Sharjah’s New 62-Villa Project: AED 220m Bet on Long-Term UAE Property Demand

A sizable bet on UAE property — why 62 villas in Sharjah matter now

Al Junaidi Real Estate has launched a residential project that speaks to a clear strategy: capture demand for family-size homes in Sharjah while offering long payment terms to broaden buyer access. The developer is building 62 villas in Al Raqeeba with a total investment of AED 220 million. For anyone watching the UAE real estate market, this project is worth attention because it mixes location, payment flexibility, and ownership options aimed at both regional and international buyers.

Quick facts you need up front

• Project name: Al Raqeeba (Al Junaidi Real Estate)
• Number of villas: 62
• Total investment: AED 220 million
• Villa built-up area (model 6890/1): 3,229 sq ft on a 5,099.61 sq ft plot
• Starting price per villa: AED 3,229,170
• Delivery target: 2028
• Ownership: freehold for Arab nationalities; 100-year usufruct for foreigners
• Registration: ownership transferred through Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department after full payment

These figures are the core data points every buyer, investor, or adviser will use when assessing affordability, financing needs, rental prospects, and resale timing.

Location and product: what the site offers buyers and investors

Al Raqeeba sits behind the Sharjah Grand Mosque and next to the Nasmah project. The development is close to Emirates Road, University City, and the Al Hoshi area, which places it in a part of the emirate that mixes residential and institutional uses.

Why that matters:

• Proximity to Emirates Road improves road connectivity across the Northern Emirates and to Dubai, which matters for commuting and tenant demand.
• Being near University City suggests a catchment of academic staff and family tenants for rental pools, though villas will mainly appeal to family households rather than student renters.
• The location behind the Grand Mosque gives the development a clear identity within Sharjah’s urban fabric, with religious, educational, and retail amenities nearby.

From a product standpoint the villas are pitched as modern, with high-quality finishes and a built-up area of around 3,229 sq ft on plots of roughly 5,099.61 sq ft. That translates into family-sized homes with private outdoor space — a product that has seen steady interest across the emirates since the pandemic.

Payment plan, purchase mechanics and legal structure

The payment plan is the headline feature for many buyers. It reads as a deliberate attempt to reduce the initial cash barrier and stretch payments across construction and beyond.

Key terms:

• Booking deposit: 10% of the property value at reservation
• Monthly installments: AED 7,500 per month from month 1 through month 21
• Construction-phase payment: 20% during construction (timing as per the developer schedule)
• 24th month payment: 30% due at month 24
• 36th month payment: 35% due at month 36
• Ownership transfer and registration: completed after 100% payment via the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department

What this means in practice:

• Lower upfront cost means more buyers can reserve with less cash; the AED 7,500 monthly figure is predictable for household budgeting but buyers must confirm whether this sum covers interest or is interest-free (the announcement does not specify finance costs).
• Full legal title transfers occur only after final settlement, so buyers should treat the payment schedule as a construction-linked retention of title, not immediate freehold on exchange.
• Foreign buyers receive a 100-year usufruct rather than freehold. Usufruct is a long-term right to use and benefit from the property but is not outright ownership of the land, which affects mortgage options, resale clarity, and inheritance planning.

Sharjah market context — numbers that explain the timing

Al Junaidi is launching this project against a backdrop of strong activity in Sharjah. In 2025 the emirate recorded a trading value of AED 65.6 billion, a 64.3% increase versus 2024. Transactions rose to 132,659 (up 26.3%), and the investor base expanded to buyers from 129 nationalities.

Our analysis: the developer is responding to a surge in demand and a widening investor base in Sharjah. That makes strategic sense: land prices at certain nodes remain lower than Dubai, while rental and sales demand for family housing grows as expatriate communities diversify and more nationals seek modern villas. Yet the surge in transaction value also raises two questions for investors:

• How much of the 2025 spike reflects short-term speculation versus longer-term demographic demand?
• Will higher trading volumes push secondary market prices up before the project completes in 2028, or will supply additions like Al Raqeeba cool price growth?

We are often skeptical when volumes accelerate sharply year-on-year; strong metrics can reflect both genuine demand and flurries tied to financing cycles or policy shifts. Still, the dataset argues that Sharjah is on more investors’ radars than before.

Who should consider these villas — and who should be cautious

These villas will attract a mix of buyers. Typical profiles include:

• Arab nationals seeking freehold ownership in Sharjah
• Families looking for 3,000+ sq ft homes with outdoor space in a connected part of the emirate
• Investors chasing capital appreciation by 2028 handover and rental income from family tenants
• Buyers who need a low initial deposit and can manage staged payments

Caveats and risks:

• Foreign buyers face a usufruct title rather than freehold; that limits some mortgage and resale dynamics.
• The payment plan is long; market conditions can change across the next three years. Buyers should run cash-flow scenarios for delays or interest rate shifts.
• The developer’s reputation and execution track record matter: construction quality, timing, and the ability to finish by 2028 will determine outcomes.
• Regulatory or macro shocks (credit tightening, regional instability) can affect demand and resale values between handover and later.

Investment math and exit strategies — how to think about returns

We will not invent yields for this specific product, but investors can assess returns using a few practical steps:

1. Estimate gross rental income for comparable villas in the area and annual vacancy assumptions.
2. Factor in service charges, maintenance, and management fees for a turnkey rental operation.
3. Use the developer’s payment schedule as part of an acquisition financing plan; spreading payments reduces immediate capital outlay and can improve cash-on-cash returns if rental income begins soon after handover.
4. Decide on a target hold period. With handover slated for 2028, typical short-term flip strategies compress into the 2028–2030 window; longer holds depend on Sharjah’s occupancy and price growth drivers.

For many buyers the attraction will be a combination of capital appreciation and secure tenancy. For investors the key metrics are net yield after costs and the expected capital growth by 2028.