Dubai Islands or Palm Jumeirah?
Side by side on published prices, yields, new developments and drive times.
Pictured: The Meriva Collection by Ellington 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 Islands averages AED 2,744 per sq ft against AED 3,966 in Palm Jumeirah, about 31% less (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Lower entry price
The lowest developer price we list in Dubai Islands is AED 1,050,000 at DO Hotels & Residences Dubai Islands, against AED 5,500,000 at Passo by Beyond in Palm Jumeirah.
Closer to Dubai International Airport
Dubai Islands is about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport by car, against about 35 minutes from Palm Jumeirah.
Side by side
| Measure | Dubai Islands | Palm Jumeirah |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Freehold |
| Price per sq ft | AED 2,744Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 4,788 sales | AED 3,966Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,116 sales |
| Developments we list | 8 | 2 |
| Lowest developer price | AED 1,050,000DO Hotels & Residences Dubai Islands | AED 5,500,000Passo by Beyond |
| Drive to Dubai International Airport | about 20 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 Islands
- DO Hotels & Residences Dubai IslandsOne DevelopmentAED 1,050,000
- Azizi WaselAzizi DevelopmentsAED 1,680,000
- Ellington SandsEllington PropertiesAED 1,700,000
- Hado by BeyondBeyond DevelopmentsAED 2,200,000
- The Meriva CollectionEllington PropertiesAED 2,700,000
- Samana Ocean BaySamana DevelopersAED 2,887,000
Palm Jumeirah
- Passo by BeyondBeyond DevelopmentsAED 5,500,000
- Ocean HouseEllington PropertiesAED 23,000,000
What each area is like
Dubai Islands
Five Nakheel-reclaimed islands off Deira in old Dubai, now the emirate's busiest launch zone for mid-rise beachfront apartments, with most handovers falling between 2027 and 2031.
Who it suits
- Buyers wanting beachfront at a lower entry price
- Frequent flyers using Dubai International Airport
- Investors comfortable with a long build-out
- End-users who prefer low-rise buildings
In its favour
- More than 20 km of beaches and 60 km of waterfront, according to Nakheel
- About 20 minutes to Dubai International Airport
- Mid-rise and low-rise buildings rather than towers
Worth weighing
- Heavy supply pipeline: Property Finder listed 2,796 homes for sale on 12 November 2026, 1,366 of them added in the previous 30 days. Expect competition on resale and rent when buildings complete.
- Most of the islands will be a construction site into the 2030s; published handover dates on current projects run from late 2026 to Q1 2031.
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 Islands or Palm Jumeirah: quick answers
Is Dubai Islands or Palm Jumeirah cheaper per square foot?
Dubai Islands is cheaper on the published figures: AED 2,744 per sq ft against AED 3,966 in Palm Jumeirah (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 is closer to Dubai International Airport, Dubai Islands or Palm Jumeirah?
Dubai Islands, at about 20 minutes by car against about 35 minutes from Palm Jumeirah. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Islands and Palm Jumeirah?
Dubai Islands 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 Islands and Palm Jumeirah?
In Dubai Islands: DO Hotels & Residences Dubai Islands from AED 1,050,000, Azizi Wasel from AED 1,680,000, Ellington Sands from AED 1,700,000 and Hado by Beyond from AED 2,200,000. In Palm Jumeirah: Passo by Beyond from AED 5,500,000 and Ocean House from AED 23,000,000.
More area comparisons
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Dubai Islands
- Dubai Islands vs Dubai Maritime City
- Dubai Islands vs Rashid Yachts & Marina
- Dubai Harbour vs Palm Jumeirah
- Jumeirah Lake Towers vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Marina vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Media City vs Palm Jumeirah
- Jumeirah vs Palm Jumeirah
- Palm Jebel Ali vs Palm Jumeirah
- Al Marjan Island vs Palm Jumeirah
- Downtown Dubai vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Maritime City 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
