Dubai Harbour or Dubai Maritime City?
Side by side on published prices, yields, new developments and drive times.
Pictured: DAMAC Bay by Cavalli by DAMAC 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 Maritime City averages AED 3,128 per sq ft against AED 4,066 in Dubai Harbour, about 23% less (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Higher gross yield
Dubai Maritime City shows a gross yield of 5.23% against 5.16% in Dubai Harbour (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 Dubai Harbour average AED 196,771 a year against AED 113,373 in Dubai Maritime City (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Lower entry price
The lowest developer price we list in Dubai Maritime City is AED 1,650,000 at Shahrukhz Residences by Danube, against AED 3,300,888 at Bayview by Address Resorts in Dubai Harbour.
Closer to Dubai International Airport
Dubai Maritime City is about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport by car, against about 25 minutes from Dubai Harbour.
Side by side
| Measure | Dubai Harbour | Dubai Maritime City |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Freehold |
| Price per sq ft | AED 4,066Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 741 sales | AED 3,128Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,671 sales |
| Gross rental yield | 5.16%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 741 sales | 5.23%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,671 sales |
| Average annual rent | AED 196,771Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,589 contracts | AED 113,373Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 139 contracts |
| Developments we list | 6 | 4 |
| Lowest developer price | AED 3,300,888Bayview by Address Resorts | AED 1,650,000Shahrukhz Residences by Danube |
| Drive to Dubai International Airport | about 25 minutes | about 20 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 Harbour
- Bayview by Address ResortsEmaar PropertiesAED 3,300,888
- Dubai Harbour ResidencesH&H DevelopmentAED 3,900,000
- DAMAC Bay by CavalliDAMAC PropertiesAED 3,939,000
- DAMAC Bay 2 by CavalliDAMAC PropertiesAED 8,886,000
- Beach MansionEmaar PropertiesAED 9,513,888
- SeaHaven Sky EditionSobha RealtyAED 21,132,340
Dubai Maritime City
- Shahrukhz Residences by DanubeDanube PropertiesAED 1,650,000
- Chelsea ResidencesDAMAC PropertiesAED 2,457,000
- Soulever by BeyondBeyond DevelopmentsAED 2,500,000
- Harbour Lights by de GRISOGONODAMAC PropertiesAED 6,666,000
What each area is like
Dubai Harbour
A yacht-marina and cruise-terminal district on reclaimed land between Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters, with Emaar Beachfront at its centre and several high-priced towers under construction.
Who it suits
- Second-home buyers wanting sea and marina views
- Yacht owners
- Buyers of branded residences
- Investors in prime short-let stock
In its favour
- Sea-front position between Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters, next to Dubai Marina
- Large yacht marina and two cruise terminals
- Emaar Beachfront's completed towers show what the finished district looks like
Worth weighing
- At least eight projects are scheduled to complete between 2027 and the end of 2029, most of them large apartment towers aimed at the same buyer.
- High entry prices: the lowest launch price among projects with developer stock on Property Finder in November 2026 was AED 3.7 million.
Dubai Maritime City
A reclaimed peninsula between Mina Rashid and Dubai Dry Docks, turning from a stalled maritime business zone into a dense cluster of waterfront apartment towers due from 2026 to 2030.
Who it suits
- Investors seeking sea-view apartments near the city centre
- Buyers comfortable with an emerging district
- Professionals working in DIFC or Downtown
In its favour
- Open-sea frontage about 15 to 20 minutes from Downtown Dubai and Dubai International Airport
- Projects from established names: DAMAC, Beyond (Omniyat group), Select Group, Danube
- Next to Mina Rashid's marina and cruise terminal
Worth weighing
- Concentrated supply: nearly every tower was launched between 2022 and 2026 and is scheduled to hand over between late 2026 and 2030. Many are one- and two-bedroom investor units competing for the same tenants.
- Property Finder's community panel showed average sale prices in Maritime City down 11.7% year on year when checked on 12 November 2026.
Dubai Harbour or Dubai Maritime City: quick answers
Is Dubai Harbour or Dubai Maritime City cheaper per square foot?
Dubai Maritime City is cheaper on the published figures: AED 3,128 per sq ft against AED 4,066 in Dubai 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 Harbour or Dubai Maritime City?
Dubai Maritime City, on the published figures: a gross yield of 5.23% against 5.16% in Dubai Harbour (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 Harbour and Dubai Maritime City?
New tenancy contracts average AED 196,771 a year in Dubai Harbour and AED 113,373 in Dubai Maritime City (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 Harbour or Dubai Maritime City?
Dubai Maritime City, at about 20 minutes by car against about 25 minutes from Dubai Harbour. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Harbour and Dubai Maritime City?
Dubai Harbour is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Dubai Maritime 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 Dubai Harbour and Dubai Maritime City?
In Dubai Harbour: Bayview by Address Resorts from AED 3,300,888, Dubai Harbour Residences from AED 3,900,000, DAMAC Bay by Cavalli from AED 3,939,000 and DAMAC Bay 2 by Cavalli from AED 8,886,000. In Dubai Maritime City: Shahrukhz Residences by Danube from AED 1,650,000, Chelsea Residences from AED 2,457,000, Soulever by Beyond from AED 2,500,000 and Harbour Lights by de GRISOGONO from AED 6,666,000.
More area comparisons
- Dubai Harbour vs Jumeirah Lake Towers
- Dubai Harbour vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Harbour vs Dubai Marina
- Dubai Harbour vs Palm Jebel Ali
- Downtown Dubai vs Dubai Harbour
- Dubai Harbour vs Nad Al Sheba
- Business Bay vs Dubai Maritime City
- Downtown Dubai vs Dubai Maritime City
- Dubai Maritime City vs Rashid Yachts & Marina
- City Walk vs Dubai Maritime City
- Dubai Islands vs Dubai Maritime City
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Dubai Maritime City
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
