What New Off-Plan Developments Are Launching or Under Construction in Dubai Creek Harbour This Year and When Are They Expected to Hand Over

Dubai Creek Harbour is a joint venture between Emaar Properties and Dubai Holding, developed across a site that stretches along Ras Al Khor Road and sits roughly 10 kilometres from Downtown Dubai. The masterplan is divided into distinct districts, with Creek Island being the most advanced and Creek Gate serving as the next major residential cluster to receive construction activity. A detailed breakdown of the district boundaries and what is currently approved for construction is available in the Dubai Creek Harbour Master Plan 2026 overview, which covers the status of each sub-district as of this year.

How the Masterplan Is Structured

The full development is planned to accommodate roughly 200,000 residents across retail, residential, hospitality, and cultural uses once completed. Emaar is the primary developer for all residential towers on Creek Island and Creek Gate, releasing buildings in numbered or named phases rather than all at once. Each phase is registered separately with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) and carries its own escrow account, which is a legal requirement for off-plan sales in Dubai. Buyers tracking what new off-plan developments are launching or under construction in Dubai Creek Harbour this year need to follow both the phase releases and the individual building permits, because Emaar sometimes launches a building name before the full permit is issued.

The Role of Creek Island and Creek Gate

Creek Island is the first major residential district and is the furthest along in terms of construction completions and near-complete buildings. Creek Gate sits immediately to the north and is where most of the 2025 and 2026 launches are concentrated. The Creek Tower, which is planned to be the centrepiece landmark of the entire development, remains on hold as of September 2026 pending revised engineering approvals, though the podium infrastructure around its planned site is incorporated into the surrounding district layout.

2. Off-Plan Developments Currently Under Construction in Dubai Creek Harbour in 2026

Several towers are in active construction right now, with cranes visible across Creek Island and the early stages of Creek Gate. The following projects are confirmed as under construction as of September 2026, based on RERA registration data and Emaar's published project updates.

Harbour Gate and Creek Horizon

Harbour Gate comprises two towers of 27 and 28 storeys respectively, located on the waterfront promenade of Creek Island. Units range from one-bedroom apartments starting at approximately AED 1.4 million through to three-bedroom units priced above AED 3.5 million at current secondary market comparables. Construction on Harbour Gate was already well advanced entering 2026, and Emaar's project tracker shows the towers at finishing-works stage, targeting a Q4 2026 handover for the first tower and Q1 2027 for the second. Creek Horizon, a separate pair of mid-rise towers also on Creek Island, is tracking toward a mid-2027 handover and is currently in its upper-floor structural phase.

Palace Residences Creek Blue and Orchid

Palace Residences Creek Blue is a branded residential tower tied to the Palace Hotels brand under Address Hotels. It sits on the southern tip of Creek Island with direct views toward the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected flamingo habitat that sits within two kilometres of the development. One-bedroom units in this project were originally launched at around AED 1.6 million, with two-bedroom layouts reaching AED 2.8 million to AED 3.4 million. As of September 2026 the tower is in mid-construction, with a projected handover in Q3 2027. Palace Residences Orchid, a companion building in the same precinct, is slightly earlier in its construction cycle and is expected to hand over in Q4 2027.

Creek Waters and Creek Waters 2

Creek Waters is a 40-storey tower that launched in late 2021 and has been under active construction since 2022. It offers one to four-bedroom apartments and a limited number of duplex units on the upper floors, with original launch prices ranging from AED 1.2 million to AED 6 million depending on size and floor. The tower is currently in its facade and MEP installation phase and is tracking toward a Q2 2027 handover. Creek Waters 2, launched in 2022 as a companion building, is approximately six months behind in its construction schedule and is expected to hand over in Q4 2027.

The Cove Buildings

The Cove is a cluster of residential buildings arranged around a private marina-style inlet on Creek Island, making it one of the more distinct sub-communities within the masterplan. The Cove Building 1 has already been handed over and is occupied. Buildings 2 through 7 are at various stages of construction, with Buildings 2 and 3 targeting handover in Q1 2027, Buildings 4 and 5 in Q3 2027, and Buildings 6 and 7 in Q1 2028. Unit sizes across The Cove cluster lean toward one and two-bedroom configurations, with a smaller share of three-bedroom units, and current resale prices in the completed building are running between AED 1,500 and AED 1,900 per square foot depending on the floor and view.

3. New Launches and Recently Released Projects in 2026

Beyond projects already mid-construction, Emaar has released new phases in 2026 that are either in their early construction stage or in the pre-construction period following a sales launch. These represent the newest off-plan developments launching in Dubai Creek Harbour this year, and their handover windows sit further out.

Savanna Residences

Savanna is a three-building residential cluster launched in Creek Gate in early 2026. The buildings range from 20 to 25 storeys and contain a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments plus a limited collection of townhouse-style units on the podium levels. Launch prices started at approximately AED 1.35 million for a one-bedroom unit, which is competitive relative to the more mature Creek Island sub-market where resale prices have moved higher. Savanna is currently in the early excavation and piling phase, and Emaar's published timeline targets a Q2 2029 handover for all three buildings.

Creek Edge Tower 2 and Subsequent Phases

Creek Edge Tower 1 was handed over in 2023 and established the streetscape along the northern boundary of Creek Island. Creek Edge Tower 2 was launched in late 2024 and is now in active construction as of September 2026, with structural works on the lower floors underway. This tower rises to 39 storeys and focuses on one and two-bedroom layouts with a smaller number of three-bedroom corner units. Handover is projected for Q4 2027. Emaar has also signalled additional Creek Gate phases to be released before the end of 2026, though specific building names and unit counts had not been formally announced as of this writing.

For a broader look at how Emaar has structured its phased release strategy across the entire Creek Harbour site, the Emaar phases and investment timeline analysis offers a useful overview of how each district feeds into the next and what the sequencing means for buyers entering at different stages.

4. Expected Handover Timelines: What Buyers Should Know

Handover timelines in Dubai are developer estimates, not legal guarantees, though RERA does require developers to register a target completion date. Emaar has a strong track record relative to many Dubai developers, but delays of three to six months are common across the industry, so buyers should factor in a buffer when planning their move or financing.

Projects Handing Over in 2026 and 2027

• Harbour Gate Tower 1: Targeted Q4 2026 handover; finishing works in progress as of September 2026.
• Harbour Gate Tower 2: Targeted Q1 2027 handover; structural completion reached, facade works ongoing.
• The Cove Buildings 2 and 3: Targeted Q1 2027 handover; in upper-floor construction phase.
• Creek Edge Tower 2: Targeted Q4 2027 handover; lower-floor structural works underway.
• Creek Waters: Targeted Q2 2027 handover; facade and MEP installation stage.
• Palace Residences Creek Blue: Targeted Q3 2027 handover; mid-construction as of September 2026.

Projects Targeting 2028 and Beyond

• Creek Horizon: Targeted mid-2027 handover; upper-floor structural phase as of September 2026.
• Palace Residences Orchid: Targeted Q4 2027 handover; slightly earlier in construction cycle than Creek Blue.
• Creek Waters 2: Targeted Q4 2027 handover; approximately six months behind Creek Waters in schedule.
• The Cove Buildings 4 and 5: Targeted Q3 2027 handover; currently in mid-construction.
• The Cove Buildings 6 and 7: Targeted Q1 2028 handover; early construction stage.
• Savanna Residences (all three buildings): Targeted Q2 2029 handover; excavation and piling phase as of September 2026.

If you are comparing Creek Harbour pricing against other established Dubai waterfront addresses, it is worth reading the breakdown of apartment prices per square foot in Dubai Marina right now to understand how the two sub-markets are positioned relative to each other in September 2026.

5. What to Check Before Buying Off-Plan in Dubai Creek Harbour

Buying off-plan in any Dubai development carries specific legal and financial considerations that are distinct from buying a ready property. Creek Harbour is no different, and there are three areas buyers consistently overlook when reviewing their options.

RERA Registration and Escrow Accounts

Every off-plan project sold in Dubai must be registered with RERA and must hold buyer payments in a dedicated escrow account managed by an approved bank. Before signing a Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) for any Creek Harbour unit, verify the project's RERA registration number on the Dubai Land Department's online portal. This step confirms the project is legally authorised for sale and that your payments are protected under the Escrow Law (Law No. 8 of 2007). All active Emaar projects in Creek Harbour carry valid RERA registrations, but it is still worth confirming before any payment is made.

Payment Plans and Post-Handover Options

Emaar's current payment plans for Creek Harbour projects generally follow a 80/20 or 70/30 structure, meaning 80 or 70 percent is paid during construction in instalments tied to construction milestones, and the remaining balance is due on handover. Some of the newer 2026 launches, including Savanna, have been offered with a post-handover payment option where a portion of the purchase price is paid over one to two years after keys are received. Post-handover plans are attractive for buyers who want to rent out the unit immediately and use rental income to cover the remaining instalments, but the total cost of the unit is typically higher than a cash or mortgage purchase.

Service Charges and Strata Fees

Service charges in Creek Harbour vary by building but generally run between AED 14 and AED 20 per square foot per year for standard residential towers. Branded residences such as Palace Residences Creek Blue carry higher service charges, often in the AED 22 to AED 28 per square foot range, reflecting the hotel-standard amenities and concierge services included in the building. These figures are published by the Dubai Land Department's RERA service charge index, which is updated annually, so always check the most current figure for the specific building before calculating your holding costs.

For a full walkthrough of the buying process in Dubai, including transfer fees, agent commissions, and mortgage considerations, the complete buyer's guide for 2026 covers each step in detail and is worth reading before you commit to any off-plan purchase in Creek Harbour or elsewhere in Dubai.

6. The Bigger Picture: Why Creek Harbour Continues to Attract Off-Plan Buyers in 2026

Creek Harbour's appeal as an off-plan destination comes from a combination of factors that are specific to its location and masterplan design. The development sits adjacent to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a RAMSAR-designated wetland and home to a resident flamingo population visible from many of the waterfront towers. This protected natural reserve cannot be developed, which means the views from buildings facing it are permanently protected, a rarity in a city where skylines change quickly.

The development also includes Creek Marina, a fully operational yacht marina with berths for vessels up to 45 metres, a promenade lined with restaurants and cafes, and direct water taxi connections to Festival City and other Creek-side destinations. The Dubai Metro Blue Line, currently under construction with a planned operational date of 2029, includes a station within the Creek Harbour masterplan boundary, which will significantly reduce commute times to Downtown Dubai and Dubai International Airport once it opens.

Driving distances from Creek Harbour to key destinations give buyers a concrete sense of day-to-day logistics. Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa are approximately 10 kilometres away via Ras Al Khor Road, a drive that takes 15 to 20 minutes outside peak hours. Dubai International Airport Terminal 1 is roughly 12 kilometres away, typically a 15-minute drive. Dubai Festival City Mall, which includes an IKEA, a Carrefour hypermarket, and a cinema, is under 5 kilometres from the development and serves as the primary retail anchor for Creek Harbour residents at present.

Within Creek Harbour itself, the retail podium along the Creek Marina promenade currently houses a supermarket, pharmacies, a clinic, a number of dining options, and a Vida Hotel. Additional retail and a dedicated Creek Harbour town centre are planned for later phases of the masterplan, meaning the on-site amenity offering will expand significantly as more of the development completes over the next three to five years.