Who is Ellington Properties?
Ellington Properties is a Dubai-based residential developer set up in 2014. Its website names three co-founders: Robert D. Booth, co-founder and managing director; Joseph Thomas, co-founder; and Elie Naaman, co-founder and CEO. The National has described Booth as the former chief executive of Emaar Properties' Dubai operations.
The company positions itself around architecture and interior design. Its website says it builds residences for buyers who appreciate design and describes its path as moving from design-led developer to lifestyle curator.
Ellington's buildings and villa collections sit within communities master-planned by other developers. In practice that means two layers to check: the building itself, which is Ellington's responsibility, and the surrounding community infrastructure, which belongs to the master developer.
The company's first development, reported by The National in 2016, was Belgravia, a four-storey residential building in Jumeirah Village Circle.
Where Ellington builds and notable projects
Ellington's projects are spread across many Dubai communities rather than concentrated in one master plan. The areas listed on its website include:
- Downtown Dubai and Business Bay
- Jumeirah Village Circle, Jumeirah Village Triangle and JLT
- Dubai Hills Estate and MBR City
- Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Hills and Jumeirah Islands
- Dubai Islands, Mina Rashid, La Mer, Al Jaddaf, Dubai South, Dubailand, Arjan and Dubai Silicon Oasis
Named projects featured on Ellington's website include DT1, Wilton Park Residences, Kensington Waters, Ellington Beach House, Ocean House, One River Point, Berkeley Place, Mercer House, and the Ellington Villa Collection on Palm Jumeirah and in Emirates Hills. Ellington also lists projects in Ras Al Khaimah. Because its buildings sit in so many different areas, compare each launch with the wider off-plan supply in that community before deciding.
What buyers look at in an Ellington launch
Because Ellington leads with design, buyers usually focus on layouts, finishes and the building's amenities, then on location and the payment schedule. The most useful habit is to get the design promises in writing.
- Finishes schedule: ask for the specification attached to the SPA, covering flooring, kitchen and bathroom fittings, and appliances.
- Community context: since Ellington builds inside other developers' master plans, check the status of roads, schools and retail around the plot.
- Payment schedule: instalments and handover amounts are set per project. Model them with our off-plan payment calculator.
- Completion: read the SPA clauses on the anticipated completion date and any permitted extension.
- Handover: book a snagging inspection before accepting keys; our snagging guide explains what to look for.
How to check an Ellington project's registration
Before paying a deposit on any Ellington launch, confirm three things: the project is registered with the Dubai Land Department (DLD), it has a dedicated escrow account, and your purchase will be recorded in the interim register through Oqood. These checks apply to every developer, however well known.
Under Law No. (8) of 2007, a developer must be entered in the Register of Real Estate Developers, must apply to open an escrow account before selling units off-plan, and needs written DLD authorisation before advertising off-plan sales. Buyer payments go into that project account.
Under Law No. (13) of 2008, an off-plan sale that is not entered in the Interim Property Register is void. The developer registers the sale on the DLD Oqood portal and a provisional registration e-certificate is issued by email.
- Ask for the project's DLD project number and the escrow bank and account details, and check that they match the sale and purchase agreement (SPA).
- Track construction progress on the DLD website or smart app by entering the plot number, project number or project name, as the DLD FAQ explains. The same FAQ states that a new project can be launched or announced only after all registration procedures are complete and an accreditation certificate has been obtained.
- Pay only into the escrow account named in the SPA.
Our guides on how to judge a Dubai developer and escrow and RERA protection walk through each step.
