Vela Dorchester Collection

Thirty-eight homes in a 150-metre tower on Marasi Bay

Vela rises 150 metres over 30 floors, yet it holds just 38 residences. That works out to barely more than one home per floor, a ratio rarely seen in Business Bay, where neighbouring towers often pack in more than 300 units. Omniyat Properties is building the project on the waterfront at Marasi Bay, and day to day management will go to Dorchester Collection, the hotel group that owns The Dorchester in London and Plaza Athénée in Paris. Total floor area runs to roughly 25,350 sqm (272,860 sq ft). Ownership is freehold, with handover scheduled for September 2027.

Foster + Partners and Gilles & Boissier in charge

The architecture comes from Foster + Partners, the London firm behind Apple Park in California, the Millau Viaduct and the 30 St Mary Axe tower (known as the "Gherkin"). The name Vela comes from Latin and means "sail." The curved facade plays on that idea, turning the building directly toward the marina. Interiors are handled by the Paris based duo Gilles & Boissier, who previously worked on The Lana Residences and are known for the Mandarin Oriental Paris and the Hakkasan restaurant group. It's the same team behind Omniyat's two earlier Dorchester addresses, which gives the project design continuity and cuts down on execution risk.

Four unit types, from 395 to 2,136 sqm

The smallest home at Vela measures 395 sqm. The Marina Residences, on the lower floors, include 3 bedroom units from 395 to 591 sqm and 4 bedroom units of roughly 675 to 685 sqm. Higher up, the Sky Residences offer a 3 bedroom layout at 585 sqm and a 4 bedroom at 786 sqm. The 4 bedroom penthouses range from 1,026 to 1,089 sqm, some with a double height living room and a rooftop pool. At the very top sits the Sky Palace: 5 bedrooms spread over three levels, 2,136 sqm, two pools, a private gym and a majlis.

L shaped corner pools on every residence

The most distinctive detail of the layout concerns water. Every residence comes with an L shaped corner pool that wraps around two sides of the facade, and Omniyat says this setup exists nowhere else in Dubai. Terraces look out over Marasi Marina and the Burj Khalifa. The entrance sits beneath a quadruple height colonnade ringed by cascading pools, which the developer markets as the only waterside arrival point on the bay. Residents also get access to a marina berth, making it possible to head out to sea straight from the building.

Omniyat builds out its position on the bay

Vela joins The Lana, Dorchester Collection, the hotel and residences already operating on the same stretch of waterfront. Omniyat makes no secret of its goal: turning Marasi Bay into a high end residential destination run by a single developer. Together with Orla on Palm Jumeirah, this is the company's third project designed with Foster + Partners and managed by Dorchester Collection. That concentration builds an address effect that buyers can already gauge through The Lana, which is up and running. It also ties the project's fortunes closely to how well Omniyat's broader plan for the area plays out.

Five minutes from Burj Khalifa, twenty from Palm Jumeirah

Marasi Bay sits south of Business Bay, along an extension of the Dubai Water Canal. By car, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall are about five minutes away. The canal and Safa Park are ten minutes out. Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, Marina Mall and JBR beach are roughly twenty minutes away. Business Bay remains primarily an office district, but the Marasi waterfront runs at a slower pace, with its promenade and docks.

A buyer looking for a villa in the sky

With unit sizes starting at 395 sqm, Vela isn't aimed at first time investors or short term rentals. The buyer profile looks more like that of Emirates Hills or Palm Jumeirah villa owners: families who want four bedrooms, hotel style service and marina access without having to maintain a garden. On site amenities include a gym, a spa, a cinema, a kids' area, concierge service and 24 hour security. The small number of units limits resale liquidity, but it also limits competition among sellers within the same building.