Dubai Marina or Nad Al Sheba?
Side by side on published prices, yields, new developments and drive times.
Pictured: Marina Cove 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 Marina averages AED 2,632 per sq ft against AED 3,133 in Nad Al Sheba, about 16% less (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Higher gross yield
Dubai Marina shows a gross yield of 5.88% 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 128,305 in Dubai Marina (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 4,467,888 at Marina Shores in Dubai Marina.
Side by side
| Measure | Dubai Marina | Nad Al Sheba |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Mixed |
| Price per sq ft | AED 2,632Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,150 sales | AED 3,133Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,513 sales |
| Gross rental yield | 5.88%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,150 sales | 4.61%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,513 sales |
| Average annual rent | AED 128,305Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 15,781 contracts | AED 239,272Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,587 contracts |
| Developments we list | 3 | 2 |
| Lowest developer price | AED 4,467,888Marina Shores | AED 1,350,000Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti City |
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 Marina
- Marina ShoresEmaar PropertiesAED 4,467,888
- Marina CoveEmaar PropertiesAED 4,575,888
- Six Senses Residences Dubai MarinaSelect GroupAED 5,760,000
Nad Al Sheba
- Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti CityBinghattiAED 1,350,000
- Vision IconicBinghattiAED 2,307,000
What each area is like
Dubai Marina
Dubai's established high-rise waterfront district, built by Emaar around a three-kilometre canal. Mature, well connected by metro and tram, with only a handful of new towers left to come.
Who it suits
- Buy-to-let investors
- Young professionals
- Buyers who want metro and tram access
- Second-home owners wanting a lively, walkable base
In its favour
- Fully built waterfront district with a promenade, mall, restaurants and beach access nearby
- Red Line metro station and Dubai Tram within the district
- Established rental market: the district has been occupied since the mid-2000s
Worth weighing
- Older stock varies in quality. A fire in the 67-storey Marina Pinnacle in June 2025 displaced thousands of residents; check a tower's cladding, maintenance history and owners' association finances before buying a resale.
- New launches are priced well above neighbouring completed apartments, which caps resale upside until the gap closes.
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 Marina or Nad Al Sheba: quick answers
Is Dubai Marina or Nad Al Sheba cheaper per square foot?
Dubai Marina is cheaper on the published figures: AED 2,632 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 Marina or Nad Al Sheba?
Dubai Marina, on the published figures: a gross yield of 5.88% 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 Marina and Nad Al Sheba?
New tenancy contracts average AED 128,305 a year in Dubai Marina 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.
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Marina and Nad Al Sheba?
Dubai Marina 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 Marina and Nad Al Sheba?
In Dubai Marina: Marina Shores from AED 4,467,888, Marina Cove from AED 4,575,888 and Six Senses Residences Dubai Marina from AED 5,760,000. 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
- Downtown Jebel Ali vs Dubai Marina
- Dubai Harbour vs Dubai Marina
- Dubai Marina vs Jumeirah Golf Estates
- Dubai Marina vs Jumeirah Lake Towers
- Dubai Marina vs Jumeirah Village Circle
- Dubai Marina vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Marina vs Wasl Gate
- Business Bay vs Dubai Marina
- Downtown Dubai vs Dubai Marina
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Dubai Marina
- Dubai Hills Estate vs Dubai Marina
- Dubai Marina 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
