Al Marjan Island or Palm Jumeirah?
Side by side on published prices, yields, new developments and drive times.
Pictured: Taj Wellington Mews by BNW Developments
Where each one leads
Drawn only from published figures and the developments we list, each with its source.
Lower entry price
The lowest developer price we list in Al Marjan Island is AED 1,500,000 at Taj Wellington Mews, against AED 5,500,000 at Passo by Beyond in Palm Jumeirah.
Closer to Dubai International Airport
Palm Jumeirah is about 35 minutes from Dubai International Airport by car, against about 60 minutes from Al Marjan Island.
Side by side
| Measure | Al Marjan Island | Palm Jumeirah |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Ras Al Khaimah | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Freehold |
| Price per sq ft | AED 2,653Bayut, October 2026 | AED 3,966Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,116 sales |
| Developments we list | 11 | 2 |
| Lowest developer price | AED 1,500,000Taj Wellington Mews | AED 5,500,000Passo by Beyond |
| Drive to Dubai International Airport | about 60 minutes | about 35 minutes |
| Buyer registration fee | 2% of the price (indicative) | 4% of the price |
| Sale registered with | RAK Municipality | DLD |
Each figure is shown as its publisher states it, with the period it covers. A row appears only where both areas have a figure. Some figures come from different publishers on each side, so compare those with care. Property Finder’s figures are averages across home types, so they mix studios and large homes. Read 12 November 2026.
New developments in each
Al Marjan Island
- Taj Wellington MewsBNW DevelopmentsAED 1,500,000
- Tonino Lamborghini ResidencesBNW DevelopmentsAED 1,690,000
- FashionTV AcaciaBNW DevelopmentsAED 1,960,000
- PelagiaBNW DevelopmentsAED 2,300,000
- Dolce Residences by WyndhamBNW DevelopmentsAED 2,400,000
- Costa MareEllington PropertiesAED 2,800,000
Palm Jumeirah
- Passo by BeyondBeyond DevelopmentsAED 5,500,000
- Ocean HouseEllington PropertiesAED 23,000,000
What each area is like
Al Marjan Island
Four man-made islands off the Ras Al Khaimah coast, with beach hotels, a dense pipeline of branded apartment towers and the Wynn resort due in September 2027. Suits holiday-let investors who accept catalyst risk.
Who it suits
- Holiday-let investors
- Second-home buyers who want a beach
- Buyers comfortable with off-plan risk
- Branded-residence buyers
In its favour
- Freehold for all nationalities; listed as a freehold area by Ras Al Khaimah Municipality.
- 7.8 km of beaches and operating resorts by Rixos, Hilton, Radisson and Mövenpick.
- Wynn Al Marjan Island, about 1,530 rooms, scheduled by its operator to open in September 2027.
Worth weighing
- Pricing leans on a single catalyst. The Wynn opening has already slipped from Q1 2027 to September 2027.
- Marjan plans 18,650 homes on the island, most of them small apartments, so competition for tenants and resale buyers will be heavy.
Palm Jumeirah
Nakheel's original palm-shaped island off the Dubai Marina coast: a mature, fully occupied freehold address where new supply is scarce and priced accordingly.
Who it suits
- Second-home buyers
- End-users wanting a finished beach community
- Holiday-let investors
- Buyers of branded residences
In its favour
- Completed island: hotels, beach clubs, Nakheel Mall and the monorail are open today
- Freehold for all nationalities
- Very little undeveloped land, so new launches are infrequent
Worth weighing
- Entry prices are among the highest in Dubai: the median asking price on Property Finder was AED 8.94 million on 12 November 2026.
- One route on and off the island via the trunk; crescent addresses sit furthest from the mainland (one broker quotes 35 minutes from a crescent address to Dubai International Airport).
Al Marjan Island or Palm Jumeirah: quick answers
Which is closer to Dubai International Airport, Al Marjan Island or Palm Jumeirah?
Palm Jumeirah, at about 35 minutes by car against about 60 minutes from Al Marjan Island. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Can foreigners buy property in Al Marjan Island and Palm Jumeirah?
Al Marjan Island is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Palm Jumeirah is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Sales in Ras Al Khaimah are registered with the RAK Municipality. Sales in Dubai are registered with the DLD.
Which new developments can I buy in Al Marjan Island and Palm Jumeirah?
In Al Marjan Island: Taj Wellington Mews from AED 1,500,000, Tonino Lamborghini Residences from AED 1,690,000, FashionTV Acacia from AED 1,960,000 and Pelagia from AED 2,300,000. In Palm Jumeirah: Passo by Beyond from AED 5,500,000 and Ocean House from AED 23,000,000.
Are buying fees the same in Al Marjan Island and Palm Jumeirah?
No. The buyer registration fee is 2% of the price in Ras Al Khaimah and 4% in Dubai. The Ras Al Khaimah rate is indicative, so confirm it for the specific project.
More area comparisons
- Al Hamra Village vs Al Marjan Island
- Al Marjan Island vs Mina Al Arab
- Al Marjan Island vs RAK Central
- Dubai Harbour vs Palm Jumeirah
- Jumeirah Lake Towers vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Marina vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Islands vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Media City vs Palm Jumeirah
- Jumeirah vs Palm Jumeirah
- Palm Jebel Ali vs Palm Jumeirah
- Downtown Dubai vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Maritime City vs Palm Jumeirah
Not sure which area fits?
Tell us your budget, your timing and whether you will live there or let it, and we will set the two areas against each other for you.
- Current price list and availability, direct from the developer
- No fee to you on off-plan purchases: the developer pays us
- One salaried adviser, not on commission, from first call to handover
