Old Dubai
Deira
The old merchant district on the north bank of Dubai Creek, dense with souks, wholesale streets and mid-rise apartment blocks. It is one of the cheapest central places to rent, served by both metro lines and abra boats, but it is not a freehold area; foreign buyers wanting this side of the city look offshore at Dubai Islands.
- Studio rent
- AED 43,000per year
- 1-bed rent
- AED 67,000per year
- 2-bed rent
- AED 86,000per year
- 3-bed villa rent
- AED 103,000per year
Averages published by Property Finder Area Insights, September 2026. How they are measured.
Living in Deira
Why people choose it
- Studio asking rents around AED 43,000 a year
- Red and Green metro lines plus abras across the Creek
- Souks, street food and late-opening shops on every block
Worth knowing
- Congested roads and hard-to-find parking in the older blocks
- Not freehold: foreigners generally cannot buy, so Dubai Islands is the alternative
- Character
- Historic creekside trading quarter
- Master developer
- Various
- Since
- —
- Freehold
- No: leasehold / UAE & GCC nationals only
- Homes
- Apartments, Villas
- Metro
- Union, Al Rigga, City Centre Deira, Baniyas Square, Gold Souq, Al Ras, Salah Al Din, Abu Baker Al Siddique, Abu Hail
- Getting around
- Red and Green lines cross at Union; RTA abras and water taxis link Deira to Bur Dubai across the Creek; Dubai International Airport is next door
- Beach
- Al Mamzar Beach Park, at the district's northern end
- Schools
- Little Flower English School, Sabari Indian School, Elite English School
Rent or buy
Deira in numbers
Renting
Suits budget-focused singles and small households who value the metro and street life over space and quiet; building quality varies widely from block to block.
| Studio | AED 43,000 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | AED 67,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | AED 86,000 |
| 3-bed villa | AED 103,000 |
Buying
Very little can be bought by foreigners and Property Finder recorded under 10 apartment sales in a year, so buyers usually turn to freehold Dubai Islands just offshore.
No published price average for this district yet: ask us for recent sales.
How these figures are measured
- Rents: Property Finder Area Insights (Deira), average asking (advertised) yearly rent by bedroom, retrieved 29 Sep 2026 source
- Prices: Property Finder Sale Transactions (DLD records), 12 months to 28 Sep 2026: fewer than 10 apartment and villa sales recorded, so no average is published here source
Asking figures reflect advertised listings, not signed contracts; transaction figures are Dubai Land Department records. Freehold: No: leasehold / UAE & GCC nationals only.
Out and about
Things to do in Deira
The souks, abra rides across the Creek and heritage houses make Deira a core stop for visitors, with a wide spread of budget and mid-range hotels.
- Gold Souksouk
Covered lanes of jewellery traders
- Spice Souksouk
Sacks of spices, dried fruit and incense near the Creek
- Al Ahmadiya Schoolheritage
Restored early school building in the old quarter, open to visitors
- Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Clubgolf
Creekside course and marina in Port Saeed with skyline views
- Al Mamzar Beach Parkbeach park
Large park with several public beaches and pools at the end of Al Khaleej Road
- Al Ghurair Centremall
One of the city's longest-running shopping centres
Visiting, or just moved in? We can arrange a short stay or a tour around Deira.
Nearby
Neighbouring districts
Bur Dubai
heritage core, dense mid-rise
Dubai Islands
new island waterfront, largely off-plan
Al Nahda & Al Qusais
affordable mid-rise near Sharjah
Al Karama
low-rise, budget, street-market
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FAQ
Deira: common questions
Average asking rents per year in Deira: studio AED 43,000, one-bedroom AED 67,000, two-bedroom AED 86,000, three-bedroom villa AED 103,000 (Property Finder Area Insights, September 2026). Actual rents depend on the building, view, floor and furnishing.
No: leasehold / UAE & GCC nationals only. Check the exact building or community before you commit; our partner agents can confirm the title type.
Yes: Union, Al Rigga, City Centre Deira, Baniyas Square, Gold Souq, Al Ras, Salah Al Din, Abu Baker Al Siddique, Abu Hail stations. Red and Green lines cross at Union; RTA abras and water taxis link Deira to Bur Dubai across the Creek; Dubai International Airport is next door
Studio asking rents around AED 43,000 a year. Red and Green metro lines plus abras across the Creek. Souks, street food and late-opening shops on every block. On the other hand: congested roads and hard-to-find parking in the older blocks. not freehold: foreigners generally cannot buy, so dubai islands is the alternative.
Gold Souk (covered lanes of jewellery traders); Spice Souk (sacks of spices, dried fruit and incense near the creek); Al Ahmadiya School (restored early school building in the old quarter, open to visitors); Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club (creekside course and marina in port saeed with skyline views).