East & Deira side
Dubai Festival City
A self-contained waterfront development by Al-Futtaim on the east bank of Dubai Creek, about 2 km from the airport. It combines Dubai Festival City Mall, IKEA, IHG hotels, a marina and a golf course with apartment buildings and villa enclaves such as Al Badia. Freehold, but with no metro station.
- Studio rent
- AED 68,000per year
- 1-bed rent
- AED 111,000per year
- 2-bed rent
- AED 172,000per year
- 3-bed villa rent
- AED 253,000per year
- Apartment price
- AED 1,487per sq ft
- Gross yield
- 5.0%published
Averages published by Property Finder Area Insights, September 2026. How they are measured.
Living in Dubai Festival City
Why people choose it
- Mall, IKEA and creek promenade inside the community
- Schools on site, including Deira International School
- Freehold homes a short drive from DXB airport
Worth knowing
- No metro station; most residents depend on a car
- Rents well above nearby older districts such as Deira
- Character
- Creekside mixed-use, mall-anchored
- Master developer
- Al-Futtaim
- Since
- 2003
- Freehold
- Yes, freehold for foreign buyers
- Homes
- Apartments, Villas
- Metro
- None in the district
- Getting around
- No metro station; creek water-transport stop at Festival City, fast road access to Dubai International Airport
- Beach
- Not within walking distance
- Schools
- Deira International School, Universal American School
Rent or buy
Dubai Festival City in numbers
Renting
Suits families and professionals who want a tidy, self-contained community near the airport and will pay more than in older east-side districts.
| Studio | AED 68,000 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | AED 111,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | AED 172,000 |
| 3-bed villa | AED 253,000 |
Buying
Freehold with a modest resale market (37 apartment sales in 12 months per DLD data); villa trades are rare.
| Apartments, per sq ft | AED 1,487 |
|---|---|
| Gross yield | 5.0% |
How these figures are measured
- Rents: Property Finder Area Insights (Dubai Festival City), average asking (advertised) yearly rent by bedroom, retrieved 29 Sep 2026 source
- Prices: Property Finder Sale Transactions (DLD records), apartments, 12 months to 28 Sep 2026 (37 sales); one-bed and villa sales under 10, left null source
- Yield: Property Finder Sale Transactions page, ROI indicator for apartments (DLD-based, 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 Dubai Festival City
InterContinental and Crowne Plaza hotels, the mall and the IMAGINE show draw visitors, especially on stopovers given the airport proximity.
- Dubai Festival City Mallmall
Waterfront mall with 400+ outlets, anchored by a large IKEA
- IMAGINEshow
Evening light and water show over Festival Bay
- Festival Bay promenadepromenade
About 3 km of walkway along the Creek
- Al Badia golf coursegolf
Golf course within the development
- BOUNCE-Xleisure
Freestyle trampoline and terrain park
Visiting, or just moved in? We can arrange a short stay or a tour around Dubai Festival City.
Addresses people ask about
Notable buildings & projects
- Marsa Plaza
- Al Badia Residences
- Al Badia Hillside
- Al Badia Living
Names only, for orientation: not an offer. Ask us for what is available in each.
Nearby
Neighbouring districts
Dubai Creek Harbour
new waterfront towers by wetlands
Al Jaddaf
creekside mid-rise, good value
Deira
historic creekside trading quarter
Dubai Healthcare City
medical free zone with apartments
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- Sun–Fri, 9:00–19:00 (UAE)
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- English, French, Arabic, Russian
FAQ
Dubai Festival City: common questions
Average asking rents per year in Dubai Festival City: studio AED 68,000, one-bedroom AED 111,000, two-bedroom AED 172,000, three-bedroom villa AED 253,000 (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.
No metro station inside the district. No metro station; creek water-transport stop at Festival City, fast road access to Dubai International Airport
Mall, IKEA and creek promenade inside the community. Schools on site, including Deira International School. Freehold homes a short drive from DXB airport. On the other hand: no metro station; most residents depend on a car. rents well above nearby older districts such as deira.
Dubai Festival City Mall (waterfront mall with 400+ outlets, anchored by a large ikea); IMAGINE (evening light and water show over festival bay); Festival Bay promenade (about 3 km of walkway along the creek); Al Badia golf course (golf course within the development).