Dubai-based developer Nakheel says it would like Emaar Properties to develop new projects on its waterfront developments in Dubai, including its new Deira Islands project.

“We have a lot of prime [waterfront] land like Deira [Islands] and the World Islands, if Emaar would like to develop they are welcome,” said Ali Rashid Lootah on 26 May. “We will be very flexible with payment terms for them because we want them to come and work with us. It is a business deal.”

Recent media reports in Dubai have suggested that Nakheel and Emaar could work together more closely on projects in the future as Emaar does not have any seafront land in the emirate.

Nakheel will start selling more than 12.4 million square feet (1.2 million square metres) of land at Deira Islands on 30 March.

“We expect a lot of demand, people have been following up since we launched at Cityscape [2013]. In half a year people will start developing,” said Lootah. “It will be at least half a year as people need to do their designs and approvals.”

The first phase plots will range in size from 50,000 to 670,000 square feet, and will be zoned for hotels and resorts. Nakheel will offer special payment plans for investors in hotel and resort projects.

In total, there will be more than 500 plots on the first two islands, which will ultimately add over 23,000 hotel rooms and 31,000 apartments.

Nakheel is developing a significant amount of the 4.5 million square metre south island itself. The company’s projects will be a 2 million sq ft shopping mall; an Arabic souk-style night market; a 250-room hotel; an amphitheatre for 30,000 people; and a marina that can accommodate large yachts. Nakheel will start construction on all these projects this year.

Nakheel will also master plan and complete infrastructure work ready for third party development on each island. US-based Ae7 is the design consultant for the masterplan.

The Deira Islands project will add 40 kilometres of coastline to Dubai including 21 km of beachfront.

Deira Islands: Key Facts

Nakheel development on island A

1,400 shops as part of night market

Four anchor retailers

Shopping mall (2 million square feet)

3,100 parking spaces

Three community retail malls

A 250-room hotel

An amphitheatre for an audience of 30,000

A marina that can accommodate large yachts

Developer plots

15 resort beach plots

79 waterfront hotel plots

More than 500 plots on islands A and B

G+6 building heights

Sizes range from 50,000 sq ft to 670,000 sq ft

Amenities

Mosques

Parks

Green spaces

Playgrounds

Running tracks and cycle paths

Private and public marinas on all islands

Jetties available to access the promenades, hotels and resorts

Community facilities