Cities Where People Thrive
Reshaping Dubai’s Coastline
Nakheel is the Dubai developer behind Palm Jumeirah, The World and Palm Jebel Ali. Part of Dubai Holding since March 2024, its master communities are home to around 700,000 residents.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
At a
Glance
Nakheel is a Dubai master developer and part of Dubai Holding, which absorbed it in March 2024 and groups it with Meraas and Dubai Properties under Dubai Holding Real Estate. It built Palm Jumeirah and The World. It is now developing Palm Jebel Ali and Dubai Islands, with the first Palm Jebel Ali villas due for handover from late 2026. Nakheel is not listed and does not publish current financial results.
Sources: Dubai Media Office, Nakheel press releases and The National, October 2026.
Beyond Developments
The Minds Behind Nakheel
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Khalid Al Malik
Mohammed Al Habbai
2001
Palm Jumeirah
Construction of Palm Jumeirah began.
2003
The World
Nakheel unveiled The World, a group of about 200 islands.
2006
First Handovers
The first Palm Jumeirah homes were handed over.
2008
Atlantis The Palm
Atlantis The Palm opened on Palm Jumeirah.
2023
Palm Jebel Ali
The first Palm Jebel Ali villas went on sale.
2024
Dubai Holding
Nakheel joined Dubai Holding.
Dubai’s first palm shaped island, started in 2001, home to Atlantis The Palm.
A 13.4 km island with 16 fronds and over 90 km of beachfront, now under construction.
Five islands across 18.6 square kilometres, planned for more than 230,000 residents.
Featured Projects by Nakheel
Investor
Questions
Dubai Holding, since March 2024. Nakheel sits within Dubai Holding Real Estate.
No. They are separate developer brands, both part of Dubai Holding Real Estate alongside Dubai Properties.
No. Nakheel is not listed and does not publish current financial results.
Nakheel. Construction began in 2001 and the first homes were handed over in 2006.
They are separate companies. Since May 2026, Dubai Holding, Nakheel’s owner, has also been Emaar’s largest shareholder with 29.73%.