East & Deira side
International City
Nakheel's country-themed district (China, England, France, Persia and more) beside Dragon Mart, made up of low-rise apartment clusters plus the Warsan Village townhouses. It has some of the lowest rents and entry prices in Dubai and high recorded yields, but no metro until the Blue Line opens, targeted for 2029.
- Studio rent
- AED 35,000per year
- 1-bed rent
- AED 49,000per year
- 2-bed rent
- AED 70,000per year
- 3-bed villa rent
- AED 119,000per year
- Apartment price
- AED 800per sq ft
- Villa price
- AED 1,232per sq ft
Averages published by Property Finder Area Insights, September 2026. How they are measured.
Living in International City
Why people choose it
- Studio asking rents around AED 35,000 a year
- One-bed sales averaged about AED 586,000 in 12 months
- Dragon Mart and Al Warsan Lake on the doorstep
Worth knowing
- No metro yet; Blue Line stations are targeted for 2029
- Paid parking since February 2026 (AED 2 per 30 minutes)
- Character
- Budget themed low-rise clusters
- Master developer
- Nakheel
- Since
- 2004
- Freehold
- Yes, freehold for foreign buyers
- Homes
- Apartments, Townhouses
- Metro
- None in the district
- Getting around
- No metro; nearest stations Centrepoint and E&, RTA bus 310 from Rashidiya bus station; Blue Line stations International City 1 and 2&3 planned for 2029 (approved Nov 2023)
- Beach
- Not within walking distance
- Schools
- Newlands School, Sharjah American International School - Dubai, Primus Private School
Rent or buy
International City in numbers
Renting
The go-to option for the tightest budgets, trading low rents for older clusters, crowding and car or bus dependence.
| Studio | AED 35,000 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | AED 49,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | AED 70,000 |
| 3-bed villa | AED 119,000 |
Buying
Low ticket sizes and high recorded yields attract investors; the planned Blue Line may support demand, but check building upkeep and service charges.
| Apartments, per sq ft | AED 800 |
|---|---|
| Villas, per sq ft | AED 1,232 |
| 1-bed apartment | AED 585,604 |
| 3-bed villa | AED 2,052,745 |
| Gross yield | 8.3% |
How these figures are measured
- Rents: Property Finder Area Insights (International City), average asking (advertised) yearly rent by bedroom; 3BR figure is for listings classed as villas, retrieved 29 Sep 2026 source
- Prices: Property Finder Sale Transactions (DLD records), 12 months to 28 Sep 2026 (1,635 apartment sales incl. 791 one-bed; 51 villa sales, all three-bed) 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 International City
Dragon Mart draws bargain shoppers; otherwise it is a residential district.
- Dragon Martmall
Two huge halls of Chinese-made goods at wholesale-style prices
- Al Warsan Lakenature
Lake with greenery that attracts birdwatchers
- Dubai Safari Parkattraction
Large wildlife park a short drive away
- Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuarynature
Wetland reserve known for flamingos, nearby
Visiting, or just moved in? We can arrange a short stay or a tour around International City.
Addresses people ask about
Notable buildings & projects
- Warsan Village
- International City Phase 2
Names only, for orientation: not an offer. Ask us for what is available in each.
Ranked in
Guides that feature this district
Free tool · 1 minute
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
Ask an expert
Your request in International City
Renting, buying, selling or letting in International City, or a stay, a tour or a move: tell us what you need.
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
- Sun–Fri, 9:00–19:00 (UAE)
- Languages
- English, French, Arabic, Russian
FAQ
International City: common questions
Average asking rents per year in International City: studio AED 35,000, one-bedroom AED 49,000, two-bedroom AED 70,000, three-bedroom villa AED 119,000 (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; nearest stations Centrepoint and E&, RTA bus 310 from Rashidiya bus station; Blue Line stations International City 1 and 2&3 planned for 2029 (approved Nov 2023)
Studio asking rents around AED 35,000 a year. One-bed sales averaged about AED 586,000 in 12 months. Dragon Mart and Al Warsan Lake on the doorstep. On the other hand: no metro yet; blue line stations are targeted for 2029. paid parking since february 2026 (aed 2 per 30 minutes).
Dragon Mart (two huge halls of chinese-made goods at wholesale-style prices); Al Warsan Lake (lake with greenery that attracts birdwatchers); Dubai Safari Park (large wildlife park a short drive away); Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary (wetland reserve known for flamingos, nearby).