Al Warsan or Dubai International Academic City?
Side by side on published prices, yields, new developments and drive times.
Pictured: Samana Greenfield by Samana Developers
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 Warsan is AED 849,000 at Samana Greenfield, against AED 3,800,000 at Greenz by Danube in Dubai International Academic City.
Closer to Dragon Mart
Al Warsan is about 5 minutes from Dragon Mart by car, against about 15 minutes from Dubai International Academic City.
Side by side
| Measure | Al Warsan | Dubai International Academic City |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Mixed | Freehold |
| Developments we list | 2 | 2 |
| Lowest developer price | AED 849,000Samana Greenfield | AED 3,800,000Greenz by Danube |
| Drive to Dragon Mart | about 5 minutes | about 15 minutes |
| Drive to Dubai International Airport | about 18 minutes | about 18 minutes |
| Drive to Jumeirah Beach | about 30 minutes | about 26 minutes |
Each figure is shown as its publisher states it, with the period it covers. A row appears only where both areas have a figure.
New developments in each
Al Warsan
- Samana GreenfieldSamana DevelopersAED 849,000
- Samana Greenfield 2Samana DevelopersAED 849,000
Dubai International Academic City
- Greenz by DanubeDanube PropertiesAED 3,800,000
- Tilal BinghattiBinghattiAED 4,200,000
What each area is like
Al Warsan
A mixed-use district beside International City, where the freehold Warsan 4 pocket is filling with low-priced apartment towers. Affordable, but far from central Dubai and still being built.
Who it suits
- Investors seeking low entry prices on new apartments
- Tenants who work around International City, Dragon Mart or Dubai Silicon Oasis
- Buyers who want long instalment plans on one- and two-bedroom flats
In its favour
- Warsan 1 and Warsan 4 are freehold, according to Bayut
- On Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) and Ras Al Khor Road (E44)
- About 18 minutes to Dubai International Airport on Bayut's figures
Worth weighing
- Outside Warsan 1 and Warsan 4, most property is limited to UAE and GCC nationals
- No metro station; Centrepoint on the Red Line is about 11 minutes away by car
Dubai International Academic City
Dubai's university district on the Dubai to Al Ain Road (E66), next to Dubai Silicon Oasis. Mostly campuses and student housing, with new villa communities under way in Al Rowaiyah First.
Who it suits
- Families wanting large new villas outside the city centre
- University staff and faculty
- Commuters to Dubai Silicon Oasis or Dubai International Airport
- Buyers prepared to wait for the Blue Line metro
In its favour
- About 27 colleges and universities and around 27,500 students (Wikipedia)
- Blue Line metro planned to end at an Academic City station, with a target opening of September 2029 (Wikipedia)
- Bounded by the Dubai to Al Ain Road (E66) and Emirates Road (E611) (Bayut)
Worth weighing
- No metro until the Blue Line opens; its target is September 2029 and large rail projects can run late
- Limited homes and services inside the zone, which is mainly campuses and student housing (Bayut)
Al Warsan or Dubai International Academic City: quick answers
Which is closer to Dragon Mart, Al Warsan or Dubai International Academic City?
Al Warsan, at about 5 minutes by car against about 15 minutes from Dubai International Academic City. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Which is closer to Dubai International Airport, Al Warsan or Dubai International Academic City?
Both are about 18 minutes from Dubai International Airport by car. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Can foreigners buy property in Al Warsan and Dubai International Academic City?
In Al Warsan, tenure varies by project: some are freehold for all nationalities, others leasehold. Dubai International Academic City is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Sales in Dubai are registered with the DLD.
Which new developments can I buy in Al Warsan and Dubai International Academic City?
In Al Warsan: Samana Greenfield from AED 849,000 and Samana Greenfield 2 from AED 849,000. In Dubai International Academic City: Greenz by Danube from AED 3,800,000 and Tilal Binghatti from AED 4,200,000.
More area comparisons
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
