Downtown & central
Downtown Dubai
Emaar's mixed-use centre built around Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain. Homes are almost all apartments in mid- and high-rise towers, from older low-rise clusters like Old Town to branded Address residences. Busy with visitors day and night, it trades quiet for walkability and landmark views.
- Studio rent
- AED 88,000per year
- 1-bed rent
- AED 133,000per year
- 2-bed rent
- AED 205,000per year
- Apartment price
- AED 3,258per sq ft
- 1-bed apartment
- AED 2.38Maverage asking
- Gross yield
- 4.96%published
Averages published by Property Finder area insights, September 2026. How they are measured.
Living in Downtown Dubai
Why people choose it
- Walk to Dubai Mall, the Boulevard and Dubai Opera
- Red Line station inside the district
- Deep resale and rental market with many tower choices
Worth knowing
- Tourist crowds and event traffic around the Fountain and Boulevard
- No schools inside the district, so family commutes are daily
- Character
- Tower district around burj khalifa
- Master developer
- Emaar
- Since
- —
- Freehold
- Yes, freehold for foreign buyers
- Homes
- Apartments
- Metro
- Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall
- Getting around
- Red Line at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall (Business Bay station close by); Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road access; Downtown Dubai shuttle and RTA buses
- Beach
- Not within walking distance
- Schools
- —
Rent or buy
Downtown Dubai in numbers
Renting
Suits professionals and couples who want to live car-light in the city's showpiece district, at rents well above neighbouring Business Bay.
| Studio | AED 88,000 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | AED 133,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | AED 205,000 |
Buying
One of the most liquid resale markets in Dubai, with Emaar towers from older Old Town low-rises to branded Address residences; yields run below mid-market areas.
| Apartments, per sq ft | AED 3,258 |
|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment | AED 2,380,000 |
| Gross yield | 4.96% |
How these figures are measured
- Rents: Property Finder area insights, average asking rent per year by bedroom (listing data) source
- Prices: Property Finder area insights: 1BR = average asking price (listings); apt_psf = average DLD sale price per sq ft over the past 12 months, all residential sales (district is almost entirely apartments) source
- Yield: Property Finder area insights, rental yield on DLD transactions (past 12 months) source
Asking figures reflect advertised listings, not signed contracts; transaction figures are Dubai Land Department records. Freehold: Yes, freehold for foreign buyers.
Out and about
Things to do in Downtown Dubai
The city's main sightseeing base: Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, the Fountain and a dense cluster of Address, Armani and Sofitel hotels.
- Burj Khalifalandmark
Observation decks at the top of the world's tallest tower
- The Dubai Mallmall
Aquarium, ice rink and KidZania under one roof
- Dubai Fountainshow
Evening water-and-music shows on Burj Lake
- Dubai Operaculture
2,000-seat venue for concerts, ballet and theatre
- Souk Al Bahardining
Arabian-style market with lakeside restaurants
- Burj Parkpark
Open lawn for walks with fountain views
Visiting, or just moved in? We can arrange a short stay or a tour around Downtown Dubai.
Addresses people ask about
Notable buildings & projects
- Burj Vista
- The Address Sky View Towers
- Burj Royale
- Old Town
- Forte
Names only, for orientation: not an offer. Ask us for what is available in each.
Nearby
Neighbouring districts
Business Bay
canal-side high-rise business district
DIFC
compact financial hub, galleries, dining
Zabeel
green central district, branded towers
City Walk
walkable low-rise lifestyle quarter
Ranked in
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- Hours
- Sun–Fri, 9:00–19:00 (UAE)
- Languages
- English, French, Arabic, Russian
FAQ
Downtown Dubai: common questions
Average asking rents per year in Downtown Dubai: studio AED 88,000, one-bedroom AED 133,000, two-bedroom AED 205,000 (Property Finder area insights, September 2026). Actual rents depend on the building, view, floor and furnishing.
Yes, freehold for foreign buyers. Foreign buyers can own homes here outright and register them with the Dubai Land Department.
Yes: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station. Red Line at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall (Business Bay station close by); Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road access; Downtown Dubai shuttle and RTA buses
Walk to Dubai Mall, the Boulevard and Dubai Opera. Red Line station inside the district. Deep resale and rental market with many tower choices. On the other hand: tourist crowds and event traffic around the fountain and boulevard. no schools inside the district, so family commutes are daily.
Burj Khalifa (observation decks at the top of the world's tallest tower); The Dubai Mall (aquarium, ice rink and kidzania under one roof); Dubai Fountain (evening water-and-music shows on burj lake); Dubai Opera (2,000-seat venue for concerts, ballet and theatre).