--- title: "Dubai Islands vs Palm Jumeirah" canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/compare/areas/dubai-islands-vs-palm-jumeirah markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/compare/areas/dubai-islands-vs-palm-jumeirah.md type: area-comparison description: "Dubai Islands and Palm Jumeirah compared on published prices, rental yields, new developments and drive times." last_verified: 2026-11-12 publisher: "UAE Property Agents (Omnia)" language: en-GB usage: "You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting." --- # Dubai Islands or Palm Jumeirah? ## Side by side | | [Dubai Islands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands) | [Palm Jumeirah](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/palm-jumeirah) | | --- | --- | --- | | Emirate | Dubai | Dubai | | Tenure | freehold | freehold | | Price per sq ft | AED 2,744, [Property Finder](https://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/transactions/buy/dubai/dubai-islands), 12 months to 12 November 2026 | AED 3,966, [Property Finder](https://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/transactions/buy/dubai/palm-jumeirah), 12 months to 12 November 2026 | | Developments we list | 8 | 2 | | Drive to Dubai International Airport | about 20 minutes | about 35 minutes | Each figure is shown as its publisher states it, with the period it covers; a row appears only where both areas have a figure. ## Where each one leads - **Lower price per sq ft**: Dubai Islands averages AED 2,744 per sq ft against AED 3,966 in Palm Jumeirah, about 31% less (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026). - **Lower entry price**: The lowest developer price we list in Dubai Islands is AED 1,050,000 at DO Hotels & Residences Dubai Islands, against AED 5,500,000 at Passo by Beyond in Palm Jumeirah. - **Closer to Dubai International Airport**: Dubai Islands is about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport by car, against about 35 minutes from Palm Jumeirah. ## Developments in Dubai Islands - [DO Hotels & Residences Dubai Islands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/do-hotels-and-residences-dubai-islands): One Development; Dubai Islands, Dubai; launched; handover Q4 2027; from AED 1,050,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Azizi Wasel](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/azizi-wasel): Azizi Developments; Dubai Islands, Dubai; under construction; handover Q1 2028; from AED 1,680,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Ellington Sands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/ellington-sands): Ellington Properties; Dubai Islands, Dubai; under construction; handover Q4 2028; from AED 1,700,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Hado by Beyond](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/hado-by-beyond): Beyond Developments; Dubai Islands, Dubai; launched; handover 2029; from AED 2,200,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [The Meriva Collection](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/the-meriva-collection): Ellington Properties; Dubai Islands, Dubai; launched; handover Q2 2030; from AED 2,700,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Samana Ocean Bay](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/samana-ocean-bay): Samana Developers; Dubai Islands, Dubai; under construction; handover Q2 2028; from AED 2,887,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Samana Ocean Pearl](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/samana-ocean-pearl): Samana Developers; Dubai Islands, Dubai; under construction; handover Q4 2027; from AED 3,940,444 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Samana Ocean Pearl 2](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/samana-ocean-pearl-2): Samana Developers; Dubai Islands, Dubai; under construction; handover Q4 2027; from AED 4,278,811 (as of 2026-11-13) ## Developments in Palm Jumeirah - [Passo by Beyond](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/palm-jumeirah/passo-by-beyond): Beyond Developments; Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; launched; handover Q4 2029; from AED 5,500,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Ocean House](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/palm-jumeirah/ocean-house): Ellington Properties; Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; under construction; handover Q4 2026; from AED 23,000,000 (as of 2026-11-13) ## What Dubai Islands is like > Five Nakheel-reclaimed islands off Deira in old Dubai, now the emirate's busiest launch zone for mid-rise beachfront apartments, with most handovers falling between 2027 and 2031. Who it suits: Buyers wanting beachfront at a lower entry price; Frequent flyers using Dubai International Airport; Investors comfortable with a long build-out; End-users who prefer low-rise buildings. In its favour: - More than 20 km of beaches and 60 km of waterfront, according to Nakheel - About 20 minutes to Dubai International Airport - Mid-rise and low-rise buildings rather than towers Worth weighing: - Heavy supply pipeline: Property Finder listed 2,796 homes for sale on 12 November 2026, 1,366 of them added in the previous 30 days. Expect competition on resale and rent when buildings complete. - Most of the islands will be a construction site into the 2030s; published handover dates on current projects run from late 2026 to Q1 2031. Full guide: [Dubai Islands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands) ## What Palm Jumeirah is like > Nakheel's original palm-shaped island off the Dubai Marina coast: a mature, fully occupied freehold address where new supply is scarce and priced accordingly. Who it suits: Second-home buyers; End-users wanting a finished beach community; Holiday-let investors; Buyers of branded residences. In its favour: - Completed island: hotels, beach clubs, Nakheel Mall and the monorail are open today - Freehold for all nationalities - Very little undeveloped land, so new launches are infrequent Worth weighing: - Entry prices are among the highest in Dubai: the median asking price on Property Finder was AED 8.94 million on 12 November 2026. - One route on and off the island via the trunk; crescent addresses sit furthest from the mainland (one broker quotes 35 minutes from a crescent address to Dubai International Airport). Full guide: [Palm Jumeirah](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/palm-jumeirah) ## Questions and answers ### Is Dubai Islands or Palm Jumeirah cheaper per square foot? Dubai Islands is cheaper on the published figures: AED 2,744 per sq ft against AED 3,966 in Palm Jumeirah (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026). Averages move with the mix of homes sold, so compare like with like before relying on the gap. ### Which is closer to Dubai International Airport, Dubai Islands or Palm Jumeirah? Dubai Islands, at about 20 minutes by car against about 35 minutes from Palm Jumeirah. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic. ### Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Islands and Palm Jumeirah? Dubai Islands is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Palm Jumeirah is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Sales in Dubai are registered with the DLD. ### Which new developments can I buy in Dubai Islands and Palm Jumeirah? In Dubai Islands: [DO Hotels & Residences Dubai Islands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/do-hotels-and-residences-dubai-islands) from AED 1,050,000, [Azizi Wasel](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/azizi-wasel) from AED 1,680,000, [Ellington Sands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/ellington-sands) from AED 1,700,000 and [Hado by Beyond](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/hado-by-beyond) from AED 2,200,000. In Palm Jumeirah: [Passo by Beyond](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/palm-jumeirah/passo-by-beyond) from AED 5,500,000 and [Ocean House](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/palm-jumeirah/ocean-house) from AED 23,000,000. --- Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/compare/areas/dubai-islands-vs-palm-jumeirah. Published by UAE Property Agents, Omnia Capital Group. You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting.