Architectural rendering of Lyvia by Palace, view 2

Dubai Creek Harbour or Tilal Al Ghaf?

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

    Tilal Al Ghaf averages AED 2,278 per sq ft against AED 2,572 in Dubai Creek Harbour, about 11% 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 5.19% in Tilal Al Ghaf (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 Tilal Al Ghaf average AED 322,515 a year against AED 145,119 in Dubai Creek Harbour (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026).

  • Closer to Dubai International Airport

    Dubai Creek Harbour is about 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport by car, against about 30 minutes from Tilal Al Ghaf.

Side by side

Dubai Creek Harbour and Tilal Al Ghaf compared
MeasureDubai Creek HarbourTilal Al Ghaf
EmirateDubaiDubai
TenureFreeholdFreehold
Price per sq ftAED 2,572Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 3,787 salesAED 2,278Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 357 sales
Gross rental yield5.48%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 3,787 sales5.19%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 357 sales
Average annual rentAED 145,119Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 6,691 contractsAED 322,515Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,350 contracts
Developments we list140
Drive to Dubai International Airportabout 15 minutesabout 30 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

All developments in Dubai Creek Harbour

Tilal Al Ghaf

We do not list a development in Tilal Al Ghaf yet.

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
Area guide: Dubai Creek Harbour

Tilal Al Ghaf

Majid Al Futtaim's lagoon-centred villa community off Hessa Street, near Dubai Sports City. Largely sold through, so most buying today is resale.

Who it suits

  • Families wanting villas with a school on site
  • Buyers who value a finished master plan
  • Resale purchasers of completed homes
  • High-budget buyers of waterfront mansions

In its favour

  • Planned for more than 6,500 freehold homes around a 70,000 sq m swimmable lagoon
  • 18 km of walking trails and 11 km of cycling track, according to the developer
  • The Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai operates inside the community

Worth weighing

  • No developer stock was listed on Property Finder on 12 November 2026: purchases are resale, with resale pricing and the 4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee payable in full
  • Later phases (Plagette 32, Amara, Serenity Mansions, Bo Monde) are still under construction, so parts of the site will see building work for some time
Area guide: Tilal Al Ghaf

Dubai Creek Harbour or Tilal Al Ghaf: quick answers

Is Dubai Creek Harbour or Tilal Al Ghaf cheaper per square foot?

Tilal Al Ghaf is cheaper on the published figures: AED 2,278 per sq ft against AED 2,572 in Dubai Creek Harbour (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 Tilal Al Ghaf?

Dubai Creek Harbour, on the published figures: a gross yield of 5.48% against 5.19% in Tilal Al Ghaf (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 Tilal Al Ghaf?

New tenancy contracts average AED 145,119 a year in Dubai Creek Harbour and AED 322,515 in Tilal Al Ghaf (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026). Both averages mix small and large homes.

Which is closer to Dubai International Airport, Dubai Creek Harbour or Tilal Al Ghaf?

Dubai Creek Harbour, at about 15 minutes by car against about 30 minutes from Tilal Al Ghaf. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.

Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Creek Harbour and Tilal Al Ghaf?

Dubai Creek Harbour is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Tilal Al Ghaf 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 Dubai Creek Harbour and Tilal Al Ghaf?

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. We do not list a development in Tilal Al Ghaf yet.

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

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