Karl Lagerfeld Beach Residences by Aark

Two plots combined, 300 metres of sand and a lobby chasing a Guinness record

Over 1,000 feet of waterfront, roughly 305 metres: that's the stretch of beach Aark Developers claims for Karl Lagerfeld Beach Residences, marketed as the longest on Al Marjan Island. The developer merged two adjoining plots to reach that figure, an unusual move on an artificial archipelago where most projects sit on narrow lots. The scheme totals 663 units, all oriented for unobstructed sea views according to the brochure. Fashion house Karl Lagerfeld supplies the licence and aesthetic direction, Japanese firm Nikken Sekkei handles the architecture, and studio The One Atelier is behind the interiors. Handover is pencilled in for June 2028, though the project is still at the expression of interest stage, with no official launch date yet.

Nikken Sekkei, the firm behind One Za'abeel, shapes the curves

The choice of architect carries weight. Nikken Sekkei is behind One Za'abeel in Dubai, with its horizontal cantilever suspended 100 metres up, as well as the renovation of the future Camp Nou in Barcelona and the Suzhou Center in China. For Ras Al Khaimah, the firm says it drew on the local landscape: rippling facades echoing waves and dunes, topped by a sculpted crown inspired by palm tree geometry. Living rooms feature floor to ceiling windows. It remains to be seen how well this design ambition survives cost decisions during construction, something off plan buyers would do well to track.

A 42 metre ceiling right from the entrance

The lobby is the boldest claim in the whole pitch. It rises 138 feet, about 42 metres, and Aark says it's aiming for the Guinness World Record for the tallest residential atrium anywhere. A large arch frames the sea along the entrance axis, acting as a visual anchor within that vertical space. Designers have filled it with sculpted marble volumes, linear architectural elements and cascading chain installations, with declared Art Deco references. This kind of shared space adds to service charges (air conditioning, upkeep, lighting), a cost buyers should factor in before signing.

From one bedroom units to sky villas, delivered furnished

The range spans one to four bedroom apartments, beach villas, loft villas and sky villas on the upper floors. Early figures put a one bedroom unit at roughly 81 sqm and a two bedroom at around 122 sqm, generous sizes by UAE market standards. Homes are handed over fully furnished, in a palette of mineral whites, sandy tones and pale stone. Travertine, textured plasterwork and fabrics chosen by The One Atelier make up the finishes, paired with sculptural furniture pieces. Pricing for larger unit types and villas has not been published yet.

An 80 metre pool and a rooftop Japanese garden

The developer lists more than 50 amenities, but three stand out. The main pool runs 80 metres, about one and a half times the length of an Olympic pool. Up top, a Japanese garden and a Sky Bar with an infinity pool sit on the roof. On the beach side, a Karl Lagerfeld branded beach club comes with water sports (jet skis, pedal boats, kayaks), setting the project apart from neighbours limited to swimming alone. The rest matches the island's usual upmarket standard: spa, a women only Pilates studio, an outdoor cinema, a cigar lounge with meeting rooms, an on call doctor, 24 hour concierge and valet parking.

Aark bets on a fashion house licence

Aark Developers was founded by Rahul Kumar Gupta, who claims over 25 years in business across India and the UAE. The company touts its record of on time delivery, but its portfolio remains smaller than established players on Al Marjan such as Emaar, Aldar or Ellington. This project is by far its most visible undertaking, and the Karl Lagerfeld name acts as leverage in a field already crowded with branded residences on the island. Proximity to Wynn, three minutes away, and a 20 minute drive to RAK airport round out the pitch. The target buyer looks like an international investor banking on high end short term rentals, riding the tourist influx expected around the casino.