The Woods Retreat, Sobha Sanctuary: Off-Plan Apartments by Sobha Realty
The Woods Retreat is a residential apartment development by Sobha Realty, sitting within the Sobha Sanctuary master community in Dubai. The project occupies a sub-area called The Woods within that master plan. Construction started in August 2026, with handover expected in December 2029.
Living in Sobha Sanctuary
Sobha Sanctuary sits in the eastern part of Dubai, close to the Ras Al Khor Road and Mohammed Bin Zayed Road interchange. Downtown Dubai is roughly 20 to 25 minutes by road under typical traffic. Dubai International Airport is in a similar range. Business Bay and DIFC connect via the same road network.
The Meydan racecourse sits adjacent to the broader area. The surrounding neighbourhood is still developing as the Sobha Sanctuary master plan fills in, which is typical for large communities at this stage. Residents moving in at handover in 2029 will be entering an area that will have had three more years to mature. For investors, the road network gives the project direct access to Business Bay and Downtown, two of Dubai's main commercial districts.
What AED 999K to AED 1.6M Covers
1-bedroom units start at AED 999,000 and cover 546 sq ft. 2-bedroom units start at AED 1,600,000 and range from 864 to 964 sq ft depending on layout.
The gap between configurations is AED 601,000, and the floor area increases by roughly 60 to 75 percent. A buyer at AED 999K is looking at a compact unit suited to a single occupant or a buy-to-let approach. At AED 1.6M, the unit works for a couple or small family needing a proper second bedroom.
The per-square-foot numbers sit close across both types. The 1-bedroom comes in at roughly AED 1,830 per sq ft. The 2-bedroom ranges from AED 1,660 to AED 1,850 per sq ft depending on layout. Stepping up from a 1-bedroom to a 2-bedroom does not carry a significant per-square-foot premium.
Amenities
| Category | Facilities |
|---|---|
| Fitness | Gymnasium, Indoor Swimming Pool |
| Outdoors | Landscaped Gardens |
| Dining | Restaurants |
| Family | Children's Play Area |
| Security | CCTV Security |
An indoor pool runs year-round, which is a practical advantage in Dubai's climate. On-site restaurants give residents a dining option within the development. The Children's Play Area, combined with the 2-bedroom unit options, points to a project targeting families and long-term residents rather than transient occupants.
Timeline: Handover December 2029
Construction started in August 2026. The expected handover is December 2029, roughly 3.5 years from now. Buyers entering today are at the earliest point in the build cycle, with the most off-plan duration ahead of them.
The window for price movement over that 3.5-year period cuts both ways. Off-plan buyers accept construction-period uncertainty in exchange for the price available today. The broader Sobha Sanctuary master community will continue building out over the same period, which shapes the neighbourhood a buyer enters at completion.
Getting In for 20%
| Stage | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Down payment | 20% |
| During construction | 40% |
| On handover | 40% |
The structure commits buyers to 20% at signing, with 40% during construction staged across roughly three years. The final 40% falls at handover in December 2029. There is no post-handover payment plan, which means the full purchase price settles at or before delivery. The 40% on handover lands as a single payment at completion.