Dubai districts to buy in

Dubai Marina

Residential towers along a three-kilometre canal by the sea. Apartments of every size, JBR beach next door, metro and tram nearby.

Suits: City life by the water, with or without a car

Jumeirah Beach Residence

A beachfront row of 40 towers beside Dubai Marina. Sea-view apartments above a promenade and a public beach.

Suits: Beach lovers; holiday lettings

Bluewaters Island

An artificial island off JBR, home to Ain Dubai. A few residential buildings beside hotels and restaurants, with a footbridge to JBR.

Suits: Buyers who want an island address by the sea

Dubai Harbour

A new waterfront district between Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. Emaar Beachfront towers on a private beach and a yacht marina.

Suits: Sea-view apartments, off-plan or resale

Palm Jumeirah

Nakheel's palm-shaped island. Beachfront villas on the fronds, apartments and hotels on the trunk; among the city's highest prices.

Suits: A villa on the water or a sea-view apartment

Palm Jebel Ali

The second, larger palm near Jebel Ali, by Nakheel. Villas on the fronds, then apartments; for now off-plan and under construction.

Suits: Off-plan buyers with a long horizon

Dubai Islands

Five artificial islands off Deira. Beaches, hotels and the first apartment and villa projects, mostly off-plan; near the airport.

Suits: Early buyers; frequent flyers, work in Deira

Jumeirah Bay Island

A Meraas island off the Jumeirah coast with a private bridge. Bulgari residences, mansions and villa plots; very few homes.

Suits: Rare villas and plots for a private build

La Mer

A Meraas beachfront in Jumeirah 1, close to Downtown. Low-rise Mediterranean-style apartments around the Port de La Mer marina.

Suits: A beach address close to the centre

Pearl Jumeirah

A small Meraas island off Jumeirah 1. Plots for private villas that owners build to their own design.

Suits: Buyers building a villa to their own design

Jumeirah

The old coastal district: villas with gardens, long-standing schools, public beaches. Not freehold itself; listed for comparison.

Jumeirah 1–3 itself is not freehold: villas here can be bought only by UAE and GCC nationals. Foreigners buy in separate projects in and around it: City Walk, La Mer, Pearl Jumeirah, Jumeirah Bay.

Suits: For comparison: foreigners usually rent here

Downtown Dubai

The city centre around Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. Mostly apartment towers, the Boulevard of cafés and a metro station nearby.

Suits: City-centre living, short-term rentals

Business Bay

A district of towers along the Dubai Water Canal, just south of Downtown. Apartments, offices and hotels, with metro and a promenade.

Suits: Young professionals, a first investment near the centre

City Walk

A Meraas neighbourhood between Downtown and Jumeirah. Low- and mid-rise apartments above walkable streets of shops.

Suits: Couples and small families wanting a walkable centre

Dubai Design District

A design and fashion business district on Dubai Creek next to Downtown. Offices and showrooms; the first apartment towers are off-plan.

Suits: Off-plan buyers wanting quiet next to Downtown

Dubai Creek Harbour

A new district on Dubai Creek next to Ras Al Khor sanctuary. Apartment towers around a marina, a promenade and Downtown views.

Suits: Off-plan buyers, families who want views and calm

Al Jaddaf

A creekside district close to Downtown. New apartment buildings and two metro stations; entry is cheaper than the centre.

Suits: First investment, tenants working in the centre

Culture Village

A waterfront part of Al Jaddaf on Dubai Creek, near Downtown. Palazzo Versace residences and mid-rise buildings with creek views.

Suits: Water views and quiet near the centre

Dubai Healthcare City

A central healthcare free zone. Hospitals and clinics, with apartment buildings in phase 2 by Al Jaddaf and a metro station.

Suits: Medical staff, tenants who need the centre

Dubai Festival City

A self-contained Al-Futtaim community on Dubai Creek near the airport. Villas, townhouses and apartments, golf, a marina and schools.

Suits: Families: villas, golf, schools, airport nearby

Dubai Maritime City

A man-made peninsula by Mina Rashid, close to old Dubai. New residential towers, many with sea views; still under construction.

Suits: Off-plan sea views close to the centre

Mina Rashid

Dubai's old port by Bur Dubai, now a cruise terminal and marina. Low- and mid-rise Emaar apartments around the yacht marina.

Suits: A marina and quiet close to old Dubai

Meydan

The area around Meydan Racecourse, south-east of Downtown. Apartment complexes and villa and townhouse projects, close to the centre.

Suits: Mid-budget investment, tenants with a car

Sobha Hartland

A Sobha Realty community in MBR City, ten minutes from Downtown. Towers, villas and townhouses, greenery and two schools inside.

Suits: Families with school-age children

District One

A villa community in MBR City around a large crystal lagoon. Large villas, many on the water, with Downtown nearby.

Suits: Families: a large villa close to the centre

Dubai International Financial Centre

Dubai's financial free zone off Sheikh Zayed Road. Mostly offices plus a few residential towers, near two metro stations.

Suits: Finance professionals, couples without children

Jumeirah Lakes Towers

Around 80 towers around artificial lakes opposite Dubai Marina. Apartments and offices, cafés and two metro stations.

Suits: Professionals; a first investment near the Marina

Barsha Heights

A compact block of towers off Sheikh Zayed Road, formerly Tecom. Apartments and hotel apartments, with a metro station next door.

Suits: Letting to working tenants; living by the metro

The Greens & The Views

Two Emaar communities by Emirates Golf Club. Low-rise buildings around courtyards and ponds, towers along the course.

Suits: Couples and small families: green and quiet

Discovery Gardens

A large Nakheel community by Ibn Battuta Mall. Low-rise buildings among gardens, mostly studios and small flats, with its own metro.

Suits: Budget tenants; a first rental investment

Al Furjan

A Nakheel family suburb off Sheikh Zayed Road. Villas, townhouses and low-rise apartments, with its own metro station and schools.

Suits: Families: mid-budget villas, metro nearby

Jumeirah Village Circle

A large Nakheel community laid out in a circle. Low- and mid-rise apartments, villas and townhouses, with Circle Mall and schools.

Suits: First purchase, rental income, young professionals

Jumeirah Village Triangle

The smaller, quieter neighbour of JVC, by Nakheel. Mostly villas and townhouses in gated districts, with parks.

Suits: Families: a villa near JVC, quiet streets

Jebel Ali Village

A gated Nakheel villa community off Sheikh Zayed Road near Ibn Battuta Mall. Four- and five-bedroom villas on large plots, parks.

Suits: Families: a new villa close to Marina

Jumeirah Heights

A small gated Nakheel complex by the JLT lakes. Apartments, duplexes and a few townhouses in low-rise buildings with lake views.

Suits: Low-rise living next to JLT, lake views

Emirates Hills

A gated Emaar villa community around the Montgomerie golf course near Dubai Marina. Large plots: ready houses or land to build on.

Suits: Buyers who want land, privacy and a golf view

The Meadows

An established Emaar villa community in Emirates Living. Detached villas around lakes, with parks and good schools inside.

Suits: Families: a garden close to the Marina

The Springs

Emaar's townhouse community in Emirates Living. Townhouses around lakes with shared pools; the most accessible entry to the area.

Suits: Families looking for a first house with a garden

The Lakes

A small Emaar community between two golf courses. Villas and townhouses along waterways, with pools and tennis courts.

Suits: Families who want a quiet, settled neighbourhood

Jumeirah Islands

Nakheel villas on small man-made islands in a lake near JLT. Many houses have their own pool and water views.

Suits: Families: a house by the water near the Marina

Jumeirah Park

A Nakheel villa community behind JLT. Detached three- to five-bedroom villas on generous plots, with parks and a school.

Suits: Families: a newer villa with a big plot

Jumeirah Golf Estates

A gated golf community off Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road with two courses. Villas, townhouses, some apartments and a metro station.

Suits: Golfers and families: space and a metro station

Dubai Hills Estate

An Emaar master plan in MBR City around a golf course, a park and Dubai Hills Mall. Apartments, townhouses and villas, schools nearby.

Suits: Families with children: schools, park, golf

Tilal Al Ghaf

A Majid Al Futtaim community around a swimmable lagoon with beaches. Townhouses, villas and mansions, parks and a school.

Suits: Families who want a lagoon and beach at home

Arjan

A Dubailand community next to Dubai Miracle Garden. Mostly low- and mid-rise apartment buildings.

Suits: Affordable apartments, rental income

Dubai Sports City

A sports community around a cricket stadium and The Els Club golf course. Mostly mid-rise apartments, plus villas and townhouses.

Suits: Accessible apartments, golf and sport nearby

Motor City

A motorsport-themed community by the Dubai Autodrome. Low-rise apartments, villas and townhouses with greenery; quiet.

Suits: Families and pet owners: a calm, green suburb

Dubai Production City

A media free zone and freehold area, formerly IMPZ. Mostly mid-rise towers with studios to two-bedroom flats.

Suits: Budget apartments, rental income

Dubai Studio City

A free zone for film and music production on Al Qudra Road. Besides studios and offices, several mid-rise residential buildings.

Suits: Media professionals, quiet apartment living

Majan

A Dubailand district along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. Low- and mid-rise apartment buildings with moderate rents.

Suits: Off-plan and budget apartments for rent

Liwan

A Dubailand community next to Silicon Oasis and Academic City. Mostly mid-rise apartment complexes, plus a few villas.

Suits: Budget apartments near Silicon Oasis

Remraam

A gated Dubai Properties community in Dubailand. Apartments only, in low-rise buildings among parks, with a pool.

Suits: Quiet affordable apartments for families

Town Square

A gated Nshama community on Al Qudra Road around a central park. Townhouses and apartments at accessible prices.

Suits: Young families: first townhouse at an accessible price

Dubailand Residence Complex

A newer apartment district in Dubailand near Academic City and Silicon Oasis. Mid- and high-rise buildings, many still under way.

Suits: First investment, tenants with a car

Arabian Ranches

Emaar's established villa suburb on Al Qudra Road. Villas and townhouses, with a golf club and schools inside.

Suits: Families: a settled suburb with schools

Arabian Ranches 2

Emaar's follow-up to Arabian Ranches in Dubailand. Villas and townhouses in gated enclaves, with pools and parks.

Suits: Families: a newer house in an established area

Arabian Ranches 3

The third Ranches by Emaar in Dubailand. Mostly townhouses in gated clusters around a central park.

Suits: First family house, cheaper than the older Ranches

The Valley

An Emaar townhouse community on the Dubai–Al Ain Road. Three- and four-bedroom townhouses, parks and an urban beach.

Suits: First house purchase on a moderate budget

DAMAC Hills

DAMAC's community in Dubailand around the Trump International Golf Club. Villas, townhouses and low- to mid-rise apartments.

Suits: Golf-side living at a mid-range budget

DAMAC Hills 2

DAMAC's large community deep in Dubailand. Compact townhouses and villas with parks; among the cheapest houses in Dubai.

Suits: Lowest entry into a house with a garden

Al Barari

A low-density community off Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, mostly gardens and lakes. Large villas on big plots; very quiet.

Suits: Those who value privacy and greenery

Mudon

A gated Dubai Properties community in Dubailand. Mainly townhouses and villas, with a large park and a school.

Suits: Mid-budget families: a house and a park

Villanova

A Dubai Properties community in Dubailand near Emirates Road. Mediterranean-style townhouses and some villas at lower prices.

Suits: First house with a garden at a lower price

Serena

A Dubai Properties community near Al Qudra Road. Compact two- to four-bedroom townhouses and villas with pools; affordable.

Suits: Young families buying their first house

The Villa

A villa community in Dubailand near Arabian Ranches. Large four- to six-bedroom villas with parks and tennis courts; quiet.

Suits: Large families who want space and quiet

Mira & Mira Oasis

Two gated Emaar communities off Emirates Road. Mostly three- and four-bedroom townhouses with pools and parks; all complete.

Suits: Young families, first house instead of a flat

The Oasis

A large Emaar villa community in Dubailand. Four- to seven-bedroom villas and mansions around lagoons; off-plan.

Suits: Buyers of a large villa off-plan

Grand Polo Club & Resort

An Emaar villa project near Dubai Investments Park. Three- to five-bedroom villas around polo fields and stables; off-plan.

Suits: Families who ride; off-plan villa buyers

Dubai Silicon Oasis

A technology free zone and residential district in the east of the city. Mostly apartments, two villa communities, schools and parks.

Suits: Families on a budget, work in the east

International City

A large low-rise Nakheel district in the east, with clusters styled after countries. Mostly studios and one-bedroom flats.

Suits: Lowest entry price in Dubai, rental income

Dubai South

A new city in the far south around Al Maktoum airport. Apartments and townhouses, a golf course in Emaar South; much still being built.

Suits: Long-term buyers; families wanting space for less

Expo City Dubai

The former Expo 2020 site, now a district with parks and its own metro station. Low-rise apartment buildings and villa plots.

Suits: A calm, planned district with a metro

Dubai Investments Park

A mixed south-western district with industrial and residential zones. The green, low-rise Green Community, apartments and schools.

Suits: Families wanting green space for less; rentals