Where to live in Dubai
Guides to the parts of Dubai we know best, what homes cost there and what they rent for, and every area with off-plan property on sale now.
Area guides
Academic City
Danube villas and townhouses near Al Ain Road, due at the end of 2029.
One off-plan project.From AED 3.5M.
Al Barari
A green villa community 11.2 km from Downtown, with 7-bed villas from AED 40M.
One off-plan project.From AED 40M.
Al Furjan
Mid-rise flats, three Red Line stations within 2 km and UK schools close by.
24 off-plan projects.From AED 513K.
Al Jaddaf
New flats on Dubai Creek, on the Green Line and 5 km from the airport.
24 off-plan projects.From AED 700K.
Al Rowaiyah
Binghatti villas and townhouses up to 4,500 sq ft, east of Silicon Oasis.
One off-plan project.From AED 4.2M.
Al Satwa
Small new blocks of studios and 1-beds in old Satwa, 1.3 km from DIFC.
14 off-plan projects.From AED 875K.
Al Sufouh
Flats among the schools by Knowledge Village, with the tram and the Red Line close.
4 off-plan projects.From AED 1.8M.
Al Warsan
Studio-led blocks from about AED 450,000, in the district around International City.
5 off-plan projects.From AED 452K.
Al Wasl
Flats of 2 to 6 bedrooms from AED 8.1 million, by Safa Park and the Water Canal.
5 off-plan projects.From AED 8.1M.
Arabian Ranches 3
Emaar townhouses and Aldar flats in a Dubailand community still being built.
2 off-plan projects.From AED 1.7M.
Arjan
Flats from many developers by the Miracle Garden, with schools and a hospital close by.
20 off-plan projects.From AED 554.9K.
Bluewaters Island
Meraas flats on the island off JBR, with the beach over the footbridge.
One off-plan project.From AED 2.6M.
Bur Dubai
Old Dubai by the Creek, with five metro stations within about 2 km.
2 off-plan projects.From AED 1.1M.
Business Bay
Towers along the water next to Downtown, from studios to branded penthouses.
39 off-plan projects.From AED 823K.
City of Arabia
Studios and small flats from under AED 600,000, on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
4 off-plan projects.From AED 583K.
City Walk
Pedestrian streets of shops and restaurants, with Meraas flats above and around them.
5 off-plan projects.From AED 1.6M.
DAMAC Hills
Golf-course villas and lower-priced flats, next to Mudon and Arabian Ranches.
6 off-plan projects.From AED 1M.
DAMAC Hills 2
DAMAC-only 4-bed townhouses and 1- to 2-bed flats, a long way from the metro.
9 off-plan projects.From AED 547K.
DAMAC Lagoons
Mediterranean-themed DAMAC clusters, 2 km from Trump International golf.
6 off-plan projects.From AED 612K.
DAMAC Sun City
4- and 5-bed DAMAC townhouses in Dubailand, in an area still being built.
One off-plan project.From AED 2.3M.
DIFC
Live where you work, about 0.5 km from Financial Centre metro.
5 off-plan projects.From AED 1.5M.
Discovery Gardens
Older low-rise flats with high rental yields, and the Red Line 0.8 km away.
2 off-plan projects.From AED 600K.
Downtown Dubai
Branded towers around Burj Khalifa and the fountain, from about AED 1.3 million.
12 off-plan projects.From AED 1.3M.
Downtown Jebel Ali
Studio-led towers at the last stop on the Red Line, mostly by Azizi.
12 off-plan projects.From AED 505K.
Dubai Creek Harbour
Emaar towers where the creek ends, next to the Ras Al Khor flamingo reserve.
21 off-plan projects.From AED 1.2M.
Dubai Design District
Flats among design studios by the Dubai Creek extension, 2.5 km from Dubai Mall.
5 off-plan projects.From AED 1.9M.
Dubai Harbour
Branded towers on the sea between Dubai Marina and the Palm, around a harbour full of boats.
10 off-plan projects.From AED 2.4M.
Dubai Hills Estate
Emaar's golf-course community, with Dubai Hills Mall inside it.
25 off-plan projects.From AED 1M.
Dubai Industrial City
Studios from about AED 475,000 among factories and warehouses, with DLD yields near 9%.
10 off-plan projects.From AED 475K.
Dubai Internet City
Studios to 3-bed flats in an office district, with two tram stops close.
2 off-plan projects.From AED 1.3M.
Dubai Investment Park (DIP)
Off-plan studios from about AED 450,000, in a business park with rental yields near 9%.
7 off-plan projects.From AED 451.5K.
Dubai Islands
New flats on man-made islands off Deira, with a beach on the island.
86 off-plan projects.From AED 991K.
Dubai Land Residence Complex
Dozens of new apartment blocks next to Silicon Oasis, with studios from about AED 540,000.
46 off-plan projects.From AED 543K.
Dubai Marina
Towers on a canal, with the metro, tram and beach in walking reach.
11 off-plan projects.From AED 1.2M.
Dubai Maritime City
A port peninsula turning residential, between Mina Rashid and the dry docks.
22 off-plan projects.From AED 1.1M.
Dubai Production City
Starter studios by City Centre Me'aisem, with golf courses next door.
14 off-plan projects.From AED 547.4K.
Dubai Science Park
A tight cluster of new studio towers in Al Barsha South, ringed by schools.
11 off-plan projects.From AED 650K.
Dubai Silicon Oasis
A long-settled tech free zone, with new towers going up between the finished ones.
8 off-plan projects.From AED 645K.
Dubai South
A new town by Al Maktoum airport, with off-plan studios from about AED 460,000.
38 off-plan projects.From AED 460K.
Dubai Sports City
Studios and flats round a golf course and a cricket stadium, with yields of 8% to 9%.
13 off-plan projects.From AED 585K.
Dubai Studio City
Studios and small flats beside the film and TV studios, 8 km from the metro.
8 off-plan projects.From AED 517K.
Dubailand
New studios from about AED 450,000, and villa estates across a large district.
33 off-plan projects.From AED 450K.
Emaar South
Emaar townhouses, villas and flats round an 18-hole course, beside Al Maktoum airport.
15 off-plan projects.From AED 850K.
Expo City
Homes on the old Expo 2020 site, by Al Wasl Plaza and its own Red Line station.
9 off-plan projects.From AED 1.3M.
Falcon City of Wonders
Studios to 3-bed flats due in 2028, in a Dubailand community off Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
2 off-plan projects.From AED 864.5K.
Ghaf Woods
New Majid Al Futtaim flats near Global Village, due in 2029.
3 off-plan projects.From AED 1.2M.
Grand Polo Club and Resort
Emaar villas and townhouses in the south of Dubai, all due in 2029.
2 off-plan projects.From AED 3.5M.
International City
Studios from about AED 500,000 beside Dragon Mart, with gross yields near 9%.
14 off-plan projects.From AED 502.4K.
Jumeirah Garden City
One new building in old Satwa, with studios from 569 sq ft, 0.9 km from the metro.
One off-plan project.From AED 1.3M.
Jumeirah Golf Estates
Large villas around two golf courses, with the metro 3 km away.
3 off-plan projects.From AED 5.6M.
Jumeirah Islands
New flats beside the lake villas, near JLT and the Red Line.
3 off-plan projects.From AED 1.9M.
Jumeirah Lake Towers
Towers around lakes, a metro at the door, and Dubai Marina across the road.
13 off-plan projects.From AED 459.9K.
Jumeirah Park
Big family villas, three parks close by, and a car for the rest.
One off-plan project.From AED 8.9M.
Jumeirah Village Triangle
Studios and 1-beds beside villa districts, nearer the metro than JVC.
25 off-plan projects.From AED 495K.
Liwan
Flats and duplexes next to Dubai Silicon Oasis, with five schools within 2.7 km.
3 off-plan projects.From AED 852.8K.
Madinat Jumeirah Living
Meraas's Madinat Jumeirah Living flats, between the Burj Al Arab beach and Mall of the Emirates.
One off-plan project.From AED 3.7M.
Meydan City
Flats and big villas around the racecourse, 6.5 km from Downtown.
18 off-plan projects.From AED 800K.
Meydan Horizon
New flats near the Ras Al Khor wetland, between Sobha Hartland and Dubai Creek Harbour.
2 off-plan projects.From AED 1.6M.
Mirdif
A settled family suburb east of the airport, with parks and 18 schools within 5 km.
One off-plan project.From AED 1.7M.
Mohammed Bin Rashid City
Lagoon villas and new towers, about 6 km from Burj Khalifa.
24 off-plan projects.From AED 1M.
Motor City
New flats by the race track, with six schools and three golf clubs close by.
11 off-plan projects.From AED 692.8K.
Palm Jebel Ali
A second palm island, years from finished, with villas from AED 18 million.
6 off-plan projects.From AED 2.7M.
Palm Jumeirah
Villas on the fronds, flats on the trunk, and one road to the mainland.
18 off-plan projects.From AED 888K.
Ras Al Khor
New flats near the Ras Al Khor wetland, between Sobha Hartland and Dubai Creek Harbour.
4 off-plan projects.From AED 1.3M.
Rashid Yachts and Marina
Emaar's one-developer marina district at Mina Rashid, beside the QE2 and old Bur Dubai.
14 off-plan projects.From AED 1.3M.
Reportage Hills
Townhouses in Dubailand's golf belt, with two courses within 2.2 km.
One off-plan project.From AED 2.6M.
Sheikh Zayed Road
New towers either side of Downtown, from Al Safa to the Emirates Towers end.
7 off-plan projects.From AED 1.9M.
Sobha Hartland
Two schools and three parks within about 0.5 km, and Downtown 3.7 km away.
One off-plan project.From AED 6.7M.
Sobha Hartland 2
Sobha towers going up beside Ras Al Khor, 6 km from Burj Khalifa.
5 off-plan projects.From AED 1.5M.
The Acres
Large Meraas villas in Dubailand, with two British schools within 2.5 km.
One off-plan project.From AED 5.1M.
The Heights
Large Emaar villas due in 2030, a drive from everything.
3 off-plan projects.From AED 6.5M.
The Oasis
Emaar villas of four bedrooms and up, from AED 8.1 million. The first are due in 2027.
8 off-plan projects.From AED 8.1M.
The Valley
Emaar townhouses and villas on the Al Ain Road, 26 km from Downtown.
16 off-plan projects.From AED 1.6M.
The World Islands
Villas on a private island off the coast, with no road or bridge to the mainland.
One off-plan project.From AED 44.8M.
Tilal Al Ghaf
Villas and mansions round a lagoon, with schools and two golf clubs close by.
4 off-plan projects.From AED 6.7M.
Town Square
Flats around two parks off Al Qudra Road, every project by Nshama.
22 off-plan projects.From AED 630.9K.
Umm Suqeim
Meraas's Madinat Jumeirah Living flats, between the Burj Al Arab beach and Mall of the Emirates.
2 off-plan projects.From AED 1.9M.
Wasl Gate
New flats from about AED 550,000, 800 m from Energy metro station.
8 off-plan projects.From AED 550K.
Za'abeel
Two new towers near Zabeel Park, in a district of parks, palaces and hospitals.
2 off-plan projects.From AED 1.5M.
More areas
Other parts of Dubai with off-plan projects on sale now. We have no guide for these yet.