Dubai Creek Harbour or Nad Al Sheba?
Side by side on published prices, yields, new developments and drive times.
Pictured: Lyvia by Palace by Emaar Properties
Where each one leads
Drawn only from published figures and the developments we list, each with its source.
Lower price per sq ft
Dubai Creek Harbour averages AED 2,572 per sq ft against AED 3,133 in Nad Al Sheba, about 18% less (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Higher gross yield
Dubai Creek Harbour shows a gross yield of 5.48% against 4.61% in Nad Al Sheba (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026). Gross yield is before service charges and empty months.
Higher average rent
New tenancy contracts in Nad Al Sheba average AED 239,272 a year against AED 145,119 in Dubai Creek Harbour (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Lower entry price
The lowest developer price we list in Nad Al Sheba is AED 1,350,000 at Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti City, against AED 1,813,888 at Albero in Dubai Creek Harbour.
Closer to Downtown Dubai
Dubai Creek Harbour is about 15 minutes from Downtown Dubai by car, against about 20 minutes from Nad Al Sheba.
Side by side
| Measure | Dubai Creek Harbour | Nad Al Sheba |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Mixed |
| Price per sq ft | AED 2,572Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 3,787 sales | AED 3,133Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,513 sales |
| Gross rental yield | 5.48%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 3,787 sales | 4.61%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,513 sales |
| Average annual rent | AED 145,119Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 6,691 contracts | AED 239,272Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,587 contracts |
| Developments we list | 14 | 2 |
| Lowest developer price | AED 1,813,888Albero | AED 1,350,000Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti City |
| Drive to Downtown Dubai | about 15 minutes | about 20 minutes |
| Drive to Dubai International Airport | about 15 minutes | about 23 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. Property Finder’s figures are averages across home types, so they mix studios and large homes. Read 12 November 2026.
New developments in each
Dubai Creek Harbour
- AlberoEmaar PropertiesAED 1,813,888
- AltanEmaar PropertiesAED 1,813,888
- SilvaEmaar PropertiesAED 1,824,888
- Montiva by VidaEmaar PropertiesAED 1,916,888
- ValiaEmaar PropertiesAED 1,960,000
- Lyvia by PalaceEmaar PropertiesAED 2,684,888
Nad Al Sheba
- Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti CityBinghattiAED 1,350,000
- Vision IconicBinghattiAED 2,307,000
What each area is like
Dubai Creek Harbour
Emaar's waterfront master community on Dubai Creek, beside the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Mostly apartments, part complete and part building, with a metro station due in 2029.
Who it suits
- Buyers who want a new Emaar apartment below Downtown prices
- Investors with a five-year horizon
- Owner-occupiers who value parks and waterfront walks
- Airport and Festival City commuters
In its favour
- Single master developer with a consistent standard across the community
- Waterfront promenade, marina and parks, with the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary next door
- About 15 minutes by car from Downtown Dubai and Dubai International Airport
Worth weighing
- No metro until the Blue Line opens; the 2029 date is a target, and the line was about 25% built in September 2026
- Large pipeline: Emaar alone listed 18 releases here in November 2026, so resale and rental competition will stay high as towers complete
Nad Al Sheba
A low-rise villa suburb south of Dubai Creek, next to Meydan. Long a quiet residential area, it now hosts Meraas's Nad Al Sheba Gardens and Binghatti's 12-tower Mercedes-Benz project.
Who it suits
- Families wanting a villa close to the city centre
- Buyers who prefer a quiet, low-rise suburb
- Investors looking at branded apartments in the Binghatti towers
- Households that drive everywhere
In its favour
- Low-density villa district about 20 minutes by car from Downtown Dubai (Bayut area guide)
- Meydan Racecourse, the Meydan Hotel and Nad Al Sheba Cycle Park close by
- Gated villa and townhouse community by Meraas with lagoons and sports facilities
Worth weighing
- Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti City alone is planned to add more than 13,000 apartments, 6,321 of them studios, to a district that had very few
- No metro and limited buses; Bayut's guide says residents rely on taxis or private cars
Dubai Creek Harbour or Nad Al Sheba: quick answers
Is Dubai Creek Harbour or Nad Al Sheba cheaper per square foot?
Dubai Creek Harbour is cheaper on the published figures: AED 2,572 per sq ft against AED 3,133 in Nad Al Sheba (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026). Averages move with the mix of homes sold, so compare like with like before relying on the gap.
Which has the higher rental yield, Dubai Creek Harbour or Nad Al Sheba?
Dubai Creek Harbour, on the published figures: a gross yield of 5.48% against 4.61% in Nad Al Sheba (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026). Gross yield is before service charges, empty months and fees, so the net return is lower.
What is the average rent in Dubai Creek Harbour and Nad Al Sheba?
New tenancy contracts average AED 145,119 a year in Dubai Creek Harbour and AED 239,272 in Nad Al Sheba (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026). Both averages mix small and large homes.
Which is closer to Downtown Dubai, Dubai Creek Harbour or Nad Al Sheba?
Dubai Creek Harbour, at about 15 minutes by car against about 20 minutes from Nad Al Sheba. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Which is closer to Dubai International Airport, Dubai Creek Harbour or Nad Al Sheba?
Dubai Creek Harbour, at about 15 minutes by car against about 23 minutes from Nad Al Sheba. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Creek Harbour and Nad Al Sheba?
Dubai Creek Harbour is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. In Nad Al Sheba, tenure varies by project: some are freehold for all nationalities, others leasehold. Sales in Dubai are registered with the DLD.
Which new developments can I buy in Dubai Creek Harbour and Nad Al Sheba?
In Dubai Creek Harbour: Albero from AED 1,813,888, Altan from AED 1,813,888, Silva from AED 1,824,888 and Montiva by Vida from AED 1,916,888. In Nad Al Sheba: Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti City from AED 1,350,000 and Vision Iconic from AED 2,307,000.
More area comparisons
- Al Jaddaf vs Dubai Creek Harbour
- Business Bay vs Dubai Creek Harbour
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Meydan
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Dubai Design District
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Dubai Islands
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Ras Al Khor
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Sobha Hartland II
- Downtown Dubai vs Dubai Creek Harbour
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Dubai Hills Estate
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Dubai Maritime City
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Jumeirah Golf Estates
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Rashid Yachts & Marina
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
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- One salaried adviser, not on commission, from first call to handover
