Dubai Harbour or Palm Jumeirah?
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
Palm Jumeirah averages AED 3,966 per sq ft against AED 4,066 in Dubai Harbour, about 2% less (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Higher gross yield
Palm Jumeirah shows a gross yield of 6.08% 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 Palm Jumeirah average AED 388,076 a year against AED 196,771 in Dubai Harbour (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Lower entry price
The lowest developer price we list in Dubai Harbour is AED 3,300,888 at Bayview by Address Resorts, against AED 5,500,000 at Passo by Beyond in Palm Jumeirah.
Closer to Dubai Marina
Dubai Harbour is about 10 minutes from Dubai Marina by car, against about 13 minutes from Palm Jumeirah.
Side by side
| Measure | Dubai Harbour | Palm Jumeirah |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Freehold |
| Price per sq ft | AED 4,066Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 741 sales | AED 3,966Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,116 sales |
| Gross rental yield | 5.16%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 741 sales | 6.08%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,116 sales |
| Average annual rent | AED 196,771Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,589 contracts | AED 388,076Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 5,194 contracts |
| Developments we list | 6 | 2 |
| Lowest developer price | AED 3,300,888Bayview by Address Resorts | AED 5,500,000Passo by Beyond |
| Drive to Dubai Marina | about 10 minutes | about 13 minutes |
| Drive to Dubai International Airport | about 25 minutes | about 35 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
Palm Jumeirah
- Passo by BeyondBeyond DevelopmentsAED 5,500,000
- Ocean HouseEllington PropertiesAED 23,000,000
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.
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).
Dubai Harbour or Palm Jumeirah: quick answers
Is Dubai Harbour or Palm Jumeirah cheaper per square foot?
Palm Jumeirah is cheaper on the published figures: AED 3,966 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 Palm Jumeirah?
Palm Jumeirah, on the published figures: a gross yield of 6.08% 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 Palm Jumeirah?
New tenancy contracts average AED 196,771 a year in Dubai Harbour and AED 388,076 in Palm Jumeirah (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026). Both averages mix small and large homes.
Which is closer to Dubai Marina, Dubai Harbour or Palm Jumeirah?
Dubai Harbour, at about 10 minutes by car against about 13 minutes from Palm Jumeirah. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Which is closer to Dubai International Airport, Dubai Harbour or Palm Jumeirah?
Dubai Harbour, at about 25 minutes by car against about 35 minutes from Palm Jumeirah. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Harbour and Palm Jumeirah?
Dubai Harbour 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 Dubai are registered with the DLD.
Which new developments can I buy in Dubai Harbour and Palm Jumeirah?
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 Palm Jumeirah: Passo by Beyond from AED 5,500,000 and Ocean House from AED 23,000,000.
More area comparisons
- Dubai Harbour vs Jumeirah Lake Towers
- Dubai Harbour vs Dubai Marina
- Dubai Harbour vs Palm Jebel Ali
- Downtown Dubai vs Dubai Harbour
- Dubai Harbour vs Dubai Maritime City
- Dubai Harbour vs Nad Al Sheba
- 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
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
