Marbella Villas

Marbella Villas gives its smallest homes 180 sqm, plus a maid's room

A two-bedroom villa at Marbella Villas offers roughly 180 sqm of living space, close to 1,945 square feet. That figure marks the entry point of the range. The larger layouts go up to five bedrooms. RAK Properties is building this gated community on Hayat Island, one of the man-made islands that make up Mina Al Arab in Ras Al Khaimah, with handover set for March 2025. The masterplan in the brochure numbers around two hundred plots, split between standalone villas and townhouses. The project is sold freehold, a tenure now common across this part of the emirate.

Six layouts for the two-bedroom villa

The brochure sets out six two-bedroom floor plans, labelled A through F. The differences between them are small: internal area ranges from 177 to 181 sqm, and total area runs around 235 to 239 sqm once covered parking (roughly 35 sqm) and the roof terrace are added in. That terrace measures between 22 and 26 sqm depending on the type. The largest room on the floor plan measures 6.75 by 4 metres. What really sets these layouts apart is plot location and outdoor space, whether that's a balcony or a terrace facing the beach or the park. For a buyer, the decision comes down less to the interior layout than to orientation and position within the community.

A maid's room and a driver's room in every house

Every home includes both a maid's room and a driver's room, according to the brochure. That's unusual for a two-bedroom unit, where these spaces are typically dropped in favor of a home office or storage. Each plot also comes with a private garden, parking, and an enclosed, contemporary kitchen. Many of the homes have a roof terrace with sea or neighborhood park views. This project is built for households who live on site with staff, more than for investors chasing an easy-to-rent small unit.

Between the residents' club and the InterContinental

On the Hayat Island map, Marbella Villas sits in plot number 2. The Marbella Residence Club sits on one side, the neighborhood park and the InterContinental Mina Al Arab hotel (with its resort, spa, and restaurants) on the other. Bay Residences, Gateway II Residences, and a second hotel round out this part of the island. Residents therefore have two five-star properties within walking distance, along with their beaches and restaurants. Dubai International Airport is around 45 minutes away by car, a genuine draw for buyers who work or travel from the neighboring emirate.

Two heated pools, residents only

The residents' club is the development's main amenity. It includes two outdoor, temperature-controlled pools, which means swimming through summer without the water getting too warm. There are also separate gyms, a working café, loungers facing the water, terraces, and a children's play area. The rest of the list covers the usual gated-community features: a kids' pool, walking paths, landscaped grounds, and a spa. The promenades, shops, and public beach on Hayat Island remain accessible outside the gates.

Light-colored facades and roof terraces

RAK Properties describes the architecture as Mediterranean-inspired with Emirati touches. In practice, that means light-colored facades, stacked terraces, and large glazed openings. The developer hasn't named an architect in the documents reviewed. This design language lines up with other Mina Al Arab projects, such as Granada, where RAK Properties has already built townhouses in a similar style. For an investor, the appeal of Marbella Villas has less to do with its look than with its scarcity: standalone houses are hard to find on Hayat Island, which is mostly built up with towers.