Bluewaters Island is a new artificial island located 984 feet from the coast of Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) next to Dubai Marina. The general developer of this AED 6B (USD 1.6B) project is Meraas Development LLC. Construction began in 2013 and was completed in 2018. The area includes residential properties, hotels, shops, cafés, yacht dock, and entertainment areas, as well as 1476-feet of white sand beaches. Bluewaters Island is expected to become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Dubai since it has all the amenities of a luxury beach holiday. The island offers fine dining, luxury shopping, and Ain Dubai, the world’s tallest Ferris wheel.
*The price is valid for 2022
When it is fully operational, Bluewaters Island will house 10 mid-rise residential towers with apartments and townhouses, two premium hotels, 2,400 parking spaces, and 164 food and entertainment venues. The island is connected to the mainland by pedestrian and road bridges, and it is also accessible by car and bus.
The island is adjacent to JBR near Dubai Marina, which can be reached in about 10 minutes. Bluewaters Island is situated within a short drive of many of the city’s most popular attractions, including:
The Group Rapid Transit (GRT) service provides easy access to Bluewaters Island from the mainland. The system consists of 25 unmanned vehicles each with a capacity to hold 24 passengers. GRT mini-trains run hourly on the monorails between the island and Jabal Ali, previously called Nakheel Harbor & Tower, which is the nearest metro station on the mainland. The island’s automatic transport system offers several connecting stations, including the Wharf Station, which will serve as the main hub with a pier for water transportation, such as water taxis, and land transportation, such as buses and car services.
Residents and visitors can also access Bluewaters Island by private car and on foot. The Wharf Link is a pedestrian bridge spanning 869-feet. It was built between the island and JBR. By car, the island has direct access to one of Dubai’s main highways, Sheikh Zayed Road. Additionally, the master developer has plans to build a funicular railway.
Bluewaters Wharf, an area located at the base of Ain Dubai, is set to become a full-fledged shopping and entertainment district. From there, transportation can be accessed through the wide underground tunnel running under the main street that separates the residential and commercial areas. This network was designed to regulate the flow of traffic and to protect walking areas and green spaces from cars.
Bluewaters Island is primarily known for its recreation and entertainment sites. Families with children will need to access schools and universities in other surrounding areas. Nearby institutions include:
The American School of Dubai is located in Al Barsha 1
British Arcadia School is located in District 9
The American University in Dubai is located in Dubai Internet City
The closest general hospital is Mediclinic Meadows, which is located within a 15-minute drive of the island. It has a maternity hospital, specialised oncological centre, and pharmacy, as well as video consultation services.
For now, the island does not have any mosques or churches; however, residents can access a variety of religious institutions in neighbouring areas located within a 15-minute drive of the island. The Mohammad Bin Ahmed Al Mulla Mosque is located in Dubai Marina, and there are Orthodox and Catholic churches located in Jebel Ali, including St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
One of the island’s main attractions is the world’s largest Ferris wheel, Ain Dubai, also known as the Eye of Dubai. Each of the wheel’s observation booths can accommodate up to 31 people, and there is an exclusive bar booth for up to 12 people. Launched in 2021, the wheel rotates a full circle in 30 minutes. It is 688 feet tall, which is almost eight times larger than the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, the London Eye. Ain Dubai’s booths offer views with a radius of 164,042 ft. From there, passengers can see the entire emirate, including:
Bluewaters Island is home to the world’s tallest climbing platform (over 150 metres), which is located on one of the pillars of Ain Dubai. The area also features the Rotunda Theatre, which has a capacity of 500 spectators. There are also plans to build a conference centre that seats up to 400 people.
Bluewaters Wharf has a large entertainment venue with a platform for business events and conferences, as well as a shopping area, which is planned to have a total of 164 retail outlets. The area also includes residential towers and a traditional bazaar with 132 stores located on the first and second floors and 32 stores located on the underground floors. If that’s not enough, resident’s can access the nearby Dubai Marina Mall within 10 minutes.
There are dozens of cafés and restaurants on the island. Caesars Palace Resort features Hell’s Kitchen by world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay, whose establishments have been awarded 16 Michelin stars. Also, Cove Beach, an elite beach club, is located adjacent to the resort. During the day, residents can relax on the pristine secluded beaches overlooking the Arabian Gulf, swim in the pool, and dine in the restaurant. In the evening, residents can enjoy the local nightlife at the dance club.
According to developers, Bluewaters Island is poised to become one of the most visited attractions in the Middle East with more than 3 million visitors expected each year.
Bluewaters Island combines all the conveniences of a metropolis with the benefits of a private beach community. The island offers cafés, restaurants, shopping outlets, and nightclubs. It was designed to allow for airflow between the buildings, which creates a comfortable breeze. Giant canopies also protect people from the sun. The main boulevard divides the residential and commercial zones, and there are few cars on the street since most transportation passes under the boulevard through an underground tunnel.
In addition to Ain Dubai, the island attracts visitors with its beautiful beaches and lively entertainment venues. The area has two 5-star premium resorts: Caesars Resort Bluewaters Dubai and Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai. With a total of about 500 rooms, both hotels have direct access to a 450-metre long private beach. Caesars Palace also offers 80 residential apartments with floor plans featuring one to four bedrooms.
When it comes to a return on investment, the average rental yield for a one-bedroom apartment on Bluewaters Island is approximately 6.2%. The rate for a two-bedroom apartment is approximately 5.8%. The rate for a three-bedroom apartment is approximately 5.9%, and a four-bedroom apartment offers the highest return rate at approximately 7.1%.
All residential properties on the island are part of the Bluewaters Residences, which consists of 10 buildings ranging in height from seven to 15-storeys tall. The area features a variety of accommodations, including:
Interiors feature modern, minimalist designs using neutral colour palettes. Units have central air conditioning, Scandinavian wood floors, metal fittings, and double-glazed panoramic windows. The open-plan kitchens feature Italian appliances and seamless marble countertops. Units come with one to two parking spaces.
The residences offer a variety of onsite amenities, including fitness centres, swimming pools, landscaped gardens, basketball courts, children’s playgrounds, and outdoor recreation areas. Residents have easy access to nearby retail stores, cafés, and restaurants, which are located on the ground floors of the buildings.
The first residential building of the complex was commissioned at the beginning of 2019. At the moment, most of the residences are move-in-ready, and some of the units have already been purchased for rent. The project has not been entirely finished yet since several buildings are currently under construction.
Move-in-ready apartments include one-bedroom units with a size of 1,119 sq. ft. They have sea views and can be purchased for an average price of AED 2,700,000 (USD 735,000). Other options include one-bedroom apartments with an area of 1,151 sq. ft. They overlook the pool area and can be purchased for AED 2,350,000 (USD 640,000). Townhouses are currently under construction and feature one-bedroom layouts with an area of 1151 sq. ft. They can be purchased for approximately AED 2,200,000 (USD 599,000).
The annual rent for a one-bedroom apartment, with an area of 1,151 sq. ft, is at least AED 140,000 (USD 38,000).
*The price is valid for 2022
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