Sobha Realty Masters 16 UAE Projects – Strong Portfolio Expansion 2026

Portfolio Growth Marks Milestone Expansion

Sobha Realty's expansion momentum has continued into 2026 with the launch of Sobha Sanctuary in Dubai and Sobha City in Abu Dhabi, bringing Sobha Realty's total UAE master developments to 16. The dual launch underscores the developer's accelerating pace across the region, following a record 2025.

In 2025, Sobha Realty completed around 3,000 residential units ahead of schedule and launched approximately 15,000 new units during 2025, driven by four major master developments across the UAE. The launches included Sobha Solis, Sobha Central and Sobha Skyparks in Dubai and Downtown UAQ in Umm Al Quwain. As of 2025, the developer's UAE portfolio exceeded 39,000 units across 14 master-planned projects in Dubai and Umm Al Quwain.

Sobha Sanctuary: Dubai's Largest Single Development

Sobha Realty has launched Sobha Sanctuary, a Dh50 billion master-planned development that becomes the largest single project in the company's history and one of the most expansive residential communities announced in Dubai in recent years. Spanning about 37.5 million sq ft, the project is located off Al Ain Road, close to Sobha Elwood, and will be delivered in multiple phases over four to eight years.

Sobha Sanctuary is planned as a fully integrated, mixed-use destination designed to accommodate about 20,000 families upon completion. The development will include approximately 20,000 residential units, split roughly between 18,000 apartments and 2,000 villas. The first handovers are expected from the third quarter of 2029, with prices starting from Dh3.99 million.

Sobha Sanctuary is planned as a mixed-use development, with a hospital, two international schools, retail areas and a wellness centre. The development will also include a central park, as well as a community mall with retail and dining outlets. The park will include facilities such as football grounds, running tracks, padel courts and a skate park.

A 6-kilometre loop will run through the community, connecting to a larger mobility loop and a 9km wellness loop around the perimeter. The launch coincides with the Sobha Group marking 50 years since its founding, a milestone the developer is using to underline both scale and long-term intent in the Dubai market.

Sobha City: Entry Into Abu Dhabi Market

Sobha Realty has entered the UAE capital with the launch of Sobha City, a 38 million square foot residential development in Al Bahiya. The project marks the developer's first large-scale community in Abu Dhabi, expanding its footprint beyond Dubai and Umm Al Quwain into a market that continues to see steady residential demand.

Located along the E10 and E12 corridor, close to Zayed International Airport and Yas Island, Sobha City is planned as a low-density development with a mix of residential, retail and leisure components. The masterplan will be developed in phases, with the first phase covering around 8 million square feet.

Sobha City will have every villa and townhouse opening onto an interconnected green space. Every unit will have a minimum 10 metre green buffer. A child can step out from the back garden into a continuous green corridor and move across an entire cluster safely under tree covered canopies without having to cross a street. About 60% of the land will be for parks and green areas. The plan includes over 50,000 trees and a 2km waterfront walk.

Ravi Menon, Chairman of Sobha Group, said the move reflects long-term confidence in the emirate. Francis Alfred, Managing Director of Sobha Realty, said the project is aligned with demand for integrated communities and will be an "embodiment of our vertically integrated approach to development ensuring not only exceptional quality but also long-term resilience and value."

Developer Track Record and Scale

Sobha Group, founded in 1976 by visionary entrepreneur PNC Menon, brings decades of global construction expertise to the UAE market. Since entering Dubai's real estate sector in the early 2000s, Sobha Realty has delivered premium apartments, villas, and waterfront residences across prime locations, earning a strong reputation for excellence, timely delivery, and long-term value.

Dubai's Sobha Realty saw record-breaking sales of AED23bn ($6.3bn) for its projects in 2024. The sum includes AED5bn ($1.4bn) from Sobha Siniya Island, which was only launched in Q3 2024. The company achieved a 50 per cent growth in sales year-on-year, driven by its diverse portfolio of properties in the UAE.

The company is fully vertically integrated such that they control every detail from concept to completion. Sobha One, comprising five interconnected towers under construction in Dubai, is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026. In 2025, the project was awarded the Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy (SLE) certification by Singapore's Building and Construction Authority (BCA), making it the first building outside Singapore to receive this distinction.

Strategic Expansion and Market Position

Both Sobha Sanctuary and Sobha City developments span nearly the same land area, integrating nature, wellness, and community living, supported by a wide range of leisure, retail, healthcare, and educational amenities. The developer's dual-market strategy reflects both the maturity of Dubai's villa and apartment segments and rising residential demand in Abu Dhabi driven by population growth and economic diversification.