Beyond Luxury: The UAE’s Branded-Residence Boom

The UAE has always been a land where service and story hold great value. It’s no surprise then that the world’s most prestigious brands have found home here. A recognised name stands for assurance, of standards, or taste and long-term investment. From hospitality legends to fashion, jewellery and design maisons, brand DNA has easily morphed into daily life here. And with the real estate boom, branded residences have become a natural next step. Below, a tour of standout projects shaping this category today; each distinct, all aligned with how the region lives, dreams and invests.

Mondrian Al Marjan Island Beach Residences (ELEVATE & Ennismore)

Ras Al Khaimah’s first-ever beachfront Mondrian residences arrive as a $500 million statement in artful living. A collaboration between ELEVATE and Ennismore, the development pairs hotel-grade service with private ownership, framed by panoramic Arabian Gulf views. San Francisco’s Gensler and London’s Bergman Design House set the tone with avant-garde interiors, bespoke detailing and smart layouts (penthouses feature wraparound glass walls and coastal-cosmopolitan palettes). More than 60,000 sq. ft. of amenities anchor the lifestyle: a 17,000 sq. ft. indoor–outdoor wellness zone with yoga and Pilates studios, treatment rooms and a recovery suite; a sky padel tennis court; an Adults-Only Infinity Sky Pool perched 200 feet above sea level; beachfront cabanas; immersive art installations; and an award-winning beach restaurant. Social spaces (including a Sky Lounge and gallery-style lobby) blend culture, design and entertainment, turning Mondrian Al Marjan into an experience as much as an address.

Jacob & Co Residences (Mantra Properties)

On Al Marjan Island, Mantra Properties teams with Jacob & Co for the jeweller’s first residential venture on the archipelago, an AED 400 million debut that fuses architectural finesse with haute-horology boldness. Residences are crafted as objets in their own right: expansive layouts, meticulous detailing and sweeping waterfront vistas underscore a lifestyle built around rarity. Beyond form, the project layers world-class amenities and a distinctly exclusive ethos, bringing Jacob & Co’s precision and drama into a new arena of branded living.

Palazzo Tissoli (Tissoli Luxury Developers & Pininfarina)

Pininfarina’s first architectural project in Ras Al Khaimah (valued at AED 1.2 billion) reads like a love letter to Italian design and the geometry of the Hajar Mountains. Fully furnished residences maximise Arabian Gulf views while balancing elegance, function and resort-style ease. True to Pininfarina’s 95-year legacy, the lines are pure and purposeful; the spaces, human-centred. Community takes equal precedence: curated amenities and gathering places encourage leisure, culture and connection—redefining what a design-led branded residence can be in the UAE.

ELLE Residences (ANAX Developments)

On Dubai Islands, ELLE’s global lifestyle ethos meets ANAX’s local know-how in a Q3 2027 launch that feels both cosmopolitan and personal. The collection: 91 apartments and seven townhouses, leans into sea views, expansive terraces and sculptural interiors inspired by ELLE’s pillars of fashion, beauty, culture, lifestyle and society. Expect to see bespoke wallpapers, bronze accents, soft layered lighting and statement fireplaces. Rooftop pools, wellness decks, landscaped gardens and curated social spaces dial up community; 24-hour concierge and valet ensure the service signature.

Arthouse Residences (Clédor & Arthouse NYC)

Culture is the organising principle at this AED 400 million collaboration, the first Arthouse-branded residential project outside the U.S. On Al Marjan Island, 201 studios, apartments and duplexes are complemented by an infinity pool, spa, indoor cinema, co-working zones, landscaped gardens and creative social spaces. The aesthetic channels Arthouse NYC’s modern sensibility with a refined edge, while the setting marries tranquil waterfront views with a community-minded cadence. The result: a lifestyle for the culturally attuned homeowner who values amenities as much as inspiration.

In the UAE, brands are shorthand for trust and for owners or investors, that often translates into differentiated product, cohesive amenities and strong long-term positioning. For residents, it’s an elevated standard of life, featuring wellness programs that actually get used, restaurants that feel like exotic getaways, and spaces that double as social and cultural hubs.

Across Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai especially, these new launches show the breadth of the category: hospitality-anchored retreats with immersive art and wellness; maisons translating fashion and jewellery codes into material palettes and layouts; design houses shaping silhouettes and community flow. Though there are different narratives, the idea is unified and rather evident - branded residences here to stay.