Meraas Master Community · Dubai
Dubai Design District (d3)
Dubai's Design-Led Waterfront District Between Downtown Dubai and Business Bay
A pedestrian-first creative district by Meraas along Dubai Creek, pairing 1.2 million sq ft of design studios and Grade-A offices with a new generation of freehold waterfront residences minutes from Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, and DIFC.
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Overview
Dubai Design District (d3) Community Overview
Master Developer
Meraas, part of Dubai Holding Real Estate, developing and expanding the district's residential masterplan.
Location
On Dubai Creek between Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, and Mohammed Bin Rashid City in central Dubai.
Entry Price
Residential launches start from AED 2.0 million ≈ USD 544,000 across the district's current projects.
Delivery Status
Phase 1 complete with eleven buildings; residential towers now under way for 2029 and 2030.
Dubai Design District is the city's purpose-built home for design, fashion, art, and the wider creative economy, and it is now becoming a place to live as well as work. TECOM Group delivered the first phase of eleven mid-rise buildings holding around 1,000 office and studio units and roughly 100 retail spaces. Meraas, part of Dubai Holding Real Estate, is now adding freehold waterfront residences across a masterplan of approximately 18 million sq ft.
For buyers, the appeal is location paired with scarcity. d3 sits on Dubai Creek between Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, and Mohammed Bin Rashid City, and the residential component stays small relative to the district's profile: around 15,000 homes planned in total, with three projects launched to date and first handovers scheduled from 2029.
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Explore Dubai Design District Properties and the Meraas Portfolio
Two routes into d3: compare waterfront residences currently for sale across Dubai Design District, or explore the Meraas developer portfolio behind its residential masterplan.
Dubai Design District Properties for Sale | Apartments & Penthouses
Explore waterfront apartments, sky villas, duplexes and penthouses across Dubai Design District, comparing current availability, prices, payment plans and handover dates.
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Meraas: Lifestyle Destinations From City Walk to Port de La Mer
Meraas is the name behind City Walk, Bluewaters Island and Madinat Jumeirah Living, from beachfront communities to luxury mixed-use districts.
Explore the Meraas developer portfolioHistory
From TECOM's Creative Quarter to a Meraas Waterfront District
Dubai Design District opened as a purpose-built base for the region's design, fashion, and creative industries, delivered by TECOM Group. Its first phase completed eleven mid-rise buildings holding roughly 1,000 office and studio units alongside about 100 retail spaces.
Meraas, part of Dubai Holding Real Estate, now leads the district's residential expansion. The masterplan adds freehold waterfront homes, an approximately 6 km car-free Design Line, and five distinct sub-districts, turning a workplace cluster into a full live-work destination on Dubai Creek.
Sub-Communities
Districts of Dubai Design District (d3)
d3 is structured into five master-planned districts, each with its own lifestyle focus and mix of residential, cultural, and commercial uses. Together they form a connected, pedestrian-first destination anchored by the Design Line.
The Creekside
The waterfront district: luxury residences, boutique hospitality, canal-side promenades, cafes, and curated retail along Dubai Creek.
Design HQ
The urban core, combining contemporary residences, creative offices, and retail and dining within one central setting.
SOHO
The cultural heart: performance venues, public plazas, and mid-rise residential buildings built around events and art.
The Sanctuary
A wellness-focused residential district with parks, green space, sports facilities, and nature-inspired landscaping for families.
The Mindspace
A creative production zone for artists and designers: galleries, studios, co-working space, and exhibition areas.
Not sure which district fits your budget and goals?
Ask Me on WhatsAppProperty Types
Property Types in Dubai Design District (d3)
The district mixes residential, commercial, cultural, and lifestyle uses inside a single masterplan. Here is how the offering breaks down.
Residential Properties
Freehold apartments, loft-style residences, duplexes, and signature penthouses in the waterfront and central districts.
Commercial & Office Spaces
Grade-A offices, creative studios, and flexible workspaces, from shell-and-core units to fully fitted studios.
Retail & F&B Spaces
Curated retail units, concept stores, galleries, and food and beverage outlets across the district's street level.
Creative & Cultural Spaces
Galleries, exhibition spaces, event venues, ateliers, and production studios for artists, designers, and innovators.
Prices
What Does Dubai Design District Cost Right Now?
Homes across the community currently average AED 3,290 ≈ USD 896 per sq ft, but real entry prices move with every release, district, and payment plan. I keep the current price list for every active launch.
Get the Price List on WhatsAppKey Figures
Dubai Design District in Numbers
Masterplan Area
Approximately 18 million sq ft
Planned Residences
Approximately 15,000 homes
Future Population
Up to 60,000 residents
Design Line
Approximately 6 km car-free spine
Phase 1 Buildings
11 completed mid-rise buildings
Office & Studio Units
Approximately 1,000 units
Retail Units
Approximately 100 units
Office & Creative Space
Approximately 1.2 million sq ft
Retail & F&B Space
Approximately 200,000 sq ft
Residential Launches
3 projects: Design Quarter, The Edit, Atelis
How I Work
Buying in Dubai Design District Through Tohid Fetrat
My role is buyer-side from the first message to handover. In a district this early in its residential cycle, the choice of project, tower, floor, and view line drives both the lifestyle and the return.
District, project, and unit shortlists matched to your budget and goals
Every payment verified into the project's DLD-registered escrow account
Construction tracked against RERA inspection data through to handover
Pre-handover snagging inspection arranged before you take the keys
Location
Dubai Design District (d3) Location on the Dubai Map
Dubai Design District occupies a central waterfront position along Dubai Creek, between Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, and Mohammed Bin Rashid City. That placement puts Dubai's main business, retail, and cultural anchors within a short drive while keeping the district tied into the primary road network.
- Downtown Dubai · Business BayDirect road links
- DIFC · Dubai MallDirect road links
- Dubai International AirportDirect road links
See the district's position relative to schools, retail, parks, and every other community on the Dubai interactive real estate map.
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Message Me on WhatsAppThe Process
What Happens After You Message Me
No pressure and no sales script. Here is exactly how it works.
Message on WhatsApp
Tell me the district you like, your budget range, and whether you are buying to live or to invest.
Receive the full picture
You receive current availability, prices, and payment plans for the units that fit, drawn from live developer inventory.
Decide with full information
You compare, ask anything, and move only when a unit genuinely fits. No obligation at any point.
FAQ
Dubai Design District (d3) Frequently Asked Questions
Dubai Design District, known as d3, is a master-planned creative and lifestyle destination in central Dubai. It combines residential, commercial, cultural, and retail uses inside a pedestrian-first urban environment built around a car-free spine called the Design Line.
d3 sits along Dubai Creek in central Dubai, positioned between Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, and Mohammed Bin Rashid City. The district connects directly to the main road network and to DIFC, Dubai Mall, and Dubai International Airport.
The residential and lifestyle masterplan is developed by Meraas, part of Dubai Holding Real Estate. The district's first commercial phase was delivered by TECOM Group, which built the eleven mid-rise buildings that house d3's design studios and offices.
The district offers freehold residential apartments, loft-style homes, duplexes, and penthouses, alongside Grade-A offices, creative studios, retail units, and dedicated cultural and production spaces.
Yes. Residential properties in Dubai Design District are sold on a freehold basis and are open to UAE nationals and international buyers alike.
The masterplan is organized into five districts: The Creekside on the waterfront, Design HQ as the urban core, SOHO as the cultural and social heart, The Sanctuary for wellness and family living, and The Mindspace for creative production.
Three residential projects have launched inside the district: Design Quarter, The Edit at d3, and Atelis at d3. The Edit starts from AED 2.0 million ≈ USD 544,000 with handover scheduled for Q2 2030, and Atelis starts from AED 2.1 million ≈ USD 572,000 with handover scheduled for Q3 2029.
The case rests on location and scarcity. The district sits minutes from Downtown Dubai, DIFC, and Meydan, the residential component is small relative to the district's overall footprint, and the design-led masterplan supports rental demand from the creative and professional workforce already based there. Project, tower, and unit selection still drive results more than the district average does.
Property in d3 may qualify, subject to the final registered value of the unit and the UAE regulations in force at the time of purchase. Qualification is assessed on the registered purchase price rather than the advertised starting price.
The main cost is the 4 percent Dubai Land Department registration fee, plus administrative and registration trustee charges. Off-plan purchases are recorded in the DLD interim registry, and payments go into the project's DLD-registered escrow account. Dubai levies no annual property tax; owners pay community service charges based on unit size.
Yes. Off-plan units are routinely reserved and purchased from abroad: the reservation, the sales and purchase agreement, and every payment can be completed remotely, with signing handled electronically or through a power of attorney. Payments go into the project's DLD-registered escrow account, not to any individual. The full sequence is documented in the Dubai real estate guide library.
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Get Availability & Prices on WhatsAppOff-plan releases sell in phases. Availability and prices change with each launch.
Your Advisor
Tohid Fetrat
Independent of the developer: I work for the buyer. On this page my job is helping you choose the right Dubai Design District district and unit for your goals, then protecting the purchase through escrow verification, construction tracking, and a pre-handover inspection. Client identities and transactions are never published or referenced. Message or call me directly: you will always reach me personally, never a call center or sales team.
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