Emaar Properties Developer of Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai

About Emaar Properties

Emaar Properties was founded in Dubai in 1997 by Mohamed Alabbar and was listed on the Dubai Financial Market in 2000. Over the following decades it grew into one of the largest real estate companies in the region, developing master-planned communities, shopping malls, hotels and leisure destinations.

Emaar is best known for Downtown Dubai, unveiled in 2003. The district is home to Burj Khalifa — the world's tallest building, opened in 2010 — as well as The Dubai Mall, which opened in 2008, and The Dubai Fountain, operating since 2009. Earlier, in 2003, Emaar launched Dubai Marina, a waterfront district built around a 3 km canal.

Today Emaar's residential development business in the UAE operates as Emaar Developments, also listed on the Dubai Financial Market. Its master communities include Dubai Hills Estate (about 2,700 acres, developed with Meraas), Dubai Creek Harbour (about 1,480 acres), Emaar Beachfront with around 1.5 km of beach, Arabian Ranches, Emaar South, The Valley and The Oasis.

According to the company, Emaar has delivered more than 125,600 homes in Dubai and other markets since 2002. In 2025 it reported record property sales of AED 80.4 billion and a revenue backlog of AED 155 billion. The group also runs a hospitality portfolio of 41 hotels and resorts, including the Address and Vida brands.