Best New Launches in Johor Bahru 2026 Near the RTS

With the RTS Link passenger service targeted for February 2027, new launch Johor Bahru 2026 searches have shifted from “is the train coming?” to “which new project should I buy near it?”. Developers have responded with a wave of launches in and around the city centre, from walkable towers at Bukit Chagar to drive-in townships a few kilometres away. This guide sorts the 2026 new launches near the RTS into walkable, short-drive and upcoming groups, with verified facts for each, so you can match a project to your budget, timeline and tenant plan. It features Causewayz Square, EXSIM’s flagship near the CIQ, alongside the strongest competing launches.

New launches in Johor Bahru 2026 near the RTS: the shortlist

Here is the shortlist at a glance. “Walkable” means a walking distance quoted by the developer or a major portal; “short drive” means the project is best reached by car or shuttle.

For a list focused on completed and freehold options right by the checkpoint, see our best freehold condos near JB CIQ guide. This article sticks to new launches you can buy from the developer or on assignment.

Walkable to the RTS: the city-centre new launches

If you want to walk to the train, the choice in 2026 is concentrated in Bukit Chagar and the Ibrahim International Business District around Jalan Tun Abdul Razak. These are the launches that put you on foot to the station.

1. Causewayz Square (EXSIM): the largest walkable new launch

Causewayz Square is the biggest new launch within walking distance of the RTS. It is a freehold serviced apartment development on about 7.7 acres on Jalan Lumba Kuda, Bukit Chagar, about 600 m from the CIQ and about 800 m from the Bukit Chagar RTS station.

• Four towers, 4,525 units: Axis (908 units), Brixton (1,257), Coven (833, not yet released) and Dover (1,527), rising up to 63 storeys.
• Layouts for commuters and families: studio, 474 sq ft 1-bedroom, 592 sq ft dual-key, 667 sq ft 2-bedroom and 850 sq ft 3-bedroom, including a 3-bedroom dual-key option. See the Causewayz Square floor plan guide.
• Resort-scale facilities: 29 facilities on the Level 12 podium, the Level 60 sky deck on Axis with the Wavescape Infinity Pool, and Level 57 sky gardens on Brixton and Dover. About 90,000 sq ft of retail sits in the podium.
• Construction under way: piling began on 2 September 2025 and the RM1.2 billion main contract was awarded in January 2026, with completion targeted around 2030.
• Access: the developer has proposed a pedestrian link towards the CIQ and RTS; it is a proposal and not yet built or confirmed.

Why it leads this list: it combines freehold title, walkability to both the CIQ and RTS, a choice of four towers and the dual-key format, which few other launches nearby offer. For pricing, WhatsApp us for the latest SPA price list; our Causewayz Square price guide explains how pricing varies by tower, floor and layout.

2. UOA serviced residence at IIBD: the next walkable launch

UOA Development has promoted an upcoming freehold serviced residence on a 1.21-acre parcel along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak in the Ibrahim International Business District, about a five-minute walk to the Bukit Chagar RTS station. Unit sizes of about 650 to 2,200 sq ft have been shown, which positions it towards larger layouts. Unit counts and completion dates have not been published, so treat it as one to watch rather than a confirmed 2026 purchase.

3. Gen Rise (Majestic Gen): a sold-out benchmark

Gen Rise is a 47-storey freehold serviced apartment tower with 732 units from about 497 to 1,930 sq ft. EdgeProp places it about 720 m from JB Sentral and about 760 m from the CIQ, with completion targeted for 2027. It was fully sold after its January 2025 launch, according to StarProperty. You can only buy on assignment or subsale now, but its fast take-up is a useful signal of demand for new homes within walking distance of the RTS.

A short drive from the RTS: Kebun Teh and the city fringe

A few kilometres from the station, new launches tend to offer larger unit sizes for the money and a quieter, more residential setting. These are not walkable to the RTS, so plan around driving or shuttle times.

4. The Asteriaz @ Kebun Teh (EXSIM)

The Asteriaz is EXSIM’s first Johor project: a single 40-plus-storey tower of 848 serviced apartments on Jalan Abad, Kebun Teh, next to KSL City Mall. Layouts are a 560 sq ft 1-bedroom with study and two 915 sq ft 3-bedroom options (B1 with balcony and B2). Facilities follow a space theme, including the Luna Pool, Galaxy Venue and the Level 43 Moon Deck. The CIQ is about a 10-minute drive (about 3.2 km), and a shuttle to the CIQ and RTS has been proposed. Completion is expected in 2029–2030. Read our complete guide to The Asteriaz and drive times from The Asteriaz to the CIQ and RTS.

5. The Celestz @ Kebun Teh (EXSIM)

The Celestz, often searched as “Celest” or “Asteriaz Phase 2”, adjoins The Asteriaz. It is a 44-storey tower with 735 units and 1,085 car park bays, including 20 EV bays. Its layouts include a 581 sq ft 1-bedroom with study, a 753 sq ft triple-key Type B with three rooms and three bathrooms, and 915 sq ft 3-bedroom units. The triple-key format is designed for owners who want to rent room by room; see how triple-key rental works at The Celestz. Completion is expected in 2029–2030, with a proposed shuttle to the CIQ and RTS.

6. M Grand Minori Phase 2 (Mah Sing)

Mah Sing plans to launch M Grand Minori Phase 2 in Taman Pelangi in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to The Edge. It is a mixed-use development with a retail podium and serviced apartments on a 5.99-acre site with an estimated GDV of RM1.5 billion, about 3 km from the Bukit Chagar RTS station. Mah Sing’s earlier M Minori in Taman Seri Austin offers residents shuttles to the CIQ and the RTS, a model buyers may look for here too.

Further out: waterfront and Larkin launches

Two larger freehold launches sit further from the station but are often compared with city-centre projects by Singapore buyers.

• Skypark Kepler (Tropicana with Banyan Group): a freehold branded residence on 3.97 acres within the Lido Waterfront Boulevard master plan, with 1,596 units in two 54-storey towers, layouts of 463 to 807 sq ft and completion scheduled for end-2029. EdgeProp places it within 10 km of the Causeway and the RTS.
• Adison West (WCT Land): a freehold project in Larkin with 1,024 units of 501 to 791 sq ft, about a 19-minute drive from the RTS station, with completion expected in April 2028.

These suit buyers who prioritise a waterfront or suburban setting and are comfortable driving to the checkpoint.

Coming next: the Bukit Chagar station development

The largest future project right at the station is the Sunway Group and MRT Corp mixed-use development on a 1.71-hectare site next to the Bukit Chagar RTS station. Announced in February 2025 with a GDV of about RM2.6 billion, it is planned to include serviced apartments, retail, a hotel, education and health facilities, and a multi-storey car park with 1,550 car spaces. The first car park phase was due by 30 November 2026, and the remaining components are expected by the first quarter of 2033. Residential launch details have not yet been released. Coronation Square, between Jalan Wong Ah Fook and Jalan Trus, has also flagged a further serviced apartment tower of about 500 units in its later phases.

The takeaway for 2026 buyers is that the city centre around the RTS will keep developing well into the 2030s, which tends to add amenities and footfall around the station over time.

How to choose a new launch near the RTS

Start with how you will use the unit, then filter by distance and timeline.

1. Daily Singapore commuter or commuter tenant: prioritise walkable launches such as Causewayz Square. A short walk to the RTS station, which offers a journey of about five minutes to Woodlands North, is the main draw for this tenant group. See RTS vs bus vs driving for the JB–Singapore commute.
2. Family own-stay with a car: short-drive launches like The Asteriaz and The Celestz offer 3-bedroom layouts near KSL City and established neighbourhoods.
3. Rental flexibility: dual-key units at Causewayz Square and triple-key units at The Celestz let you rent sections separately or live in one part and rent the rest.
4. Timeline: Gen Rise (2027) and Adison West (2028) complete earliest; Skypark Kepler (end-2029), The Asteriaz and The Celestz (2029–2030) and Causewayz Square (around 2030) follow.
5. Foreign buyers: Johor generally requires a RM1 million minimum price for foreigners, with state consent, and foreigner stamp duty is a flat 8% from 1 January 2026.

Before booking any new launch, read the SPA payment schedule, note the expected vacant possession date and budget for furnishing. Our step-by-step guide to buying a new launch in JB covers each stage, from booking to keys.

Why 2026 is a timing window for RTS-area new launches

New launches bought in 2026 are typically scheduled to complete between 2027 and 2030, which means owners would receive keys after the RTS Link has started running. Historically, homes near new rail links have tended to attract tenant interest once services begin, as commuting patterns settle around the station. That is a reason to look closely, not a promise: prices and rents depend on supply, the economy and each project’s execution. For the bigger picture, read how the RTS Link may affect JB property values.

If you want brochures, floor plans or the latest SPA price list for Causewayz Square, The Asteriaz or The Celestz, WhatsApp us and we will send what you need.

Sources

• The Edge Malaysia: Causewayz Square main contract
• The Edge Malaysia: UOA serviced residence at IIBD
• EdgeProp: Gen Rise
• The Edge Malaysia: Mah Sing expands Johor pipeline (Sep 2026)
• EdgeProp: Skypark Kepler branded waterfront living
• DollarsAndSense: New property launches near the JB CIQ
• The Vibes: Bukit Chagar RTS station RM2.6bn mixed-use development
• LTA newsroom: RTS Link service start (Oct 2026)

This guide is general information, not financial advice.