DLRC District: The Dark Horse of the Dubai 2040 Master Plan

Dubai continues to claim to be a global hub for migration, economic growth and innovation. The current pace of development of the emirate is already putting pressure on the existing infrastructure, forcing urban planners to go beyond the historically popular areas, pushing Dubai to form new points of attraction on the map.

Among the new communities, the Dubai Land Residence Complex (DLRC) promises to become one of the key areas in the new polycentric model of the city. The Tranio analysis describes how the changes in the master plan will affect the investment landscape and the dynamics of the Dubai market.

The content of the article

1. From two centers to five — the evolution of a global hub
2. The connecting link of technological clusters and the polygon of global trends
3. Does demand choose DLRC

From two centers to five — the evolution of a global hub

Dubai 2040 relies on a polycentric model and the principle of a “20-minute city”, where key points — work, shops, parks, clinics — are accessible within a 20-minute radius on foot, by bike or public transport.

Previously, the two-main-center model created an imbalance, leaving peripheral areas disconnected from urban life. The five new hubs, evenly distributed across the emirate, not only form a network of interconnected centers, but also reduce travel time by reducing dependence on cars — this is an important step towards sustainability and improving the quality of life.

The Dubai Land Residence Complex is most organically integrated into the overall urban structure: DLRC and Dubai Silicon Oasis will become the final link in the emerging corridor of high-tech industries (STEAM industries in the text of the plan), stretching from the already established hubs — Dubai Internet City, Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai Media City.

The proximity to the Warsan district allows this ecosystem to gain access to the practical application of developments in the areas of technological agriculture — to strengthen the synergy between innovations and their implementation.

In the urban structure of Dubai 2025, there is an uneven distribution of population density, which creates the effect of separation of districts. Dubai 2040 proposes to change this imbalance by focusing residential and commercial areas around multifunctional centers. This approach will revitalize city streets, make them pedestrian-friendly, and make rational use of existing infrastructure.

The issue of mixed use of spaces also requires rethinking. Today, multifunctional projects are scattered throughout the city, which hinders the formation of a cohesive urban environment. The new plan focuses on active ground floors with commercial and public functions, as well as the development of green and social spaces. As a result, Dubai will become a more pedestrian-friendly city where work, leisure and daily activities are integrated into a single urban fabric.

Dubai’s high-density neighborhoods in 2040

Dubai 2040 sets itself the task of forming full-fledged urban communities where housing, work and services organically coexist within walking distance. This principle is implemented here at DLRC by increasing the density of buildings, as described above, and creating multifunctional spaces, opening up prospects for developers in the mixed-use segment of projects.

Special emphasis is placed on the development of “flexible mobility” and transport accessibility. The expansion of the blue metro line, planned for 2029, directly supports this concept: the master plan provides for two future stations at once in DLRC and Dubai Silicon Oasis, creating additional impulses for the growth and integration of the area into the citywide transport network.

In 2040, Dubai intends to become a “zero carbon footprint city”: reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency and use land efficiently in new developments. For developers, this means strengthening environmental standards: priority is given to “green” buildings with low energy consumption and integration of renewable energy sources.

Environmental policy is also coming to the fore: all unzoned territories will receive the status of “wild nature” with strict restrictions on development. Leisure and leisure spaces will double: the area of public parks and recreational areas will grow from 21.7 square meters. km in 2020 to 42.8 sq . m. km by 2040, including 13.6 sq. m. km of new city parks.

For DLRC, urban planners’ concern for the emirate’s ecology creates a double advantage: the area is protected from the desert by a green corridor and structured landscaping. In the context of sustainable development, DLRC stands out from other areas due to the centralized refrigeration system: unlike individual air conditioners or decentralized systems, where each building is equipped with its own cooling equipment, centralized refrigeration can significantly increase energy efficiency and reduce residents’ costs.

Does demand choose DLRC

By 2026, Wadi Al Safa 5 (formally named DLRC) will become Dubai’s fourth district in terms of housing starts, ahead of Downtown Dubai, Dubai Hills Estate and Arjan communities, with an expected 2,992 new units. In 2027, DLRC will strengthen its position, rising to third place with 3,793 units delivered, second only to JVC and Dubai South.

The rapid development of the area is supported by high demand for apartments. In 2024, the volume of initial transactions increased by 167% compared to 2023, reaching 4.4 thousand units. In 2025, the pace of sales in DLRC is breaking records: by the end of February, more than 1.5 thousand transactions with new buildings were recorded — 5.5 times more than in the same period last year (265 transactions).

At the current stage, the area attracts mainly speculative demand: the share of transactions in the secondary market in 2025 was only 9.4%, while by the end of 2024 it reached 11.7%. It is too early to talk about the full—fledged demand for own meters from end users – not a single mortgage transaction has been registered in the area.

In this case, the dynamics of settlements becomes a more indicative metric. Since 2018, the share of Wadi Al Safa 5 in the structure of end-user demand has doubled, indicating the gradual transformation of the area into a popular residential community.

New settlements in the Wadi Al Safa 5 area, a share of all

Data: DEWA

In 2024, the demand of citizens of Great Britain, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Canada’s housing prices in the DLRC, while the share of other nationalities in the area’s demography was declining. The final demand is becoming more diversified, and the area is beginning to attract more solvent expats than people from the source countries of labor migration.

Settlements in the Wadi Al Safa area 5 by nationality

Data: DEWA

The number of extended lease agreements in 2024 — 5,079 units — at the Arjan (5,072) and Business Bay (5,717) districts is also a sign of the sustained interest of end users of real estate in the DLRC area.

The dynamics of the F&B sector is becoming an indirect indicator of DLRC growth. If the district continues to strengthen its position as a residential and business hub, we can expect a further increase in the number of catering establishments, especially those aimed at advanced urban communities, from third—wave coffee shops to international chains and signature restaurants.

Heat map of Dubai’s F&B establishments in 2025

Download this study in PDF format
Источник