Property developers compared · Dubai

Emaar Properties vs Nakheel

Emaar Properties is a master developer of luxury, mid-market and waterfront homes, mainly in Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Dubai Hills Estate, while Nakheel is a government-backed master developer of luxury and waterfront homes, mainly in Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Dubai Islands.

Data updated 30 September 2026

#1 Emaar Properties AED 38.4bn DLD sales value, 1 Jan–25 Sep 2026, from 9,546 sales View profile → #4 Nakheel AED 11.8bn DLD sales value, 1 Jan–25 Sep 2026, from 1,171 sales View profile →

Side by side

Sales figures are from our analysis of Dubai Land Department open data, 1 Jan–25 Sep 2026, measured the same way for every ranked developer. Other facts are from our developer database. A dash means we have no figure for it.

Compared	Emaar Properties	Nakheel
2026 rank	#1 of 92 By DLD sales value, 1 Jan–25 Sep 2026	#4 of 92 By DLD sales value, 1 Jan–25 Sep 2026
2026 sales value (DLD)	AED 38.4bn 1 Jan–25 Sep 2026	AED 11.8bn 1 Jan–25 Sep 2026
Number of sales	9,546 1 Jan–25 Sep 2026	1,171 1 Jan–25 Sep 2026
Year on year (value)	−25% on the same period of 2025	−44% on the same period of 2025
Off-plan share	39% of value; 56% of sales	23% of value; 34% of sales
Median price per sq ft	AED 2,417	AED 3,345
Top project by 2026 sales	Salva The Heights (AED 3bn, 360 sales)	Palm Jebel Ali - The Beach and Coral Collection - Frond D (AED 1.5bn, 41 sales)
Founded	1997	–
Ownership	Publicly listed (DFM)	Dubai government-owned. Part of Dubai Holding
Headquarters	Dubai, UAE	Dubai, UAE
Segments	Master developer, Luxury, Mid-market, Waterfront	Master developer, Waterfront, Government-backed, Luxury
Property types	Apartments, Villas, Townhouses, Commercial	Apartments, Villas, Townhouses, Retail
Main Dubai areas	Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai Creek Harbour	Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai Islands, Jumeirah Islands, International City
Flagship projects	Burj Khalifa (Downtown Dubai, Completed 2010) The Dubai Mall (Downtown Dubai, Completed 2008)	Palm Jumeirah (Completed) Palm Jebel Ali (Under construction)
Recent launches	–	222 beachfront residences, Palm Jebel Ali (Palm Jebel Ali, 2026)
Payment plan style	–	–
Branded partnerships	–	–
Units delivered	75,596 (as of 2026)	12,097 (as of 2026)
Website	emaar.com	nakheel.com

Source: Dubai Land Department open data via Data Dubai (data.dubai). Analysis by Top Realtors; not endorsed by the Dubai Land Department or the Government of Dubai. DLD transactions dataset · How the ranking works

Key differences

Sales. Emaar Properties' DLD-registered sales value was about 3.3× Nakheel's in 1 Jan–25 Sep 2026 (AED 38.4bn vs AED 11.8bn). It also recorded more individual sales (9,546 vs 1,171); average value per sale was about AED 4.0m vs AED 10.1m.
Off-plan and prices. Off-plan homes made up 39% of Emaar Properties' 2026 sales value and 23% of Nakheel's. Median price per sq ft: AED 2,417 for Emaar Properties, AED 3,345 for Nakheel.
Areas. Our data shows no Dubai area where both have main projects. Emaar Properties builds mainly in Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Dubai Hills Estate and Dubai Creek Harbour; Nakheel in Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai Islands, Jumeirah Islands and International City.
Focus. Only Emaar Properties lists mid-market homes; only Nakheel lists government backing. Both list master-planned communities, luxury homes and waterfront projects.
Ownership. Emaar Properties: Publicly listed (DFM). Nakheel: Dubai government-owned, part of Dubai Holding.
Property types. Only Emaar Properties lists commercial; only Nakheel lists retail.

Which might suit you

Based only on each developer's segments and property types in our data, not on the quality of any project.

If you want a mid-market or lower-priced home, look at Emaar Properties.
If you want a developer owned by the Dubai government or its holding companies, look at Nakheel.
Both developers build master-planned communities, luxury homes, villa and townhouse projects and waterfront homes, so for these compare specific projects, prices and payment plans.

Whichever you choose, check the project is registered with the Dubai Land Department and ask a RERA-licensed broker to compare units and payment plans.

Areas where both build

Our data shows no Dubai area where both have main projects.

Emaar Properties

Downtown Dubai Dubai Marina Dubai Hills Estate Dubai Creek Harbour

Nakheel

Palm Jumeirah Palm Jebel Ali Dubai Islands Jumeirah Islands International City

Frequently asked questions

Which sold more in 2026, Emaar Properties or Nakheel?

By the value of sales registered with the Dubai Land Department between 1 January and 25 September 2026, Emaar Properties sold more: AED 38.4bn (#1 of 92) against AED 11.8bn for Nakheel (#4). It also recorded more individual sales: 9,546 against 1,171. Year-on-year change in sales value: Emaar Properties −25% on the same period of 2025; Nakheel −44% on the same period of 2025.

Do Emaar Properties and Nakheel build in the same Dubai areas?

Not in our data. Emaar Properties builds mainly in Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Dubai Hills Estate and Dubai Creek Harbour, and Nakheel mainly in Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Dubai Islands, Jumeirah Islands and International City.

Who owns Emaar Properties and Nakheel?

Emaar Properties: Publicly listed (DFM), founded in 1997. Nakheel: Dubai government-owned, part of Dubai Holding.

Developer profiles

Emaar Properties: projects, areas and sources
Nakheel: projects, areas and sources
Top 102 property developers in Dubai (how the ranking works)

More comparisons

Emaar Properties vs DAMAC Properties Emaar Properties vs Sobha Realty Emaar Properties vs Dubai Properties Nakheel vs Meraas

Buying from Emaar Properties or Nakheel?

A RERA-licensed broker can compare launches, units and payment plans across both developers. Browse our directory of verified Dubai brokers.

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Sources

Facts on this page come from these public sources. Spotted an error? Tell us through our contact page.