Emaar Beachfront and Dubai Harbour: new apartments with a private beach

In short: Emaar Beachfront is a new residential district on a peninsula in Dubai Harbour, between Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. The towers are modern, have a beach reserved for residents and views of the Palm, the sea or the Marina skyline. Here you can buy ready apartments and off-plan – the modern alternative to JBR.

Location: Dubai Harbour

Dubai Harbour is the new harbour district between JBR and Palm Jumeirah. It has a large marina, a cruise terminal and event spaces that host the Dubai International Boat Show, among others. Right next to it, the peninsula of Emaar Beachfront juts out into the sea.

A dedicated bridge connects the district to Sheikh Zayed Road. Dubai Marina and the free zones Dubai Internet City and Media City in Al Sufouh are minutes away, and Downtown is about half an hour by car.

The Emaar Beachfront concept

Emaar planned the peninsula as a self-contained residential district: a row of slender towers, a long residents-only beach, green spaces, a promenade, and shops and restaurants at the foot of the buildings. The first towers were handed over in the early 2020s, and more are still following. So there’s both here: ready apartments and projects under construction.

Because the peninsula sits between the Palm and the Marina, many apartments have a double view – the sea and the Palm with Atlantis on one side, the skyline of the Marina and JBR on the other.

Living by your own beach

• Beach: The private residents’ beach is the strongest argument – quieter than the public beach at JBR.
• Shared facilities: Pools, gyms and green spaces in the buildings.
• Dining and shopping: Shops and cafés in the district; for a big shop, Marina Mall or Nakheel Mall on the Palm.
• Water sports and yachts: The Dubai Harbour marina is right next door.

Buying an apartment in Emaar Beachfront

On offer are apartments with one to four bedrooms plus penthouses. Layouts are modern, and finishes and building systems are up to date – a clear difference from the older towers at JBR.

Ready or off-plan?

• Ready apartments: can be used or let straight away, and you see exactly what you are buying. The process follows buying a ready property.
• Off-plan: entry with a payment plan during construction, with payments going into a protected escrow account. More in our guide Buying off-plan in Dubai.

What to look for

• Orientation: Palm view, sea view or Marina skyline – and which floor. This strongly affects price and rentability.
• Distance to the next tower: The towers stand in a row; not every apartment has an open view.
• Service charges: The beach, pools and security come with corresponding fees.

For ready apartments, budget around 6.5 percent in buying costs. From AED 2 million, the Golden Visa becomes an option.

Running costs as an owner in Emaar Beachfront

After buying an apartment, these are the main ongoing costs:

• Service charges: for maintenance, security, pools and common areas, calculated by the size of your unit. The approved rates for each building are listed in the Service Charge Index of the Dubai Land Department.
• Electricity and water: via the utility DEWA; many buildings add a separate charge for district cooling.
• Housing fee: 5 percent of the annual rental value, billed through the DEWA account. It is paid by whoever lives in the home – so by your tenant if you let it.
• Ejari: every tenancy contract is registered; via the Dubai REST app this costs AED 177.75.
• Management: if you aren’t on site, a property manager handles letting and upkeep for a fee.

Unlike in many countries, there is no annual property tax in Dubai. All items are explained in our guide Buying costs in Dubai.

A visa through your property

With a property in Emaar Beachfront you may also be able to get a residence visa:

• Golden Visa: ten years of residence if your properties in Dubai are worth at least AED 2 million in total – also with a mortgage or, under certain conditions, off-plan.
• Investor visa: a shorter visa for owners who don’t reach the Golden Visa threshold.

The detailed requirements are explained in our guide Golden Visa with property.

Renting out

New buildings with a private beach are in demand with long-term tenants and holidaymakers alike. As everywhere, holiday lets require a holiday home permit. Because new towers keep being handed over, supply is also growing – something to factor into your calculation. You can run the numbers with our rental yield calculator.

Emaar Beachfront compared

In short: Emaar Beachfront is the choice for anyone who wants new buildings and a quiet beach. If you’d rather live in the thick of it, look at JBR and the Marina.

Pros and cons

Who Emaar Beachfront suits

The district suits the Plan B investor looking for a beach apartment in a new building, and the lifestyle investor with an eye on penthouses. The portfolio investor also finds easily rentable apartments here. For comparison, take a look at JBR and Dubai Marina.

How buying in Emaar Beachfront works

In Emaar Beachfront there are ready properties as well as projects under construction. The process differs:

• Ready property: sale agreement in line with RERA (Form F) with a deposit of usually 10 percent, a no objection certificate (NOC) from the developer, then payment and transfer at a Registration Trustee of the Dubai Land Department. Details in our guide Buying a ready property.
• Off-plan: reservation, purchase agreement with the developer (Sale and Purchase Agreement), registration in the interim register Oqood and payments according to construction progress into an escrow account. On handover you receive the title deed. Details in our guide Buying off-plan in Dubai.

For ready properties, budget around 6.5 percent in buying costs; for off-plan mainly the 4 percent registration fee. Both can be done from abroad – with video viewings and a power of attorney.

Our verdict

Emaar Beachfront combines what many buyers are looking for: new buildings, a private beach and a location between the Palm and the Marina. Pay attention to orientation and floor, and factor in that more towers are still coming. Then the district is one of the most modern waterfront addresses.

Frequently asked questions

Updated: October 2026. This article describes the district in general terms. Prices, rents and service charges change all the time; for a specific property we check the current figures with you.