Dubai Marina or Tilal Al Ghaf?
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
Tilal Al Ghaf averages AED 2,278 per sq ft against AED 2,632 in Dubai Marina, about 13% 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 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 128,305 in Dubai Marina (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Side by side
| Measure | Dubai Marina | Tilal Al Ghaf |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Freehold |
| Price per sq ft | AED 2,632Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,150 sales | AED 2,278Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 357 sales |
| Gross rental yield | 5.88%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,150 sales | 5.19%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 357 sales |
| Average annual rent | AED 128,305Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 15,781 contracts | AED 322,515Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,350 contracts |
| Developments we list | 3 | 0 |
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
Tilal Al Ghaf
We do not list a development in Tilal Al Ghaf yet.
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.
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
Dubai Marina or Tilal Al Ghaf: quick answers
Is Dubai Marina 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 2,632 in Dubai Marina (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 Tilal Al Ghaf?
Dubai Marina, on the published figures: a gross yield of 5.88% 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 Marina and Tilal Al Ghaf?
New tenancy contracts average AED 128,305 a year in Dubai Marina 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.
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Marina and Tilal Al Ghaf?
Dubai Marina 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 Marina and Tilal Al Ghaf?
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. We do not list a development in Tilal Al Ghaf yet.
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
