Gateway Residence

Two low-rise buildings around an open-air patio, facing the golf course and the mangrove

Gateway Residence comprises 157 apartments spread across two identical buildings. Each one has two basement levels, a ground floor and eight habitable upper floors. In some sales materials the project also goes by the name Gateway Porto Al Zorah, a reference to the Porto Marina district along the creek. Al Zorah Development Company is scheduled to hand it over on 31 December 2026, on a freehold basis. What sets it apart from its neighbours has less to do with the views than with the layout: an internal courtyard lit by large skylights, and a mix of simplex and duplex units ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments.

A central courtyard under skylights

The architects point to a pared-back Mediterranean influence: linear volumes, simple geometry, minimal ornamentation. The most concrete expression of that approach is the internal courtyard that both separates and connects the two buildings. Large overhead skylights bring in daylight and support natural ventilation, which matters in a climate where air conditioning accounts for most of the energy bill. The courtyard also doubles as a play area and a gathering spot for residents. On the façades, the brochure shows floor-to-ceiling glazing in the three-bedroom units, and enclosed private patios in some of the two-bedroom layouts.

157 units, from studios to three-bedroom duplexes

The unit mix covers four typologies: studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Some units are simplex, others duplex, which is fairly unusual for a building of this height in Ajman. With 157 units across two buildings, density stays moderate, at around 78 homes per building. Studios and one-bedroom units clearly target the rental market, whether short-term or long-term. The three-bedroom duplexes are aimed more at families wanting something close to a townhouse feel without villa-level running costs. Exact unit sizes are not listed in the brochure reviewed and should be checked unit by unit.

A floating pool deck on the creek

The most distinctive amenity sits outside the building rather than inside it. The shared pool is built on a platform set over the creek's water, alongside a lawn and a children's play area. The project also includes gyms and multipurpose rooms, covered parking, and access to the cycling and walking paths that run through Al Zorah. Kayaking and diving can be done directly in the creek, close to the mangrove. These are everyday amenities that few north coast residences can offer without a paid club membership.

Nicklaus-designed golf, the Oberoi, and 100 hectares of mangrove

The surrounding environment is really the project's main asset. The 18-hole golf course (par 72, roughly 700,000 m²) was designed by Nicklaus Design and is operated by Troon. The 89-key Oberoi Beach Resort and the 61-key Zoya Health and Wellness Resort are both close by. The protected mangrove covers around 100 hectares and is home to nearly 200 bird species, including flamingos. The beach stretches for 1.6 km, and Al Zorah's total waterfront runs to 12 km. The developer also quotes a 25-minute drive to Dubai International Airport, a figure that depends heavily on E311 traffic.

Solidere International in the background

Al Zorah Development Company is a joint venture between the Ajman government and Solidere International, the international arm of the Lebanese group known for rebuilding downtown Beirut. That lineage shows in the attention paid to the masterplan: a claimed 60% of green space and a network of parks and cycling paths laid out before the buildings themselves. The developer is marketing other residences on the same site in parallel, including Creekside Residence and Sealine Residences, which creates internal competition worth watching at resale time. Ras Al Khaimah's upcoming Wynn casino is often cited as a driver of rental demand, but it sits more than an hour's drive away and its actual effect on Ajman remains unproven. For a buyer, the stronger case remains the rarity of a protected natural setting this close to Dubai.