Lyra at Ghaf Woods: Majid Al Futtaim’s New Apartments Explained

What was announced

On 12 November 2026, Majid Al Futtaim announced the launch of Lyra, a new residential building inside Ghaf Woods, its forest-themed community off Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road near Global Village. According to the developer’s official press release, Lyra adds 348 one- and two-bedroom apartments to the community.

That makes Lyra different from earlier Ghaf Woods releases. Majid Al Futtaim describes it as a “more accessible residential offering”, aimed at young professionals, couples, small families and first-time buyers. The developer also links the launch to the First-Time Home Buyer Programme run by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

Many buyers are now searching for “Lyra Ghaf Woods” to find out where it is, what it offers and whether it suits them. This article explains what the official sources say, how Lyra fits into the wider Ghaf Woods masterplan, how the First-Time Home Buyer Programme works, and what to check before you book. We only use facts published by Majid Al Futtaim, the Dubai Land Department and other official sources. We do not quote prices or payment plans, because Majid Al Futtaim did not publish them in its announcement.

Lyra at a glance

Here are the key facts from Majid Al Futtaim’s 12 November 2026 announcement:

• Developer: Majid Al Futtaim (through Majid Al Futtaim Properties)
• Community: Ghaf Woods, Dubai’s forest-living community
• Homes: 348 apartments
• Unit types: one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments
• Position: at the edge of the Ghaf Woods forest
• Building amenities: coworking spaces, residents’ lounges and communal areas, sky gardens and fitness facilities
• Wider plans: a planned Ghaf Woods Mall with shopping, dining and leisure
• Programme: Majid Al Futtaim is a participating developer in the DLD First-Time Home Buyer Programme
• Registration: via the official Ghaf Woods website (ghafwoods.com)

Ahmed El Shamy, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said the aim with Lyra is to introduce “a more accessible residential offering without compromising on the quality of design, amenities or experiences that define the destination.”

Why Lyra matters: smaller homes in a large green masterplan

Most new Dubai communities with a strong landscape story launch with villas, townhouses or large apartments. Lyra goes the other way. Its one- and two-bedroom homes are designed around efficient layouts, which usually means a lower entry point than larger units in the same community.

The building’s amenity list also says a lot about who it targets:

• Coworking spaces for people who work from home some or all of the week.
• Residents’ lounges and communal areas for meeting neighbours, which matters to single professionals and couples.
• Sky gardens that bring planting into the building itself.
• Fitness facilities within the development.

For investors, one- and two-bedroom apartments are among the most common rental unit types in Dubai, but demand depends on the final price, service charges, handover date and nearby competition. We do not publish rental yield or return estimates for Lyra.

Ghaf Woods: the masterplan behind Lyra

Lyra sits inside a much bigger plan. Majid Al Futtaim officially launched Ghaf Woods on 5 June 2024, after first presenting the concept at the MIPIM property event in Cannes earlier that year. The developer’s launch release gives the main figures:

• About 738,000 square metres of land off Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, near Global Village
• More than 7,000 homes in total, including one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses
• Release in eight phases between 2024 and 2031
• A forest of 35,000 trees suited to the local climate, including the native Ghaf tree, so that trees outnumber residents
• Home to more than 20 bird species
• 15 square metres of open space per resident, which the developer says is 40% above the World Health Organization benchmark of 10 square metres
• About 8 km of walking trails and a 3.5 km mountain bike loop
• Forest-edged pools for adults and children, fitness areas, family gardens and a wellness and yoga pavilion

Majid Al Futtaim also says the shade from the trees can make the community up to five degrees Celsius cooler than the city average, and that the forest can provide up to 20% cleaner air. These are developer statements based on its own design studies. The planned layout puts the furthest point of the community about a five-minute walk away, with neighbourhoods linked by tree-lined paths.

The official Ghaf Woods website now lists 11 clusters, with named neighbourhoods including Distrikt, Capria, Lacina, Serra and Cilia. Majid Al Futtaim announced in a release that Lacina, the second phase, had sold out, which shows how quickly earlier stages have been taken up. Lyra is the newest addition and the first to focus only on one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Where is Ghaf Woods?

Majid Al Futtaim places Ghaf Woods off Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311), near Global Village, in the Dubailand part of the city. That location has three practical benefits for residents:

1. Road access. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road is one of Dubai’s main highways, running towards Sharjah in one direction and towards Dubai South and Jebel Ali in the other.
2. Neighbouring communities. The area sits among established and growing Dubailand districts, with communities such as Al Barari and Arabian Ranches on the same side of the city, so schools, clinics and supermarkets are already within driving distance.
3. Leisure nearby. Global Village, one of Dubai’s biggest seasonal attractions, is a short drive away.

There is no Dubai Metro station inside Ghaf Woods today, so most residents will rely on cars, taxis and buses. Check the RTA’s public transport options for your daily route before you buy. Majid Al Futtaim has not published drive times for Lyra in its release, so ask the sales team for the official location map.

If you like the idea of greener, low-density living on the same side of the city, you can compare Ghaf Woods with our guides to Al Barari and Arabian Ranches.

The First-Time Home Buyer Programme: how it applies

Majid Al Futtaim’s release says it is a participating developer in the First-Time Home Buyer Programme, introduced by the Dubai Land Department and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Here is how DLD describes the programme on its official website.

Who can apply:

• UAE residents of any nationality
• Aged 18 or over
• Who do not currently own any freehold residential property in Dubai
• Looking for a property valued below AED 5 million (about USD 1.36 million at 1 USD = 3.6725 AED, approximate)

What DLD says eligible buyers can receive:

• Priority access to units in new launches from participating developers
• Preferential prices on off-plan units from select developers
• Flexible payment plans for off-plan units
• Interest-free instalments for DLD registration fees through eligible credit cards
• Better access to home finance through participating banks

How to apply: register on the DLD website or the Dubai REST app. If you are eligible, DLD emails you a First-Time Home Buyer QR code, which you show to participating developers and banks. DLD says there is no fee to apply, but normal registration fees and developer or bank charges still apply.

A few rules are worth knowing. DLD says the benefits can be used with only one participating developer and one participating bank. A joint purchase is only allowed if both buyers are eligible. Once you buy through the programme, you lose first-time buyer status, even if you later sell. Owning property in another emirate, or in a non-freehold area, does not by itself stop you from applying.

On the Ghaf Woods website, Majid Al Futtaim says eligible buyers can enjoy “up to 5% savings” on their first home, plus priority access to new launches, with terms and conditions applying. Ask the developer exactly which Lyra units, if any, the benefit covers before you rely on it.

DLD’s list of participating developers also includes Emaar, Nakheel, Meraas, Dubai Properties, DAMAC, Azizi, Danube, Ellington and Binghatti, among others, so first-time buyers can compare Lyra with other launches before choosing the one developer they use the benefit with.

How Lyra fits into the Dubai market right now

Lyra arrives during a busy few weeks for Dubai real estate. On 10 November 2026, The Executive Council of Dubai approved a DLD study on the future of the property market. According to the Government of Dubai, it shows residential occupancy at 97% and projects about 365,000 new residential units by 2030. We covered the study in our article on the Dubai real estate market study and the Metro link to Al Maktoum Airport.

The same week, Nakheel unveiled a large villa masterplan in southern Dubai, which we explained in Nakheel Palm Springs beside Palm Jebel Ali. Lyra is a very different product: a single apartment building inside a community that is already being built. Together, the two launches show how developers are covering both ends of the market, from family villas to entry-level apartments.

Large future supply is a reason to be selective: build quality, service charges, views, amenities and the developer’s delivery record matter more when many homes are delivered at once. If you would rather move in now than wait for an off-plan handover, read our look at Dubai ready homes in October 2026.

What to check before you book at Lyra

Every off-plan purchase needs care, whatever the developer. Before paying any booking amount:

1. Get the official price list and payment plan in writing. Prices and payment plans were not published in the official release. Third-party websites have quoted figures, but treat them as unconfirmed until you see them in the developer’s documents.
2. Confirm the expected completion date. The announcement does not give a handover date for Lyra. Ask for the date stated in the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) and any grace period.
3. Check DLD registration and the escrow account. Off-plan payments in Dubai go into a DLD-regulated escrow account. You can check the project’s registration and status on the Dubai REST app.
4. Ask about service charges. A large landscaped forest, pools and trails need upkeep. Ask for the estimated service charge per square foot and how it is calculated.
5. Check floor plans and orientation. Forest-facing units and units facing roads or other buildings can feel very different. Ask which stacks face the forest.
6. Confirm your First-Time Home Buyer status first. If you plan to use the programme, get your DLD QR code before you reserve, and confirm the benefit in writing.
7. Golden Visa questions. Some buyers ask about the UAE Golden Visa. Eligibility depends on the property value and the current rules of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Check with ICP directly; we make no promises on visas.

Who Lyra may suit

Based on the official information, Lyra looks most relevant to:

• First-time buyers living in the UAE who want a one- or two-bedroom home and qualify for the DLD programme.
• Couples and small families who want trees, trails and pools close to home rather than a city-centre tower.
• People who work from home, given the coworking spaces and lounges.
• Investors who want the most common rental unit types in a community with a distinctive identity, and who accept that returns are not guaranteed.

It may suit you less if you need a Metro station on your doorstep or want a large family home.

Looking at other Dubai options

If you are comparing communities, read our area guides to Motor City, Jumeirah Village Circle and Jumeirah Village Triangle, browse all properties, or talk to the Mina Prime Properties team about off-plan and ready homes that fit your budget.

Sources

• Majid Al Futtaim: Majid Al Futtaim Expands Ghaf Woods Residential Offering with Launch of Lyra (12 November 2026)
• Majid Al Futtaim: Ghaf Woods launch press release (5 June 2024)
• Ghaf Woods official website: ghafwoods.com
• Dubai Land Department: First Time Home Buyer Overview
• Government of Dubai: Executive Council meeting, 10 November 2026
• Roads and Transport Authority: rta.ae

This article is general information based on the official sources above, checked on 13 November 2026. It is not financial or legal advice. Prices, payment plans, availability and completion dates are set by the developer and can change. Verify all details with Majid Al Futtaim and the Dubai Land Department before you decide.