Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a leading global destination for real estate investment and mixed-use developments, with construction now underway on Water Gardens, a major new project in the heart of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Developed by H&H Development, the project represents an investment of AED 5.14 billion (approximately $1.4 billion) and reflects growing confidence in Dubai\u2019s property market and the demand for destinations that bring business, luxury living, and lifestyle experiences together.<\/p>\n
Water Gardens is set to become a significant addition to DIFC\u2019s real estate landscape. The development will combine Grade A office spaces, luxury residences, hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, and leisure facilities within an architectural setting designed around convenience, connectivity, and quality of life.<\/p>\n
Construction has begun with more than 30,000 workers involved, and the project is expected to be completed before the end of 2028. Once finished, it will contribute to DIFC\u2019s ongoing transformation into an international destination where business, hospitality, residential living, and cultural experiences come together.<\/p>\n
Water Gardens will consist of four main buildings, including two hotels, residential properties, and office facilities. The development is designed to meet the needs of investors, international businesses, and residents looking for a prestigious address in one of Dubai\u2019s most established business districts.<\/p>\n
The project comes at a time when DIFC is experiencing significant growth in both its business community and urban landscape. With the number of active registered companies surpassing 10,000, the financial district continues to attract demand for premium office accommodation, high-quality residential properties, and services that support its expanding community.<\/p>\n
What makes Water Gardens particularly significant is not simply the scale of its investment. Its location, architectural approach, and combination of different uses are intended to create an environment where business, shopping, hospitality, and everyday life are closely connected.<\/p>\n
Located in the heart of DIFC, Water Gardens will benefit from its position within a district that has developed into much more than a traditional financial center.<\/p>\n
Alongside international companies and major financial institutions, DIFC is now home to an extensive selection of restaurants, luxury hotels, art galleries, cultural attractions, and residential properties. Together, these destinations have created an active urban environment that remains lively well beyond regular business hours.<\/p>\n
Water Gardens has been planned to become part of this established setting rather than operate as a separate development.<\/p>\n
Its public spaces will sit above the surrounding street level, with stairway access from Al Sukook Street and Al Mustaqbal Street. At the lower level, the project will connect directly to Gate Avenue, providing easy access to restaurants and retail destinations specializing in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products.<\/p>\n
Pedestrian walkways will also link Water Gardens to other areas of DIFC. The overall master plan has been designed to complement the district\u2019s existing streets, pedestrian routes, and public spaces, allowing residents, office workers, and visitors to move conveniently between different destinations.<\/p>\n
The approach reflects DIFC\u2019s broader evolution into a connected urban community where workplaces, homes, shopping areas, and cultural attractions exist within the same environment.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the project, Saleh Al Aqrabi, Chief Executive Officer of Real Estate at DIFC Investments, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cWater Gardens represents a distinctive addition to DIFC and strengthens connectivity across its different areas, reflecting the diversity of experiences the district offers today. The project forms part of the final sections of the original master plan for The Gate district, further improving accessibility and connections between DIFC\u2019s various destinations. By bringing together offices, hospitality facilities, retail outlets, public spaces, and residential units, the project reflects the financial center\u2019s evolution into an integrated destination for business, culture, and modern living. It enriches the experience of the DIFC community and enables businesses, residents, and visitors to enjoy the best of what Dubai has to offer in one of its most prominent destinations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Office accommodation will be one of the main components of Water Gardens, with a 12-story commercial building designed for international companies and organizations seeking a high-quality working environment in a prestigious Dubai location.<\/p>\n
The office building will offer approximately 21,965 square meters of net leasable Grade A space, including three floors dedicated to smaller office suites and larger areas suitable for businesses with different space requirements.<\/p>\n
The building\u2019s architecture has been designed by internationally renowned architect Sir David Chipperfield, while the interiors have been created by designer Patricia Urquiola. Their work brings together elegant design, functionality, and attention to detail to create office environments that reflect the identity of the companies occupying them.<\/p>\n
The development also responds to changing expectations around modern workplaces. For many businesses, an office is no longer simply a place where employees carry out their daily responsibilities. It is also an expression of the company\u2019s identity, ambitions, and values.<\/p>\n
The quality of the workplace can influence how clients perceive a company, while also helping businesses attract and retain talented employees and provide a comfortable setting that supports their performance.<\/p>\n
Water Gardens aims to address these priorities through office spaces that combine privacy, a peaceful atmosphere, strong connectivity, and a prime location within DIFC.<\/p>\n
The office building is also targeting LEED Platinum certification, reflecting its focus on sustainability and modern environmental standards. A private members\u2019 club will provide an additional space for professional and social interaction.<\/p>\n
JLL has been appointed as the exclusive leasing partner for the office component, supporting the development\u2019s efforts to attract companies looking for premium business premises in DIFC.<\/p>\n
The residential component of Water Gardens has also attracted considerable investor interest, particularly in its luxury branded residences.<\/p>\n
Sales have reached 85% of the branded residential units, with prices exceeding AED 8,000 per square foot. The figures highlight the level of demand for high-end properties in prime locations across Dubai.<\/p>\n
Among the notable transactions are two Four Seasons-branded residences sold for AED 35 million and AED 45 million, respectively.<\/p>\n
These sales underline the interest in luxury residential properties associated with internationally recognized hospitality brands, particularly in locations offering convenient access to leading business districts and high-quality lifestyle amenities.<\/p>\n
Water Gardens will also include Eden House, a residential development comprising 132 apartments designated for investment rentals.<\/p>\n
This component will introduce additional residential options within DIFC, offering investors access to a market supported by demand for premium accommodation close to offices, restaurants, retail destinations, and hospitality services.<\/p>\n
The residential offering is closely aligned with the project\u2019s wider concept of integrated urban living, allowing residents to benefit from convenient access to workplaces and lifestyle facilities within a connected neighborhood.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Water Gardens launches construction in Dubai International Financial Centre with an AED 5.14 billion investment, bringing luxury residences, premium offices, hotels, and retail spaces by 2028.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16368,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[211],"tags":[224,235],"class_list":["post-16367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-happening-in-dubai","tag-dubai-investment","tag-real-estate"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uaehumanjourney.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uaehumanjourney.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uaehumanjourney.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uaehumanjourney.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uaehumanjourney.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16367"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uaehumanjourney.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16369,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uaehumanjourney.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16367\/revisions\/16369"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uaehumanjourney.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uaehumanjourney.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uaehumanjourney.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uaehumanjourney.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}