SKAI

SKAI bets on two contrasting tower heights and a chalet format along the canals

Twenty one storeys for the main tower, seven for its neighbour, podium included. SKAI, the project RAK Properties is launching on Raha Island, in the South Harbour district of Mina Al Arab, leans into that height gap rather than smoothing it over. The two buildings share a ground floor and podium, then split off: nineteen residential floors on one side, five on the other. The unit mix runs from studios to three bedroom penthouses, with an unusual addition in between for this market, the "1 BR Chalet". Handover is set for the second quarter of 2028.

Raha Island, on the canal side of South Harbour

Raha Island is one of the man made islands that make up Mina Al Arab, connected to the mainland and cut through by internal canals. SKAI sits right along these waterways, which gives the upper floors of the taller tower open views over the canals and the coastline. RAK Properties is also developing Armani Beach Residences on the same island, its 41 beach villas, which gives a sense of the positioning intended for this part of the district. Marketing materials mention Downtown Dubai as roughly twenty minutes away. That figure looks overly generous: via the E311, the drive is closer to an hour outside peak traffic. Closer by, Al Marjan Island and the Wynn resort construction site are about fifteen minutes away.

The chalet, the project's in-between format

The lineup includes five unit types. Studios range from roughly 380 to 580 square feet, a wide spread that separates a small pied-a-terre from a unit nearly the size of a one bedroom. The "1 BR Premium" units span 814 to almost 1,473 square feet, while the "1 BR Chalet" units sit in a tighter band, between 823 and 927 square feet, at a higher entry price than the Premium option. That premium points to a favoured location or outdoor access, likely in the lower tower or at podium level, something buyers will want to confirm on the floor plans. Two bedroom units range from 1,202 to 1,741 square feet, and every three bedroom penthouse exceeds 2,230 square feet.

Padel, yoga and barbecue space grouped in the SKAI Club

Amenities are consolidated in a space called the SKAI Club. It includes a padel court, an outdoor gym and a yoga pavilion set against a zen garden. The main pool is paired with a children's pool and a junior play area, a sign the developer isn't targeting buy to let investors alone. The broader amenity list also covers a cinema, a CrossFit zone, a spa, jogging tracks and ground floor retail. For a two tower project, one of them fairly modest in size, this is a dense amenity package, and service charges will be worth scrutinising closely.

Three payment plans, including a 60/40 post handover option

RAK Properties is offering three payment structures. The standard plan splits the price evenly between the construction period and handover. The so called advanced plan front-loads 70% of the price before handover, in exchange for terms that are in principle more favourable. The third plan, the most appealing for a buyer planning to rent the unit out, defers 40% of the price to after handover. That structure lets a buyer cover part of the balance with early rental income, on a freehold property.

RAK Properties, listed in Abu Dhabi and 35% government owned

Founded in 2005, RAK Properties is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. The government of Ras Al Khaimah holds a 35% stake, tying the company directly to the emirate's Vision 2030 strategy. At Mina Al Arab, the developer keeps launching new projects: Mirasol 2 in North Harbour, Nura on the central boulevard, Solera in the planned Downtown Mina district. SKAI stands apart from those projects through its island address and its low rise, five storey tower, which reads more like a residence than a high rise building. That said, having so much supply from the same developer concentrated in one district raises questions about competition at resale and for rentals by 2028.