Lanai Island

Lanai Island is a private island residential estate within Tilal Al Ghaf, developed by Majid Al Futtaim Properties and scheduled for completion in August 2026. With construction now past the 45 per cent mark, it represents one of the more architecturally deliberate releases in Dubai's current master-community pipeline.

# The island setting within Tilal Al Ghaf

Tilal Al Ghaf occupies a position at the intersection of Al Hessa Road and Academic City Road, placing it within the south-western arc of Dubai that has drawn sustained developer attention over the past half-decade. The broader community spans 355,000 square metres of open space, with a central lagoon covering five hectares and bordered by white sand beaches. Lanai Island sits within that lagoon, accessible as one of two private islands that rise from the water at the point where the beach meets the community's interior waterways.

The island format is not a common typology in Dubai. Most luxury land releases in the emirate are plot-based or podium-adjacent. Here, the water is literal, surrounding the estate homes on all sides and creating a degree of separation from the wider community that compounds are rarely able to offer.

# Architecture, interiors and the homes themselves

The exterior architecture is the work of SAOTA, the Cape Town-based firm that has built a reputation for large-format residential design across three continents. Their approach at Lanai Island draws from the surrounding aqua environment, using organic materials and a strong indoor-outdoor logic. The interiors carry a separate authorship: Kelly Hoppen CBE, whose signature palette runs to clean lines and neutral tones weighted with warmth.

Thirteen estate homes in total. Two distinct design typologies, both shaped by the landscape and water context rather than imposed upon it.

Specific floor areas have not been released for this overview, and pricing is not available, as the project is currently out of stock. The service charge is set at 6 to 7 AED per square foot annually.

# Community infrastructure and on-site amenities

The Tilal Al Ghaf community wraps Lanai Island with a range of shared facilities. Hive Park and The Hive serve as social anchors for the master community, while The Club provides a more curated leisure setting. Lagoon Al Ghaf gives residents direct access to those five hectares of water. Cycling and jogging trails run through the green corridors, and dedicated kids' play areas are distributed across the site.

The Royal Grammar School, the British independent school brand, has a campus within the community, which removes one of the more common logistical pressures for relocating families from the UK and other anglophone markets.

# Road access and distance from the city's reference points

City Centre Meaisem sits roughly 10 kilometres away, reachable in about 17 minutes. Mediclinic Parkview Hospital, a relevant data point for families and older buyers, is at a similar distance and drive time.

For longer journeys, Mall of the Emirates is 28 minutes by car at 14 kilometres, Palm Jumeirah around the same, and Burj Khalifa approximately 35 minutes at 27 kilometres. Both Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airports fall within a 40-minute drive.

Al Maktoum International, which is undergoing a major capacity expansion in connection with Dubai South, is the closer airport by logical future relevance for residents at this end of the city.

# Who this project is built for, and where it sits in the Dubai market

Thirteen homes on a private island, designed by SAOTA and furnished in concept by Kelly Hoppen, within a master community that has made consistent delivery a part of its identity under Majid Al Futtaim. That combination is specific enough to narrow the buyer profile considerably.

This is not a project for investors tracking yield metrics. The product is aimed at owner-occupiers, most likely families or individuals relocating from London, Geneva, Riyadh or Singapore who are accustomed to estate-scale space and want a Dubai address that does not require trading away architectural seriousness. The island format provides genuine physical privacy without retreating to a remote location. The surrounding community supplies schools, medical infrastructure and retail without the buyer needing to engineer that support network independently.

At 45 per cent construction progress with an August 2026 target, the timeline is defined. The current out-of-stock status reflects how this segment of the Dubai market has moved, with ultra-premium product absorbed quickly and resale being the more likely route to acquisition.