Nakheel awards building contracts for Palm Jebel Ali villas

Dubai developer Nakheel has awarded construction contracts worth nearly $1 billion on Palm Jebel Ali.

The state-owned master developer, now a member of Dubai Holding’s real estate division, signed the AED3.5 billion ($953 million) deals to build 544 villas with Ginco General Contracting and United Engineering Construction (Unec).

The deal announced on Monday comes after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, said last week the emirate would accelerate the pace of development despite the US-Israeli war with Iran. 

Ginco will construct 354 villas across Fronds A to D, while Unec will deliver 190 villas on Fronds E and F, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported, quoting the master developer’s statement. 

Construction is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2026, with a completion target in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The deal follows Nakheel’s award of a $144 million contract to build the infrastructure and utilities of Island B of the Dubai Islands.

“The awarding of these contracts signals tangible progress in the delivery of Palm Jebel Ali, with construction now progressing across multiple fronds,” said Khalid Al Malik, CEO of Dubai Holding Real Estate. 

Palm Jebel Ali, the man-made island first announced in 2002, now has a completion target of 2028 according to Dubai Land Department reports, AGBI reported in January.

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Dubai Media Office reported in June that infrastructure works are expected to finish by the end of next year. The 13.4 square kilometre island will have 16 fronds, 91km of beachfront and 80 new hotels when complete.

Dubai Holding Real Estate includes other developers such as Meraas and Dubai Properties. It is a unit of Dubai Holding, the global investment holding company owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.