The Unexpected Al Marjan Island Hotel & Residences

The Unexpected Al Marjan Island Hotel & Residences is a fully furnished, fully managed beachfront hospitality development on Island 2 of Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah.

Developed by Almal Real Estate Development, the project combines a five-star hotel with a limited collection of managed residences under The Unexpected Hotels & Residences brand.

The development will be managed by Palladium Hotel Group, the Spanish hospitality company behind Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel and The Unexpected Ibiza Hotel. The project contains 422 hotel and residential units, including 319 hotel rooms and suites and 103 residences.

The Unexpected offers direct beach access, eight swimming pools, a beach club, rooftop dining, restaurants, wellness facilities, entertainment spaces and professionally managed hospitality services.

Current supplied inventory starts from approximately AED 3.04 million, around USD 827,000, for a fully furnished hotel unit. Managed residences currently start from approximately AED 3.19 million, around USD 867,000.

Prices and availability vary according to the unit category, floor, size and view. Buyers can request current AED and USD prices, available units, floor plans, payment schedules and reservation requirements.

The Unexpected Project Details

• Project: The Unexpected Al Marjan Island Hotel & Residences
• Developer: Almal Real Estate Development
• Brand: The Unexpected Hotels & Residences
• Hospitality operator: Palladium Hotel Group / Palladium Gestion
• Location: Island 2, Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah
• Property type: Fully managed hotel and residences
• Status: Off-plan and under construction
• Construction progress: Approximately 22% as reported on March 31
• Building configuration: Two basement levels, ground floor, eight floors and roof
• Total units: 422
• Hotel units: 319
• Residential units: 103
• Furnishing: Fully furnished
• Management: Mandatory hospitality management
• Payment plan: 20/60/20
• Post-handover payment plan: No separate post-handover plan
• Resale eligibility: After 40% payment, subject to developer approval and contractual terms
• Service fee: Reported as included, subject to the final operating agreement
• Beach access: Direct beach access
• Food and beverage: Yes
• Concierge services: Yes
• Expected completion: Q3 2027

Prices, availability, construction progress, completion dates, service inclusions, management terms and resale conditions should be confirmed against current developer documents before purchase.

Current Starting Price Guide

The supplied inventory dated 1 June 2026 indicates that The Unexpected currently starts from approximately AED 3.04 million, around USD 827,000, for a fully furnished hotel unit.

Managed residences currently start from approximately AED 3.19 million, around USD 867,000.

These are starting positions rather than prices for every category. Hotel rooms, suites and residences have different sizes, views and operating structures. Current prices may change as units are reserved, released or resold. Buyers should request live inventory before relying on an advertised starting price.

Current Availability

The Unexpected includes hotel rooms, junior suites, larger suites, VIP suites, studios, 1-bedroom residences and a small collection of 2-bedroom residences. Availability changes according to reservations, new releases and resale listings.

Buyers can request the latest inventory to confirm:

• Available hotel rooms and suites
• Available studios, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom residences
• Current AED and USD prices
• Floor plans and unit sizes
• Floor levels
• Sea, beach, island and Wynn-facing views
• Private pool options
• Furniture specifications
• Payment schedules
• Reservation requirements
• Amount already paid on resale units
• Remaining instalments
• Hotel-management information

The strongest unit will depend on the price, legal category, size, view, floor and intended use.

Hotel rooms, suites and residences should not be compared only by price. Each format may have different areas, owner-use conditions, income calculations and management obligations.

Hotel Rooms and Suites

The hotel component contains 319 fully furnished and managed units.

The official project information identifies:

• 235 standard hotel rooms
• 40 junior suites
• 41 suites
• 3 VIP suites

Indicative hotel-unit sizes include:

• Standard rooms from approximately 460 sq. ft.
• Junior suites from approximately 566 sq. ft.
• Suites from approximately 1,005 sq. ft.
• Selected premium formats from approximately 1,420 sq. ft.

Areas and configurations should be confirmed against the current floor plan and sales documents for the selected unit. Hotel-room and suite owners will participate in the mandatory hospitality-management structure.

Buyers should review the management agreement before reserving, particularly the income calculation, operating deductions, owner-use rules and furniture-replacement responsibilities.

The Unexpected Residences

The residential component contains 103 fully furnished, fully managed residences.

The residence collection includes:

• 40 studios
• 54 one-bedroom residences
• 9 two-bedroom residences

Indicative residential sizes include:

• Studios from approximately 522 sq. ft.
• One-bedroom residences from approximately 1,122 sq. ft.
• Two-bedroom residences from approximately 2,544 sq. ft.

The number of residences is considerably smaller than the hotel inventory.

Only nine 2-bedroom residences are referenced in the official project information, so buyers should request current availability rather than relying on the general project unit mix.

Before selecting a residence, compare:

• Internal area
• Balcony or terrace area
• Floor level
• View direction
• Bedroom configuration
• Furniture package
• Private pool rights
• Hotel-management terms
• Owner-use conditions
• Current purchase price
• Future payment obligations

The legal and operational differences between a hotel unit and residence should be understood before purchase.

Fully Furnished Hotel Units and Residences

All hotel rooms, suites and residences are planned to be delivered fully furnished.

Depending on the selected unit, the furniture package may include:

• Beds and seating
• Tables and storage
• Kitchen equipment
• Appliances
• Lighting
• Window treatments
• Decorative items
• Hospitality operating equipment
• Furniture, fixtures and equipment

The exact contents must be confirmed in the furniture, fixtures and equipment schedule attached to the purchase documents. Marketing renders should not be treated as confirmation that every displayed item is included.

Buyers should also confirm who is responsible for furniture maintenance, replacement and refurbishment after the property begins operating.

Fully Managed Hospitality Ownership

The Unexpected is a managed hotel and residence project rather than a standard residential apartment building. The management structure is mandatory.

Owners should not assume that they can:

• Independently operate a short-term rental
• Appoint a separate holiday-home manager
• Remove the unit from the hotel system
• Change the approved furniture package
• Occupy the unit without following the owner-use conditions

The hotel-management agreement should explain:

• Management responsibilities
• Rental-income calculations
• Operating expenses
• Management charges
• Marketing costs
• Furniture-replacement reserves
• Maintenance
• Insurance
• Reporting
• Income-payment timing
• Owner-use conditions
• Transfer obligations
• Agreement duration
• Exit restrictions

The Unexpected Hotels & Residences Brand

The Unexpected Hotels & Residences is a hospitality brand developed by Palladium Hotel Group.

The brand evolved from Palladium Hotel Group’s experience operating Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel and is positioned around entertainment, music, dining, contemporary design and personalized hospitality.

The Al Marjan Island project is planned as the brand’s UAE destination, combining hotel accommodation, managed residences, restaurants, beach facilities and entertainment.

The operating concept is more energetic and hospitality-led than a traditional residential development. It may suit buyers seeking a fully managed hotel product, but may be less suitable for buyers who want independent residential control or unrestricted personal use.

Palladium Hotel Group

The Unexpected Al Marjan Island Hotel & Residences will be managed by Palladium Hotel Group through Palladium Gestion under The Unexpected Hotels & Residences brand. Palladium Hotel Group is a Spanish hospitality company with more than 50 years of experience and an international portfolio of hotels and hospitality brands.

The property purchase contract is signed with Almal Real Estate Development. The operation of the unit is governed separately by the relevant hospitality-management documents.

Buyers should therefore review both:

• The sale and purchase agreement with Almal
• The hotel-management agreement governing the unit’s operation

The SPA establishes the property purchase, payment and completion obligations. The management agreement explains how the unit will be operated after handover.

Island 2 Location

The Unexpected is positioned on Island 2 of Al Marjan Island.

The project occupies a prominent location near the roundabout leading towards Wynn Al Marjan Island and is marketed for its position within the island’s growing hospitality and entertainment district.

Selected units may offer:

• Arabian Gulf views
• Direct sea views
• Beach and pool views
• Island views
• Wynn-facing views
• Dual sea and Wynn-facing outlooks

The project location does not guarantee the view from every unit.

Before paying a premium for a view, buyers should confirm:

• Exact unit number
• Unit category
• Floor level
• Balcony direction
• Immediate foreground
• Adjacent plots
• Future development
• Whether the view is direct or angled
• View wording in the reservation form and SPA

A brochure image or general masterplan should not be treated as contractual evidence of a permanently protected view.

Direct Beach Access

The Unexpected has direct beach access on Al Marjan Island.

The beachfront environment is planned to include:

• Beach club
• Outdoor terraces
• Swimming pools
• Cabanas
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Entertainment spaces
• Outdoor seating and loungers

Buyers should confirm:

• Beach-access rights for owners
• Guest-access rules
• Beach-club operating hours
• Reservation requirements
• Owner charges
• Guest charges
• Event restrictions
• Facilities included in the management structure

Direct beach access is one of the project’s strongest features, but operating rules may differ between hotel guests, residential owners and private visitors.

Eight Swimming Pools

The development is planned with eight swimming pools and a variety of outdoor areas.

Planned facilities include:

• The Unexpected pool area
• Infinity rooftop pool
• Rooftop pool decks
• Floating plunge pool
• VIP pools
• Private suite pools
• VIP viewing decks
• Cabanas
• Outdoor loungers
• Beach terraces
• Outdoor bars
• Landscaped gathering spaces

Access may differ according to the hotel or residence category. Buyers should verify whether a private or VIP pool is attached to a particular unit, available through reservation or restricted to hotel operations.

Dining and Entertainment

Food, beverage and entertainment are central to The Unexpected Hotels & Residences concept.

Planned facilities include:

• Beach club with outdoor terrace
• All-day dining
• Fine-dining restaurants
• Rooftop restaurant
• Rooftop bar terrace
• Lobby bar
• Oyster terrace
• Two-level outdoor bar
• Beach bar
• Outdoor lounges
• Entertainment spaces
• Event areas
• Meeting and conference facilities
• Fashion and lifestyle retail

Restaurant concepts, operating hours and final commercial partners may change before opening. Dining benefits should not be assumed to be included with ownership unless they are stated in the signed operating documents.

Spa, Wellness and Fitness

The planned wellness and fitness facilities include:

• Health club
• Fitness facilities
• Spa
• Wellness center
• Pool and relaxation areas
• Treatment facilities
• Rooftop wellness spaces

Some wellness services may require separate reservations or charges. Owners should confirm which facilities are included and which are separately operated.

Concierge and Hospitality Services

The Unexpected is designed around a professional hospitality experience rather than standard apartment ownership.

Planned services may include:

• Guest and resident assistance
• Concierge support
• Reservation assistance
• Dining bookings
• Guest communication
• Check-in and check-out
• Maintenance coordination
• Cleaning and housekeeping
• Event information
• Transport arrangements
• Unit-management support

The final services, operating hours and charges should be confirmed in the hotel-management and operating documents.

Hotel Management and Rental Income

The hotel rooms and residences are subject to mandatory hospitality management. No current fixed rental split has been supplied in the latest commercial information. Buyers should request the current hotel-management agreement rather than relying on an older advertised percentage.

The agreement should clarify:

• Whether units participate individually or in a rental pool
• How revenue is allocated
• Which expenses are deducted
• Management and marketing charges
• Maintenance costs
• Furniture replacement
• Insurance
• Utilities
• Reserve funds
• Owner-use deductions
• Reporting frequency
• Income-payment schedule

Rental income, occupancy, room rates and investment returns are not guaranteed.

Service Fee and Operating Costs

The latest commercial information describes the service fee as included.

Buyers should confirm whether this means:

• There is no separately invoiced residential service fee
• The fee forms part of the hotel-management structure
• Costs are deducted before net income is distributed
• Certain services remain separately chargeable
• The treatment differs between hotel and residential units

Additional costs may include:

• Hotel-management charges
• Marketing expenses
• Utilities
• Insurance
• Maintenance
• Furniture replacement
• Reserve contributions
• Owner stays
• Housekeeping
• Private services
• Registration fees

The complete cost structure should be obtained before calculating potential net rental income.

The Unexpected Payment Plan

The Unexpected follows a 20/60/20 payment plan.

Under the current structure:

• 20% is payable during the initial purchase stage
• 60% is payable during construction
• 20% is payable at handover
• No separate post-handover payment plan is stated

The exact instalment dates may differ according to the selected unit, reservation date or release.

Buyers should request the official payment schedule and prepare for the final 20% before the expected Q3 2027 completion.

The SPA should be checked for:

• Payment deadlines
• Construction-linked or date-linked instalments
• Late-payment charges
• Cancellation provisions
• Completion notice
• Handover requirements
• Permitted extensions
• Final account clearance

Resale After 40% Payment

Resale is expected to be permitted after 40% of the the property value has been paid.

Resale remains subject to:

• Almal’s approval
• NOC requirements
• Cleared instalments
• Assignment charges
• SPA conditions
• Buyer eligibility
• Hotel-management obligations

Before purchasing with a planned resale strategy, buyers should confirm:

• The precise transfer threshold
• Developer-consent requirements
• NOC and administration charges
• Whether future instalments transfer to the new buyer
• Whether the management agreement transfers automatically
• Any marketing restrictions

A contractual ability to transfer does not guarantee an available buyer or resale profit.

Construction Progress and Completion

Construction progress was reported at approximately 22% as of March 31 in the latest information supplied. The expected completion is Q3 2027.

Buyers should review:

• Current dated construction reports
• Contractual completion date
• Permitted grace period
• Force-majeure provisions
• Completion notices
• Inspection procedure
• Defect-liability period
• Final-payment requirements
• Remedies for delay

Marketing dates should not replace the contractual completion and handover wording in the selected SPA.

Freehold Ownership and Purchase Documents

Eligible UAE and international buyers should confirm the ownership structure stated for their selected hotel or residential unit.

The purchase process may include:

• Reservation or application form
• Reservation deposit
• Sale and purchase agreement
• Escrow payment
• Initial agreement for sale
• Registration charges
• Hotel-management agreement
• Furniture schedule
• Unit and view plan
• Subsequent payments

Before signing, buyers should verify:

• Legal purchaser name
• Unit category
• Unit number
• Internal and external area
• View direction
• Furniture specification
• Payment schedule
• Completion wording
• Hotel-management obligations
• Owner-use rights
• Income calculation
• Resale conditions
• Registration fees

Independent legal, financial and tax advice may be appropriate depending on the buyer’s country of residence and intended ownership structure.

What Buyers Should Compare

Before selecting a unit at The Unexpected, buyers should compare:

• Hotel unit or residence
• Current availability
• Current AED and USD price
• Unit size
• Floor-plan efficiency
• Floor level
• Sea, island or Wynn-facing view
• Private pool rights
• Payment timing
• Final 20% handover requirement
• Mandatory management terms
• Income calculation
• Operating deductions
• Owner-use conditions
• Service-fee treatment
• Furniture responsibilities
• Resale eligibility
• Completion wording

The lowest-priced unit may not provide the strongest overall position.

A larger residence, stronger view, more efficient layout or clearer operating structure may provide a better fit for the buyer’s intended use.

Request Current Prices, Availability and Floor Plans

Request the latest The Unexpected availability to receive:

• Current AED and USD prices
• Available hotel rooms and suites
• Available studios, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom residences
• Floor plans and unit sizes
• Floor and view options
• Private pool availability
• Furniture specifications
• Current 20/60/20 payment schedule
• Construction update
• Reservation requirements
• Hotel-management information

You can also request a free comparison report.

RAKcompare will compare The Unexpected with two relevant Al Marjan Island hotel or branded residences based on price, beach access, payment timing, management structure, views, operating costs, resale conditions and buyer fit.

Get Your Free Comparison Report

Not sure whether a hotel unit or managed residence is the better option?

Tell RAKcompare your budget, preferred unit type, intended use and view requirements. We will compare the available options at The Unexpected with two relevant managed hospitality projects on Al Marjan Island.

Disclaimer

RAKcompare provides project information for general comparison purposes and does not provide legal, financial, tax or investment advice. Prices, availability, payment plans, construction progress, completion dates, operating terms, service inclusions, rental calculations, furniture specifications, owner-use conditions, facilities, views and resale rules may change.

Confirm all information against the current reservation form, sale and purchase agreement, hotel-management agreement, furniture schedule, unit plan, developer documents and applicable Ras Al Khaimah registration requirements before committing funds.

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