Casagrand Hermina breaks ground at Dubai Islands

Casagrand has begun construction of Casagrand Hermina at Dubai Islands, signalling the Chennai-headquartered developer’s formal entry into the emirate’s premium waterfront housing market and marking a strategic expansion beyond South Asia. The ground-breaking ceremony, held at the project site, brings Casagrand’s development playbook to one of Dubai’s most closely watched island clusters, where large-scale regeneration plans are reshaping the northern coastline.

Casagrand Hermina is positioned as a mid-rise residential community overlooking the Arabian Gulf, with the developer confirming a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, landscaped courtyards and a suite of lifestyle amenities aimed at owner-occupiers and long-term investors. The project sits within Dubai Islands, a master-planned destination being delivered in phases, with infrastructure, beaches, hospitality assets and marinas forming the backbone of the area’s transformation.

Company executives at the ceremony said construction activities have commenced following the completion of statutory approvals and site mobilisation. Casagrand has indicated a phased delivery schedule aligned with the wider island infrastructure rollout, with handovers planned after structural works, façade completion and interior fit-outs are sequentially executed. While pricing details have not been disclosed publicly, the developer has described Hermina as a “premium yet accessible” offering within the Dubai Islands spectrum.

The move underscores Casagrand’s ambition to tap into Dubai’s sustained demand for branded, amenity-rich housing, driven by population growth, steady inflows of global professionals and a regulatory framework that continues to attract overseas buyers. Dubai Islands has emerged as a focal point for developers seeking waterfront exposure without the ultra-luxury pricing associated with more mature coastal districts, allowing projects to target end-users alongside yield-oriented investors.

Industry analysts note that developers entering Dubai at this stage are increasingly emphasising execution certainty, construction quality and post-handover asset management, as buyers become more discerning after a cycle of rapid launches. Casagrand has sought to position itself on these parameters, highlighting its experience in delivering large residential communities across multiple cities and its emphasis on in-house construction management to control timelines and specifications.

Hermina’s design language, according to project briefs shared at the site, leans towards contemporary coastal architecture, with broad balconies, sea-facing living spaces and energy-efficient building systems. The amenity mix includes a clubhouse, fitness facilities, children’s play areas and pedestrian-friendly green zones, reflecting a wider market shift towards community-centric living rather than standalone towers.

Dubai Islands’ appeal lies not only in its shoreline setting but also in planned connectivity to the mainland, retail promenades and hospitality clusters that are expected to come online in stages. Developers active in the area are aligning their construction schedules with these public-realm elements to ensure liveability from the outset, a factor that has become critical for buyer confidence.

Casagrand’s entry adds to a growing list of international developers establishing a footprint in Dubai, attracted by transparent escrow mechanisms, comparatively swift approvals and a sales ecosystem that spans local and overseas markets. For Casagrand, the Dubai project is intended to be a platform rather than a one-off, with executives signalling that the company is evaluating additional plots across the emirate for future residential launches.