ATARA unveils 58-home Velora Residence on Dubai Islands

Dubai, UAE - ATARA Development has unveiled Velora Residence, a boutique scheme of 58 fully furnished one- and two-bedroom homes on Island A at Dubai Islands, placed between the waterfront and the boulevard.

The developer said the project pairs the pace of the city with its island surroundings, using clean architectural lines, interiors filled with daylight and natural materials.

Its design draws on four elements, water, air, light and wood. ATARA said these are meant to tie the buildings to nature and to balance each resident’s own wellbeing with the time families spend together.

The launch comes as Dubai Islands gains ground in the emirate’s property market. Dubai Land Department figures cited by ATARA show $5.1 billion of property sales on the islands across 5,035 transactions, with median residential prices up 17.7% on the 2025 median.

ATARA said that activity has drawn attention to the area’s appeal to residents and sets the scene for projects that want to stand out on more than their address. It described Velora Residence as a design-led take on living by the water, focused on how architecture, nature and the feeling of home relate to one another.

Nakheel, which ATARA lists as the master developer of Dubai Islands, has separately awarded a $258.68 million (AED 950 million) contract for 617 homes at Bay Grove Residences on the islands.

Velora is organised around “The Curated Pause”, a concept resting on water, air, light and wood. Under it, the architecture and natural setting form part of daily life instead of sitting behind it as scenery, and wellbeing is built into how residents live rather than offered as an extra.

The developer said the aim is a home that adapts as a household’s rhythm shifts, from quiet moments of solitude and reflection to the daily routines, conversations and shared time that bring families together.

In ATARA’s words, the project explores a more nuanced form of waterfront living, in which a home is valued as much for how it feels to live in as for its location.

The 58 apartments measure from 857 to 1,857 sq ft, with a mix of layouts aimed at single occupants and families alike. The building rises to ground plus eight floors, according to the developer’s project page, and its Island A plot combines a waterfront setting with links to the boulevard.

Inside, clean lines, bright rooms and natural materials set the tone, and the connection between indoor and outdoor space is central to the design, ATARA said. The scheme follows the company’s site-first approach, under which each home is shaped by the character of its plot.

Umid Bazarov, COO of ATARA Development, said: “We believe the next chapter of residential development will be defined not only by where people choose to live, but by how thoughtfully a home responds to the way they want to live.”

He added: “With Velora Residence, we chose a boutique scale deliberately. It allows for closer attention to detail, a stronger connection to the surrounding environment and a more personal residential experience. The design draws on water, air, light and wood, reflecting our view that a home should support both individual wellbeing and family life. Through ‘The Curated Pause’, we want to offer residents a balance between the pace of the city and everyday living, in a home that feels connected to Dubai while giving them space to enjoy it on their own terms.”

ATARA said buyers and developers are paying closer attention to Dubai Islands, and that the opportunity there now rests on more than its position on the water. The islands’ performance reflects their expanding role in Dubai’s housing market, it said, while buyers across the city are putting more weight on product quality, the strength of a location and the experience a development gives the people who live there.

According to the company, this gives developers room to set themselves apart through architectural identity and liveability. It said Velora Residence answers with a boutique approach that puts design, nature and daily life at the heart of its offer.

Based in Dubai, ATARA is a boutique developer with close to ten years in the UAE housing market, focused on waterfront homes in island locations. Its projects, at varying stages of development, sit at Pearl Jumeirah, Dubai Islands, La Mer South Island and Al Marjan Island.

The company works to a site-first approach, designing each home around its particular setting, and across its portfolio it combines architecture, interiors and surroundings to give each residence a clear sense of place. In January it broke ground on the GCC’s first Sheraton-branded residences.

Velora Residence is offered freehold, with prices starting from $490,000 (AED 1.8 million) and a 37/63 payment plan, according to the developer’s website.