Who is Omniyat?
Omniyat is a Dubai-based developer of luxury residential, commercial and mixed-use buildings. It was founded in 2005 by Mahdi Amjad, who is Founder and Executive Chairman. Forbes Middle East lists Omniyat Group as headquartered in the UAE.
Omniyat builds individual design-led buildings rather than large master communities. Its website names Zaha Hadid, Foster + Partners, Gilles & Boissier, YODEZEEN and Vladimir Djurovic among the designers it works with, and Dorchester Collection as its hospitality partner.
For buyers, that means Omniyat launches sit at the top end of the market, often with hotel-style services. Service charges and brand or operator arrangements can make up a meaningful share of the running cost, so ask for estimates early and compare them with other luxury branded residences.
Notable completed projects
Forbes Middle East reports that Omniyat has eight completed landmark projects. Three of the best known are:
- The Opus, Business Bay: one of the final buildings designed by Dame Zaha Hadid, combining luxury residences, offices and the region's first ME by Meliá hotel.
- One at Palm Jumeirah: a residential building of 94 residences, completed in 2022, with Dorchester Collection as hospitality partner. See off-plan projects in Palm Jumeirah.
- The Lana, Dorchester Collection: a 30-storey building at Marasi Bay with a 225-room hotel that opened in early 2024. The building was designed by Foster + Partners with interiors by Gilles & Boissier.
Omniyat's website also lists commercial buildings including The Binary, One by Omniyat, Bayswater and Lumena. Seeing one of its completed buildings in person is a useful way to judge the finish and service level you are paying for. Compare other launches in Business Bay.
Current residential portfolio
Omniyat's website lists its residential portfolio as including Orla and Orla Infinity, Vela and Vela Viento, AVA at Palm Jumeirah, The Alba Residences and The Alba Resort Residences, Anwa and Anwa Aria, and The Sterling. Several of these, including Orla, Vela and The Alba Residences, carry the Dorchester Collection name. On the commercial side, Omniyat has appointed a main contractor for ENARA at Marasi Bay.
When comparing an Omniyat unit with other prime launches, look at:
- the completion date recorded with the DLD;
- the instalment schedule and the balance due at handover;
- service charges and what the hospitality partner provides;
- resale conditions if you might sell before completion.
See our pages on off-plan waterfront properties and penthouses for sale, and the Golden Visa guide if residency is part of your plan.
What to check before buying
Every Omniyat off-plan launch should be checked the same way as any other developer's project: confirm the registration, the escrow account and the payment terms before you pay. The Dubai Land Department's Project Status Enquiry (Mashrooi) tool, also in the Dubai REST app, lets you search a project by name or number and see the developer, the escrow bank, the registration date and the completion date.
- Escrow: under Law No. 8 of 2007, off-plan payments go into an escrow account opened in the project's name and used only to develop that project, and 5% of the total amount paid is retained in the account for one year after completion to cover defects (DLD FAQ). Pay instalments into that account, not to a third party.
- Oqood: the developer registers your off-plan purchase with the DLD through the Oqood portal, and you receive a provisional registration e-certificate by email (DLD Oqood service). See our Oqood guide.
- Contract terms: read the sale and purchase agreement for the instalment schedule, the anticipated completion date, any hospitality or residence-services agreement, the estimated service charges and the conditions for reselling before handover. For high-value purchases, have a UAE-qualified lawyer review the contract before you sign.
Our guide to judging a Dubai developer and escrow and RERA protection guide cover each step in more detail.
