Dubai Maritime City or Nad Al Sheba?
Side by side on published prices, yields, new developments and drive times.
Pictured: Chelsea Residences 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 3,133 in Nad Al Sheba, about 0% 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 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 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 Nad Al Sheba is AED 1,350,000 at Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti City, against AED 1,650,000 at Shahrukhz Residences by Danube in Dubai Maritime City.
Closer to Dubai International Airport
Dubai Maritime City is about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport by car, against about 23 minutes from Nad Al Sheba.
Side by side
| Measure | Dubai Maritime City | Nad Al Sheba |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Mixed |
| Price per sq ft | AED 3,128Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,671 sales | AED 3,133Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,513 sales |
| Gross rental yield | 5.23%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,671 sales | 4.61%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,513 sales |
| Average annual rent | AED 113,373Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 139 contracts | AED 239,272Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,587 contracts |
| Developments we list | 4 | 2 |
| Lowest developer price | AED 1,650,000Shahrukhz Residences by Danube | AED 1,350,000Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti City |
| Drive to Downtown Dubai | about 20 minutes | about 20 minutes |
| Drive to Dubai International Airport | about 20 minutes | about 23 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 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
Nad Al Sheba
- Mercedes-Benz Places | Binghatti CityBinghattiAED 1,350,000
- Vision IconicBinghattiAED 2,307,000
What each area is like
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.
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 Maritime City or Nad Al Sheba: quick answers
Is Dubai Maritime City or Nad Al Sheba cheaper per square foot?
Dubai Maritime City is cheaper on the published figures: AED 3,128 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 Maritime City or Nad Al Sheba?
Dubai Maritime City, on the published figures: a gross yield of 5.23% 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 Maritime City and Nad Al Sheba?
New tenancy contracts average AED 113,373 a year in Dubai Maritime City 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.
Which is closer to Downtown Dubai, Dubai Maritime City or Nad Al Sheba?
Both are about 20 minutes from Downtown Dubai by car. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Which is closer to Dubai International Airport, Dubai Maritime City or Nad Al Sheba?
Dubai Maritime City, at about 20 minutes by car against about 23 minutes from Nad Al Sheba. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Maritime City and Nad Al Sheba?
Dubai Maritime City 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 Maritime City and Nad Al Sheba?
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. 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
- 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
- Dubai Harbour vs Dubai Maritime City
- Dubai Maritime City vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Marina vs Dubai Maritime City
- Business Bay vs Nad Al Sheba
- Dubai Creek Harbour vs Nad Al Sheba
- Meydan vs Nad Al Sheba
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
