Imagine spending more than $400,000 on a home bearing the name of one of Italy’s most celebrated carmakers, only to discover that you cannot actually drive your Maserati to your front door. That is the rather amusing reality of Maserati Island, an ambitious new residential development coming to Dubai’s World Islands, where getting home will involve stepping aboard a yacht rather than turning the ignition. Developed in partnership with Dubai-based Samana Developers, the project will occupy Spain Island, with Maserati attempting to translate its century-old automotive heritage into an entire residential lifestyle.
The recently unveiled Maserati Island will comprise 840 apartments, seven water villas, and two tree villas, bringing the total planned inventory to 849 homes. According to Gulf News, the first lot will include 232 residences, with prices starting at approximately $408,000, while the entire development carries a gross development value exceeding AED 4 billion (around $1.09 billion). The first homes are expected to be handed over in 2030, making this a fairly substantial commitment to enter a highly competitive market of real estate projects carrying the names of some of the most prominent luxury automotive brands.
An island named after six Maseratis
The 840 apartments will be spread across six low-rise buildings, each with five levels including the ground floor. Rather than giving them conventional property names, Maserati and Samana have chosen six names from the Italian manufacturer’s automotive history: Mistral, Ghibli, Bora, Levante, Grecale and Shamal. All six are named after winds, continuing a tradition that has given some of Maserati’s most recognisable cars their identities. The Ghibli building is particularly interesting because the original Ghibli made its debut at the Turin Motor Show in November 1966, almost exactly 60 years before the island’s unveiling. Henry Ford II was reportedly so impressed by the original grand tourer that he bought one and displayed it at Ford’s product development center in Detroit as an example for his team.
The first residential release will cover everything from studios to four-bedroom apartments, with Maserati announcing private pools and uninterrupted sea views as key features. Beyond the apartments, the development will include seven water villas and two tree villas, offering a more exclusive alternative for buyers who want something beyond a conventional luxury residence.
The overall architecture and interiors will be curated by Italian architect Carlo Colombo of A++ Studio, with leather, sculpted wood, expansive glazing and carefully considered proportions forming the design language. Maserati says the long sightlines and open layouts are intended to recreate the sensation of looking out across the landscape from behind the wheel of one of its grand tourers.
Furniture will also play an important role in establishing the connection with the automotive brand. The interiors and communal lounges will feature pieces from the Giorgetti Maserati Edition collection, which debuted during Milan Design Week in 2025 alongside a one-off electric Grecale Folgore. The collection includes the Nereide modular sofa, built around a solid ash platform, and the Ploto coffee table, which sits on wheels. Selected pieces will also be available for individual apartments, although the exact furnishing packages have not been disclosed.
Your Maserati won’t take you home
Perhaps the most entertaining contradiction of the entire project is that owning a Maserati will not necessarily make reaching your Maserati-branded home any easier. Spain Island has no road or bridge connecting it to mainland Dubai, which mean residents cannot simply drive their cars to their front doors. Instead, Samana plans to operate dedicated luxury yacht shuttles between the island and mainland, with departures scheduled every 30 minutes. The crossing time and mainland departure point have yet to be announced, but the intention is clearly to make the boat journey part of the experience rather than an inconvenience.
Once home, residents will have access to private beaches, a central lagoon, swimming pools, holistic spas, indoor and outdoor fitness facilities, a water-sports marina and a signature floating Italian restaurant. Executive co-working lounges, curated retail and concierge services are also planned, making the development suitable for people who intend to live there throughout the year rather than simply visit during holidays. Buyers will additionally receive membership in the existing Maserati Owners Club UAE, whose activities have included driving experiences and track days at Dubai Autodrome. The specific benefits attached to island residents’ memberships have not yet been revealed.
The project is part of Maserati’s wider Casa Maserati strategy to take the brand beyond automobiles and into other luxury experiences. Maserati and Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili described the development as an important step in that journey, while Chief Marketing Officer Cristiano Fiorio spoke about bringing the marque’s identity from the road into the living space. For Samana Developers, the project represents a major move into ultra-premium branded residences through its Samana Collecta division. With handovers expected to begin in 2030, Maserati Island is effectively selling the dream of owning a piece of Italian automotive luxury, even if the final journey home requires a boat rather than a Maserati.
