Developer · United Arab Emirates
Zaya: The Community Developer with a Soul
From Nurai Island to Lunaya, the brand founded by Nadia Zaal celebrates nature, rarity, and attention to detail
Some developers count their towers; Zaya counts its legends. A private island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, an iconic resort on The Palm, villas on The World, and the legacy of Al Barari in its founder’s DNA: Nadia Zaal’s company only launches a project when it has something to say. Her new chapter is called Lunaya, and we’re bringing it to you. A profile.
Zaya Living Real Estate Development: A Profile of the Developer
Zaya Living Real Estate Development is a niche real estate developer founded in 2008 by Nadia Zaal, co-founder of Al Barari, and Khalifa Bin Butti. The company has made a name for itself through rare and iconic projects rather than high volume: the private island of Nurai Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi (completed and operated), the Palm Jumeirah resort, originally launched as Viceroy and later rebranded as FIVE Palm Jumeirah; the Zaya Hameni residential tower in Jumeirah Village Circle; and the ultra-luxury villas on Zuha Island in The World—for a cumulative portfolio of over $6 billion in completed projects. Its signature: communities designed around nature, well-being, and meticulous attention to detail. Its current launch, Lunaya—developed with FIVE Holdings in Jebel Ali Village (500 villas surrounding a 900,000-square-foot lagoon)—is being marketed by us: prices and availability upon request.
by Nadia Zaal
delivered
The Legend of the House
available here
The Signature
Scarcity as a Strategy: The Anti-Volume Promoter
Zaya belongs to a rare category in the Emirates: the boutique developer that prefers a handful of exceptional projects to a large-scale development pipeline. Its founder, Nadia Zaal, has a track record that includes the creation of Al Barari, Dubai’s greenest community and one of the most highly valued on the market: a lesson she has since applied to every Zaya project: nature isn’t just landscaping—it is the product itself.
This philosophy of «communities with a soul» is evident in the results: nature-inspired designs, intentionally low densities, well-being integrated right from the master plan, and meticulous attention to detail—all of which explain the loyalty of its high-net-worth clientele. For an investor, the implication is clear: Zaya properties are in a league of their own—they cannot be compared to the mass market—and this is what protects their value over time.
The Territory
Zaya's Signature Experiences: From a Private Island to a Lagoon
The flagship launch, in partnership with FIVE Holdings: 500 villas, townhouses, and duplexes surrounding a 900,000-square-foot lagoon, starting at approximately 4.5 million AED, with delivery in 2029.
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The private island that made the company legendary: exceptional villas and an exclusive resort off the coast of Abu Dhabi, delivered and operated.
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Dubai's greenest community, co-founded by Nadia Zaal before the creation of Zaya: the foundation of the nature-inspired philosophy behind all of its signature products.
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Launched under the name Viceroy and having become one of the most popular resorts on The Palm: the project that cemented the partnership between Zaya and FIVE, which are now united under the Lunaya brand.
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The brand’s wellness portfolio at JVC: luxurious residences focused on harmony and attention to detail, true to the brand’s DNA.
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The most recent project prior to Lunaya: an ultra-luxury retreat on The World archipelago, reserved for a handful of exceptional villas.
Learn about the projectComplete Report
Units, Prices, and Floor Plans for Zaya Projects
Lunaya takes the lead: Request the project file for the project that interests you, and we'll send it to you along with the current official schedule and our honest assessment.
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Why include Zaya in a portfolio, and under what conditions?
The central argument revolves around category: in a market that delivers tens of thousands of standardized apartments, low-density designer communities are structurally rare, and Zaya is one of the very few credible developers in this space, as evidenced by its track record. Buying Zaya means buying a signature rarity: the type of asset whose appreciation trajectory has been demonstrated by the Al Barari project.
The trade-offs, to be frank: a boutique developer lacks both the pace and the depth of a giant’s pipeline—opportunities are rare, and the best units sell quickly. Exceptional projects also involve long and demanding development processes: for Lunaya, the 2029 completion date and the standard due diligence procedures (registration, escrow account, contract) apply as they do everywhere else, and this is our job before any presentation. Finally, this positioning comes at a price: you don’t buy Zaya to maximize immediate gross returns, but to own a top-tier asset.
We track other market indicators in the same way: check out our overview of the real estate developers in Dubai and our profile of’Omniyat, the market’s other major designer brand, positioned in the urban ultra-luxury segment.
Your Questions
FAQ: Zaya
Who is Zaya?
Zaya Living Real Estate Development is a niche real estate developer founded in 2008 by Nadia Zaal, co-founder of Al Barari, and Khalifa Bin Butti: a boutique firm known for rare and iconic projects centered on nature, well-being, and attention to detail, with more than $6 billion in completed projects to its credit.
What are Zaya's flagship projects?
The private island of Nurai Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi; the Palm Jumeirah resort, originally launched as Viceroy and now known as FIVE Palm Jumeirah; the Zaya Hameni Tower in Jumeirah Village Circle, the ultra-luxury villas on Zuha Island in The World, and now Lunaya, the lagoon community of 500 villas in Jebel Ali Village developed in partnership with FIVE Holdings.
What is the connection between Zaya and Al Barari?
Nadia Zaal, founder of Zaya, is the co-founder of Al Barari, Dubai’s greenest residential community: Al Barari is not a Zaya project, but its philosophical legacy permeates all of the company’s signature projects, with Lunaya at the forefront.
Is Zaya a reliable developer?
Its track record speaks for itself: projects as complex as a private island or a Palm resort have been delivered and are operating successfully, and Lunaya also draws on the execution capabilities of FIVE Holdings. As always, the standard due diligence procedures (DLD registration, escrow account, contract) remain the norm: this is our job before any presentation.
How do I buy a unit in a Zaya development?
The current development is Lunaya: 4- and 5-bedroom villas, townhouses, and duplexes starting at approximately 4.5 million AED, with a 40/60 payment plan, fully available to international buyers and eligible for the Golden Visa. Contact us for the official price list and current availability.
Communities with a Soul
Is a Zaya project part of your strategy?
Lunaya: The Next Chapter in Home Design—browse our real estate projects or write to us via the Contact Page : Response within 24 hours, free support.
Talk to an advisorInformation regarding the developer and its projects is derived from public communications by Zaya and its partners, as well as market data available as of the date of publication; images are for illustrative purposes only, and prices, timelines, and specifications are subject to change; only the developer’s contractual documents are binding. We act as a business introducer; all reservations are made directly with the developer or the authorized agency. This page does not constitute investment advice; all investments involve risks.