Palma starts phase two of $1.36bn Serenia District

Dubai, UAE - Palma Development has started work on the second phase of Serenia District, its $1.36 billion (AED 5 billion) master-planned community at Jumeirah Islands in Dubai.

Phase II brings two towers, East Residence 2 and East Residence 3, which the Emirati developer describes as ultra-premium apartments. Palma said the buildings add high-end homes to Jumeirah Islands, which it called one of Dubai's most mature master communities and one built largely around villas.

East Residence 2 will rise 25 floors and offer two-, three- and four-bedroom units of between 1,316 sq ft and 5,364 sq ft.

Its 23-storey neighbour, East Residence 3, will hold one- and two-bedroom homes measuring from 875 sq ft to 1,605 sq ft, according to the company.

The start comes as construction moves ahead on West Residence, the scheme's first phase. Foundations there are finished, and main contractor Khansaheb Civil Engineering has begun the main structural works.

Khansaheb won the $207 million (AED 760 million) construction contract for the 46-storey tower in December 2025, Palma said in June, when it also appointed APCC Piling & Marine Contracting to carry out piling and shoring at Serenia District East. APCC had earlier been awarded the piling and shoring contract for West Residence.

Kareem Derbas, CEO of Palma Development, said: “Jumeirah Islands has long been an established, highly sought-after community, but premium apartment options here have remained exceptionally limited. With Serenia District, we are addressing that structural supply gap.”

He added: “By combining location scarcity, world-class architecture, and dedicated lifestyle infrastructure, the project promotes longevity and builds lasting capital value for the project’s homeowners.”

Japanese practice Nikken Sekkei drew up the concept design for Serenia District, with Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ), which Palma calls award-winning, acting as design architect.

The masterplan covers more than 600,000 sq ft of land and has a total built-up area of 3.5 million sq ft. Its six residential towers will be linked by shared amenities centred on a four-storey clubhouse and six wellness zones.

Derbas said the Serenia Signature Clubhouse would be the social and wellness hub of the community. Sports courts, swimming pools both indoors and outdoors, fitness suites, family recreation areas and relaxation zones are planned inside.

He said the project adds to Palma's record of delivering design-led masterplans that expand Dubai's urban footprint while protecting investors' capital.

With foundations complete on the first phase, site operations and piling are now under way on the second.