Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain sit in the middle, with towers all around them. You pay for the address: the cheapest project we list starts at about AED 1.3 million.
AED 3,839DLD median per sq ft for off-plan flats, against AED 2,685 for ready ones
1.4 kmfrom the area centre to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station, in a straight line
In 2027when half the projects we list are due, the latest in 2030
11 kmto DXB airport in a straight line
New flats here cost far more per sq ft than flats in the finished towers. In DLD records for the year to September 2026, off-plan flats sold at a median of about AED 3,800 per sq ft, against about AED 2,700 for ready ones. Many new projects carry a hotel or brand name, such as St. Regis, Baccarat, Fairmont and Mercedes-Benz. Emaar built Downtown, but most of the new towers we list are by other developers. Expect crowds at the fountain every evening.
The basics are on foot here. Souk Al Bahar, Burj Park and The Dubai Mall are all within about 700 metres of the area centre in a straight line. In summer, walk in the evening or through the mall.
Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard
Main street
Downtown's main street, with wide pavements past the towers. The obvious route for an early walk or run.
The Dubai Fountain
Evening shows
Shows on the lake at the foot of Burj Khalifa every evening, free to watch from the shore.
Burj Park
0.5 km
A lawn by the lake, right under Burj Khalifa, 0.5 km from the area centre in a straight line.
Business Bay creek front
0.8 km
The water's edge in neighbouring Business Bay, under a kilometre away in a straight line. For a longer walk.
Volta, image 2
Swim
There is no beach in Downtown. The nearest, Mercato Beach on the Jumeirah coast, is about 4 km away in a straight line.
Your building's pool
About half
About half of the projects we list mention a pool. It is not a given here, so check before you buy.
Mercato Beach
4 km
The nearest beach, on the Jumeirah coast, about 4 km away in a straight line.
La Mer
4.6 km
A beach front with places to eat along it, 4.6 km away in a straight line.
One Residence at Downtown Dubai, image 6Fairmont Residences Solara Tower, image 4
Eat
The two big places to eat are both within about 700 metres of the area centre: The Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar, on either side of the lake.
The Dubai Mall
0.7 km
Food courts, restaurants and a big supermarket. Your weekly shop and your night out in one place.
Souk Al Bahar
0.4 km
Restaurants with terraces on the lake, across the water from the mall.
Bay Avenue Mall
1.2 km
A mall in neighbouring Business Bay, 1.2 km away in a straight line, for when you want to avoid the Dubai Mall crowds.
Mercedes-Benz Places, image 4
A Saturday in Downtown Dubai
A weekend on foot, between the Boulevard and the lake.
7:00A walk along the Boulevard before the heat.
9:00Breakfast at a café on the Boulevard.
11:00The weekly shop at the supermarket in The Dubai Mall, 0.7 km from the area centre.
15:00A swim, if your tower is one of those with a pool. If not, Mercato Beach is about 4 km away.
19:00The fountain show from the shore by Burj Park.
20:30Dinner on a terrace at Souk Al Bahar.
What homes cost
Ready apartments sold most often here, at a median of AED 3,055,000 in the last 12 months.
The median is the middle price: half the homes sold for more, half for less. A sea view or a high floor can cost a lot more than the median.
Source: Dubai Land Department, sales in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026.
Ready apartments
Studio98 salesAED 1,213,000
1 bedroom640 salesAED 2,200,000
2 bedrooms712 salesAED 3,700,000
3 bedrooms254 salesAED 6,550,000
4 bedrooms43 salesAED 18,000,000
5 or more bedrooms10 salesNot enough sales for a median. A median needs at least 30 sales in 12 months.
Off-plan apartments
Studio394 salesAED 1,800,000
1 bedroom264 salesAED 3,274,000
2 bedrooms282 salesAED 4,770,000
3 bedrooms73 salesAED 14,051,000
4 bedrooms36 salesAED 28,322,000
5 or more bedrooms2 salesNot enough sales for a median. A median needs at least 30 sales in 12 months.
Ready apartments: median price in the 12 months to each dateReady apartments: the median price went from AED 2,800,000 in the 12 months to Dec 31, 2024 to AED 3,055,000 in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026.
Dec 31, 2024AED 2,800,000
Sep 30, 2026AED 3,055,000
Show as tableShow as chart
12 months to
Median price
Sales
Sep 30, 2026
AED 3,055,000
1,780 sales
Jun 30, 2026
AED 3,150,000
1,952 sales
Mar 31, 2026
AED 3,100,000
2,285 sales
Dec 31, 2025
AED 3,050,000
2,541 sales
Sep 30, 2025
AED 3,000,000
2,647 sales
Jun 30, 2025
AED 2,900,000
2,728 sales
Mar 31, 2025
AED 2,900,000
2,769 sales
Dec 31, 2024
AED 2,800,000
2,750 sales
Sales in 12 months
2,910
Off-plan: 1,056 sales, against 1,854 ready homes
36%
Ready apartments: median price
AED 3,055,000
Ready apartments: median price per sq ft
AED 2,685 per sq ft
Ready apartments: median price compared with a year earlier
Up 2%
Sales and rents from Dubai Land Department open data. DLD area: Burj Khalifa.
Rents and yields
The median yearly rent of new Ejari contracts, and the gross yield: a year's rent before costs, as a share of the median price of ready homes. We show a yield only where both have at least 30 contracts and sales.
Ready apartments
Bedrooms
Median rent a year
Contracts
Gross yield
Studio
AED 79,000
397
6.3%
1 bedroom
AED 122,000
2,356
5.5%
2 bedrooms
AED 195,000
2,132
5.2%
3 bedrooms
AED 310,000
639
5.2%
4 bedrooms
AED 1,500,000
63
9.2%
Rents from Ejari, Dubai's register of rent contracts, Apr 1, 2025 to Mar 31, 2026. Prices from Dubai Land Department.
What's near Downtown Dubai
Within 3 km of the middle of the area.
12schools
4metro and tram stops
10malls
17parks
4hospitals
Schools by curriculum
Curriculum not listed8
British2
Indian1
IB1
American1
Nearest
Metro or tramBurj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station1.4 km
It can work, at a price. Ten schools are within 3 km of the middle of the area, but none within 2 km. Four parks are within 1 km, including Burj Park by the lake. Family-size flats are the expensive end: DLD's median for an off-plan 3-bed was about AED 14 million in the year to September 2026, against about AED 6.6 million for a ready one.
Is there a metro in Downtown Dubai?
Yes. Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station on the Red Line is about 1.4 km from the area centre in a straight line, and Business Bay station about 1.7 km.
What will a 1-bed off-plan flat cost in Downtown Dubai?
In the projects we list, flats that start at one bedroom are priced from about AED 1.7 million to AED 3.6 million. Studios start at about AED 1.3 million. At the top, several projects start at AED 8 million or more, and Baccarat at AED 18 million. Prices were checked in November 2026 and change as units sell.
Should I buy off-plan or ready in Downtown?
Compare both. Downtown has many finished towers, and in the year to September 2026 DLD recorded more ready flat sales here than off-plan ones. A ready 1-bed sold at a median of about AED 2.2 million, an off-plan one at about AED 3.3 million. By DLD rents and sales, flats here earn gross yields of about 5% to 6%, highest for studios at 6.3%.
When will the new Downtown towers be finished?
Half of the towers we list are due in 2027, and the latest, Inaura, in 2030. Mercedes-Benz Places is due soon, in December 2026. The listed dates for St. Regis, Baccarat and Society House have already passed, so they may be out of date: ask the developer.
Areas for families, near the metro, on a budget and for rent, chosen with our data on schools, stations, prices and 991 projects. Each comes with its trade-off.
What service charges cover, who approves them, the median rate per square foot in 20 Land Department districts, and how to check the current figure for your building.
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