The independent Dubai area guide
Dubai, district by district
Where to live, rent, buy and spend your weekends: 65 districts and communities on one map, compared with sourced rents, prices and yields.
- 65 districts
- 7 zones
- September 2026 rents & prices
Interactive map
Find your district
Filter by lifestyle, set your rent budget, then tap a district. Rents are average asking rents for a one-bedroom apartment (a three-bedroom villa where there are no flats), September 2026.
Lifestyle
Rent budget
One-bedroom rent per year (villa rent for villa-only districts).
Zones
65 districts match
Pins mark each district’s centre point. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Not sure where to live? Find my district
Answer a few questions about your household, budget, work and lifestyle: we rank all the districts and show your top 5 with rents and commute.
- Who is moving
- Rent or buy
- Home size
- Budget
- Where you work
- Car or metro
- Priorities
Seven zones
How Dubai is laid out
From the creek where the city began to the airport city in the south, each zone has its own rhythm, housing and price level.
New Dubai coast 14
Marina towers, Palm villas, beaches and the golf estates behind them.
Downtown & central 15
The business core along Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah’s villa streets and the new green districts.
Old Dubai 4
The creek, the souks and the city’s oldest neighbourhoods: rent-led, walkable, full of life.
East & Deira side 10
Family suburbs, value rents and the new islands off Deira.
Dubailand 12
Villa and townhouse communities, parks and lagoons between the two ring roads.
South-west 7
Jebel Ali, Al Furjan and the new Palm: space, value and the Blue Line to come.
Dubai South 3
The airport city around Al Maktoum International: new homes, lower rents, long-term bet.
Most searched
Popular districts
Dubai Marina
high-rise canal-side waterfront
Downtown Dubai
tower district around Burj Khalifa
Palm Jumeirah
island resort living, villas and towers
Business Bay
canal-side high-rise business district
Dubai Hills Estate
green golf-course master community
Jumeirah Village Circle
mid-rise suburban apartment hub
Dubai Creek Harbour
new waterfront towers by wetlands
DAMAC Hills
gated golf community, mixed homes
Arabian Ranches
established gated golf-villa suburb
Dubai South
airport-city suburb, low-to-mid rise
Al Barsha
central mixed low-rise neighbourhood
Town Square
low-rise family townhouse community
Rent or buy?
The numbers, district by district
Renters look at the monthly outlay, buyers at price per square foot and gross yield. Here are two quick cuts; the full table covers every district.
| International City | AED 49,000 |
| Al Nahda & Al Qusais | AED 52,000 |
| Al Warqa | AED 55,000 |
| DAMAC Hills 2 | AED 58,000 |
| Dubai South | AED 61,000 |
| Emaar South | AED 62,000 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | AED 64,000 |
| Dubai Investment Park | AED 65,000 |
| Discovery Gardens | 9.06% |
| Al Nahda & Al Qusais | 8.7% |
| Dubai Sports City | 8.5% |
| Arjan | 8.4% |
| Barsha Heights (Tecom) | 8.33% |
| International City | 8.3% |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | 8.3% |
| DAMAC Hills 2 | 8.1% |
Property Finder area insights and Bayut reports, September 2026; sources on each district page.
Best areas
Start from how you live
Families
Space, schools, parks and quieter streets. Mostly villa and townhouse communities, a few calm apartment areas.
Young professionals
Close to work, on the metro or a short drive from it, with restaurants and a social life downstairs.
On a budget
The districts where a studio or a one-bedroom still rents for less, and what you trade for it.
Beach lovers
Sand within walking distance, or a short drive: the coast from Jumeirah to Jebel Ali and the new islands.
Luxury
Waterfront penthouses, golf-course mansions and the most sought-after addresses.
Investors
Where published gross yields are highest, and the resale depth that makes exit easier.
In-depth guides
The best areas in Dubai, ranked
Best areas to live in Dubai for families
The 10 best Dubai areas for families in 2026: villa communities with schools, parks and space, from Arabian…
Best villa & gated communities in Dubai
Dubai’s best villa and gated communities compared: Emirates Hills, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Hills, Arabian…
Cheapest areas to live in Dubai
Where rent is lowest in Dubai in 2026: the cheapest areas for studios, one-bedroom flats and villas, ranked…
Affordable but central: where to live in Dubai on a budget
Dubai districts that are both affordable and central: lower rents within about 15 km of Downtown, most of…
Best areas in Dubai for singles & women living alone
Where singles and women living alone live in Dubai: walkable, social districts on the metro with secure…
Best areas to live in Dubai for couples
The best Dubai areas for couples in 2026: waterfront, walkable and lively districts, plus quieter options…
Best areas to live in Dubai without a car
Dubai districts where you can live without a car: metro stations inside the district, walkable streets and…
Best areas to invest in Dubai property
Where Dubai property yields are highest in 2026: freehold districts ranked by published gross rental yield,…
Where to stay in Dubai: the best areas for visitors
Where to stay in Dubai, area by area: Downtown for the sights, Dubai Marina and JBR for the beach, the Palm…
Beyond property
Stays, tours, moving and business
Not looking for a home? Tell us what you need in a district and we pass it to a licensed operator.
Short stays & holiday homes
A furnished apartment or villa for a few nights to a few months, in the district you choose.
Tours & experiences
Desert safaris, yacht trips, city tours and the best of each district, booked with trusted operators.
Relocation & settling in
Moving to Dubai: movers, schools shortlist, utilities and the first weeks, district by district.
Business setup
Free zone or mainland company, office or desk, and a visa: introductions to licensed setup consultants.
Ask an expert
Tell us what you are looking for
Rent, buy, sell, a short stay or a move: one request, and a local expert who knows the district answers.
Thank you, it’s on its way.
A local expert will reply within one working day, usually much sooner.
District desk
One request, the right local expertRenting, buying, selling, short stays, tours or a move: we route it to someone who knows the district.
- Hours
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FAQ
Dubai districts, answered
This guide covers 65 districts in seven zones: the New Dubai coast (Dubai Marina, JBR, Palm Jumeirah, JLT), Downtown and central Dubai (Downtown, Business Bay, DIFC, Dubai Hills Estate), Old Dubai (Deira, Bur Dubai, Karama), the east (Mirdif, Silicon Oasis, Dubai Islands), Dubailand (JVC, Arabian Ranches, DAMAC Hills, Town Square), the south-west (Al Furjan, Jebel Ali, Palm Jebel Ali) and Dubai South around Al Maktoum airport.
It depends on your budget and routine. Families often choose villa communities such as Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills Estate, Mirdif or Town Square; professionals who want the metro and a social life pick Dubai Marina, JLT, Business Bay or Downtown; tighter budgets look at JVC, International City, Discovery Gardens or Dubai South. See the best areas to live in Dubai or take the Find my District quiz.
Among the districts in this guide, the lowest average one-bedroom asking rents in September 2026 were in International City, Al Nahda & Al Qusais, Al Warqa, DAMAC Hills 2. Compare every district on the districts table.
No. Foreign buyers can own outright only in designated freehold areas; many older districts (Deira, Karama, Al Nahda, Al Warqa…) are not freehold. Each district page says which it is. See buying in Dubai.
They are averages published by named market sources (mostly Property Finder area insights and Bayut reports), dated and linked on each page. They are asking figures unless stated, useful to compare districts, not a valuation.