
What is planned
The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan names the Expo 2020 Centre as one of two new main urban centres. The Phase II text describes it as an economic and growth hotspot featuring affordable housing.
Facts
- Role in Dubai 2040
- New urban centre: an economic and growth hotspot featuring affordable housingSource: Dubai Media Office
Timeline
13 March 2021
Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan launched, naming Expo 2020 Centre as a new urban centre
Source: Dubai Media Office12 December 2022
Phase II approved with integrated plan for five main urban centres
Source: Dubai Media Office
Dubai 2040 urban centre, Dubai
Dubai Silicon Oasis Centre
What is planned
The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan names the Dubai Silicon Oasis Centre as one of two new main urban centres. The Phase II text describes it as a science and technology and knowledge hub.
Facts
- Role in Dubai 2040
- New urban centre: a science and technology and knowledge hubSource: Dubai Media Office
Timeline
13 March 2021
Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan launched, naming Dubai Silicon Oasis Centre as a new urban centre
Source: Dubai Media Office12 December 2022
Phase II approved with integrated plan for five main urban centres
Source: Dubai Media Office
Heritage and renewal, Dubai
Dubai Creek historic waterfront lighting
What is planned
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed approved a package of Dubai Municipality projects in June 2026 that includes an integrated lighting system along an 8 km stretch of Dubai Creek. The lighting covers promenades, creek entrances, heritage markets, waterfront walkways and building facades.
Facts
- Extent
- Integrated lighting system along an 8 km stretch of Dubai CreekSource: Gulf News
- Scope
- Promenades, creek entrances, heritage markets, waterfront walkways and building facadesSource: Gulf News
- Plan alignment
- Package described as supporting the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master PlanSource: Gulf News
Timeline
June 2026 (article updated 25 June 2026)
Package of Dubai Municipality projects approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed
Source: Gulf NewsQ1 2027
Dubai Creek Lighting scheduled completion
Source: Gulf News
Heritage and renewal, Sharjah
Heart of Sharjah
What is planned
Heart of Sharjah is a heritage restoration of Sharjah's historic centre developed by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). The project's own site lists The Chedi Al Bait hotel, the reimagined Souq Al Shanasiyah and the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, located off Corniche Street in Al Mareija.
Facts
- Developer
- Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq)Source: Gulf News
- Location
- Corniche St, Al Mareija, Hay Al Gharb, SharjahSource: Heart of Sharjah
- Components
- The Chedi Al Bait hotel; Souq Al Shanasiyah, described as a reimagined heritage souq; Sharjah Calligraphy MuseumSource: Heart of Sharjah
Master plan, Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Vision 2030
What is planned
The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority sets out a Tourism Vision 2030 aiming to make the emirate a regional leader in sustainable tourism. The stated target is over 3.5 million annual visitors by 2030, delivered through a three-year strategy.
Facts
- Visitor target
- Over 3.5 million annual visitors by 2030Source: Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
Timeline
2030
Visitor target year
Source: Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
How the atlas is built
- Every figure is copied as published by a named source, with its link, the period it covers and the date we read it. Nothing is estimated, interpolated, averaged or rounded.
- Dubai price, rent and change figures come from Property Finder's transaction pages, which publish averages of Dubai Land Department registered sales and tenancy contracts for the last 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 3 years, with a change against the period before.
- Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah figures come from Bayut's asking-price index: advertised prices, not completed sales, which usually sit above transaction prices.
- ValuStrat readings are valuation-based and appear only where the press reported a community by name.
- Sources measure different things. Compare areas within one source and one period, never across sources.
- Projects and regeneration zones come from official releases where we could read them, otherwise from The National, Khaleej Times or Gulf News. A project is listed against an area when a source places it there, or when its mapped point is within 5 km of the area's point.
- Price effects of projects are published claims, attributed to the publisher. The atlas never says that a project caused a price change.
Data compiled 12 November 2026.
