Last checked on 6 November 2026.
The quick answer
Celeste is a new off plan project by Meraki Developers in Dubai South, with 284 apartments (studios, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom). Listings show a starting price of AED 683,000 and a 40/60 payment plan: 40% while the building goes up, and 60% when you get the keys.
The handover date is not settled. We found three different dates: Q4 2029, Q1 2030 and Q2 2030. Plan for 2030, and ask Meraki to confirm the date in writing. Meraki plans to unveil the project officially in November 2026, so prices and details may change.
What is Celeste?
Meraki Group says it is entering Dubai South with Celeste, a mixed use development focused on "considered design, intelligent living and everyday experiences." The founder and chairman, Ajay Rajendran, said Meraki wants Celeste among the area's top three residential projects (Gulf News). That is an ambition, not a result.
Here is what we know, and where each fact comes from.
| Fact | What we found | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Meraki Developers (Meraki Group) | TradeArabia |
| Location | Dubai South (also called Dubai World Central), near Al Maktoum Airport and Expo City | Prelaunch news |
| Homes | 284 apartments: studios, 1 and 2 bedrooms | Prelaunch news |
| Starting price | AED 683,000 | Property Finder and Binayah |
| Unit sizes | 418 to 908 sq ft | Binayah (a broker page) |
| Payment plan | 40/60 | Prelaunch news, Binayah |
| Handover | Q4 2029, Q1 2030 or Q2 2030 | Binayah, Prelaunch news, Property Finder |
| Launch | Official unveiling in November 2026 | Gulf News, TradeArabia |
Meraki had not published the price, unit mix or handover date in the press articles we read. Those details come from listing sites, so confirm them with the developer.
How much does Celeste cost?
The listed starting price is AED 683,000. Here is what that means in cash, using the 40/60 plan. These figures are our own sums on the starting price.
| Item | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Starting price | 683,000 |
| 40% during construction | 273,200 |
| 60% on handover | 409,800 |
| 4% government registration fee | 27,320 |
Two points matter here.
First, 60% is due at handover. That is a large payment. If you plan to use a mortgage, ask which banks lend on this project and how much they will fund, because off plan lending rules differ by bank.
Second, the studio size is not clear. One listing shows 418 sq ft as the smallest size but leaves the studio size blank. If the starter price is for a 418 sq ft unit, that works out to about AED 1,634 per sq ft. For comparison, the Dubai South average in January to August 2026 was AED 1,656 per sq ft (Anarock via Khaleej Times). So the starting price looks close to the area average, not far below it. Ask for the exact size of each unit before you compare.
Handover: three dates, one project
| Date | Where we saw it |
|---|---|
| Q4 2029 | Binayah |
| Q1 2030 | Prelaunch news, based on Property Time |
| Q2 2030 | Property Finder |
The gap is up to six months. This early in a project's life that is common, because dates are estimates. Still, you are paying for a home that will not exist for about three years. That is a long time, so the date, the penalty for late delivery and your right to cancel should be in your contract.
Who is Meraki?
Meraki describes itself as a UAE and Singapore based group with more than 25 years in development, construction and education, and more than 100 projects delivered in the UAE. It says its Dubai pipeline holds seven projects worth nearly USD 1 billion, with about 2,400 homes under construction (TradeArabia, Gulf News).
These numbers come from the developer. Here is the project list on Property Finder:
| Project | Area | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Celeste | Dubai South | Off plan, handover 2030 |
| The Haven Phase 3 | Majan | Off plan, Q3 2027 |
| Nirvana Residence | Dubai Production City | Off plan, Q4 2028 |
| The Haven Phase 2 | Majan | Sold out, Q4 2026 |
| The Haven | Majan | Sold out, ready |
Only The Haven is marked ready on that list. Meraki says Haven I reached a 73% snag free handover rate and that its one bedrooms rent for about AED 75,000 a year against an area average of AED 63,000, about 19% more. That claim is for a project in Majan, not Dubai South, and it comes from the developer. Don't treat it as proof of what Celeste will earn.
Is Celeste a good investment?
It depends on what you want. Here are the points for and against.
In its favour
- A starting price under AED 700,000 in a growing area.
- A payment plan that spreads 40% over construction.
- A developer with a ready project and others in the pipeline.
- Dubai South's pull: a major airport expansion and strong 2026 sales.
Against it
- A handover about three years away, and still unconfirmed.
- 60% due on handover, which strains your budget or your mortgage.
- Heavy supply. Anarock counts about 38,116 homes due in Dubai South between 2027 and 2029, with a peak in 2028. Celeste arrives later, but your resale or rental will still compete with a lot of new stock.
- The airport's first phase opens in 2032, after Celeste's handover. Read our guide to Al Maktoum Airport and Dubai South for what is confirmed and what is a forecast.
- Rental promises. One broker page lists a 7% to 9% yield and 12% to 15% growth with no source. Anarock's average gross yield across Dubai South in 2025 was 3.9%, before service charges and empty months.
Studios and 1 bedrooms dominate Dubai South sales, so small unit owners may face the most rental competition.
Mistakes and gaps we found in listings
You will see these when you shop around, so you can spot weak pages.
- "284 villas." One listing's FAQ says villas, but other pages say apartments. Celeste is an apartment project.
- Blank fields. The same listing leaves the unit total and the studio size blank.
- Unsourced returns. Yield and growth figures have no source.
- Urgency language. "Sold out soon" with no sign of how many homes are left.
- Reviews for other properties. Some listing pages show customer reviews about different homes.
- Mixed use. The press says mixed use, but listings show only apartments. Ask what shops or other spaces will be included.
Celeste vs Azizi Venice: how they compare
Both sit in Dubai South, but they are very different projects. Read our page on Azizi Properties in Dubai South for the other side.
| Meraki Celeste | Azizi Venice | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 284 apartments | Tens of thousands of homes planned |
| Stage | Launching in November 2026 | Under construction, some buildings 57% to 76% built |
| Handover | 2029 or 2030 | Targets from late 2026, with earlier dates already missed |
| Price | From AED 683,000 listed | Recent studio records from about AED 550,000 |
| Payment plan | 40/60 | Varies by building |
A small project can feel quieter and easier to manage. A giant master plan offers more facilities and more resale activity but more competition. Neither choice is safe by default.
Questions to ask Meraki before you book
- What are the exact unit sizes and prices for each unit type?
- What is the confirmed handover date, and what happens if it is late?
- Which plan applies to my unit, in writing?
- What is the service charge per sq ft?
- Do my payments go into a regulated escrow account? What is the project number?
- Which banks will finance this project?
- What spaces besides apartments will be built?
- Which part of Dubai South is it in, and how far is it from the nearest road and services?
Before you pay a deposit
- Check the project number on the Dubai Land Department.
- Read the sales and purchase agreement.
- Compare Celeste with two other Dubai South projects on price per sq ft.
- Visit the area at the time of day you would use it.
- Keep a record of every promise made in chat or by email.
Get the latest Celeste details
Tell us your budget and unit type. We will send the current price list and floor plans as soon as Meraki confirms them, and we will tell you plainly what is confirmed and what is not. Message us on WhatsApp or use the contact form on this site. We reply on WhatsApp within business hours. Prices and dates change. We never promise returns.
Final thoughts
Meraki Celeste is a new, small project in a busy part of Dubai South, with a clear starting price, a simple payment plan and a handover about three years away. The details may change at the November 2026 launch, so read the contract carefully, compare it with other Dubai South options and plan for the later handover date. Prelaunch.ae will update this page when Meraki publishes the official details.