Sobha Sanctuary is Sobha Realty's largest masterplan in Dubai, an 8 million square foot community off Al Ain Road built around parkland rather than towers. Around 20,000 homes are planned across apartments and villas, with roughly half the site given over to open green space. We have added three listings from it: the Sobha Sanctuary masterplan, The Woods Abode apartments from about £214,000, and The Willows four bedroom villas from about £823,000.
What is being built
An 800,000 sq ft central park with around 50,000 trees, a 9 km wellness loop, a 5 km leisure loop and 20 km of connected cycling routes, a hydrotherapy facility, a social club, a farmers market and community hubs. Releases so far run from one bedroom apartments in The Woods enclave through to six bedroom villas in The Grove. First handovers are expected in Q3 2029, with delivery phased over several years.
The Woods Abode
The lowest entry point into Sanctuary: one and two bedroom apartments of 540 to 964 sq ft, every one with a balcony, from about £214,000 to around £383,000. The enclave has its own pool deck, yoga and meditation deck, serenity garden, co working space, nursery and library. The plan is 20% on booking, 40% through the build and 40% on handover, with completion estimated Q4 2029. The Woods is an enclave rather than a single building, so Abode sits alongside sister releases at almost identical pricing; if a particular floor or aspect matters we can pull availability across all of them.
The Willows
Four bedroom villas over ground and first floors in four layouts from 2,459 to 3,430 sq ft, from about £823,000, the lowest priced villa release in the masterplan. The plan is 10% on booking, 50% through the build and 40% on handover, completion estimated Q3 2029. Family sized villa stock is the tight end of the Dubai market and the buyers are mostly end users, which makes the resale pool deeper. Availability was already being flagged as limited when we checked.
The developer
Sobha builds and fits out its own schemes through an in house construction arm, which is the main reason its handover quality is talked about differently from most Dubai developers. Sanctuary is the company putting that model behind its biggest site to date. One thing to know: Sobha publishes unit sizes and prices but not payment plans or handover dates. The plans and dates shown here come from the main UAE portals and match Sobha's launch announcements, and we confirm both in writing with the developer before you reserve.
Who it suits
It is early. The community launched in January 2026 and first handovers are not expected until Q3 2029, so this is a long hold with the usual off plan construction risk. The upside is entry pricing on a masterplan Sobha will be marketing for the best part of a decade, and a product that holds value with end user buyers because of the landscape rather than the tower count.
How buying off plan in Dubai works
Every payment on a Dubai off plan purchase goes into the project's escrow account, registered with the Dubai Land Department under Law No. 8 of 2007, and the developer can only draw on it to build that project. Your purchase is recorded on the interim register, known as Oqood, before the building exists. The Dubai Land Department fee is 4% of the price, paid at booking. There is no local income tax on rent, but UK residents are taxed on worldwide income, so the rent goes on your Self Assessment return and any gain is subject to UK Capital Gains Tax. Our Dubai property investment guide covers the process, the costs and the mortgage position in full.
The market this launches into
Dubai prices softened after the regional conflict in March 2026. The ValuStrat Price Index was 4.5% lower in September 2026 than a year earlier, with apartments down 6.4%, although the monthly falls have slowed close to zero. Property Monitor puts the average gross yield on Dubai apartments at about 6.3%. For a buyer holding five years or more that means a better entry price than at any point since 2023; for anyone hoping to flip before handover it means real risk. Prices on this page are converted from UAE dirhams at 1 AED = £0.2058 and rounded, so the sterling figure moves with the exchange rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Sobha Sanctuary cost?
Apartments in The Woods Abode from about £214,000; four bedroom villas in The Willows from about £823,000.
When are the first handovers?
Q3 2029 for the first phases, with The Woods Abode estimated Q4 2029. Delivery is phased over several years.
What are the payment plans?
The Woods Abode 20/40/40; The Willows 10/50/40. Both plus the 4% DLD fee. We confirm each plan in writing with Sobha before you reserve.
Where is Sobha Sanctuary?
Off Al Ain Road in Dubai, south east of the city centre, in a parkland masterplan rather than a tower district.
Why Sobha?
It constructs and fits out its own buildings through an in house arm, which shows in handover quality.
Is the rent tax free for UK investors?
No local tax in the UAE, but UK residents pay UK tax on the rent through Self Assessment.
Get the Sobha Sanctuary pack
Request the masterplan, the Woods Abode and Willows price lists and our notes, or message the Dubai team on WhatsApp.
Sources: developer brochures and fact sheets as listed on the development page; Dubai Land Department, Dubai REST and Law No. 8 of 2007; ValuStrat Price Index, Dubai residential, September 2026; Property Monitor, Dubai apartment gross yields, August 2026. Prices converted at 1 AED = £0.2058 (6 October 2026). Verta acts as a marketing agent; values and income are not guaranteed. Take independent legal and tax advice.
