Dubai Maritime City or Palm Jumeirah?
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 3,966 in Palm Jumeirah, about 21% 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 5.23% in Dubai Maritime City (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 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 Dubai Maritime City is AED 1,650,000 at Shahrukhz Residences by Danube, against AED 5,500,000 at Passo by Beyond in Palm Jumeirah.
Closer to Dubai International Airport
Dubai Maritime City is about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport by car, against about 35 minutes from Palm Jumeirah.
Side by side
| Measure | Dubai Maritime City | Palm Jumeirah |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Freehold |
| Price per sq ft | AED 3,128Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,671 sales | AED 3,966Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,116 sales |
| Gross rental yield | 5.23%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,671 sales | 6.08%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,116 sales |
| Average annual rent | AED 113,373Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 139 contracts | AED 388,076Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 5,194 contracts |
| Developments we list | 4 | 2 |
| Lowest developer price | AED 1,650,000Shahrukhz Residences by Danube | 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 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
Palm Jumeirah
- Passo by BeyondBeyond DevelopmentsAED 5,500,000
- Ocean HouseEllington PropertiesAED 23,000,000
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.
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 Maritime City or Palm Jumeirah: quick answers
Is Dubai Maritime City or Palm Jumeirah cheaper per square foot?
Dubai Maritime City is cheaper on the published figures: AED 3,128 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 has the higher rental yield, Dubai Maritime City or Palm Jumeirah?
Palm Jumeirah, on the published figures: a gross yield of 6.08% against 5.23% in Dubai Maritime City (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 Palm Jumeirah?
New tenancy contracts average AED 113,373 a year in Dubai Maritime City 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 International Airport, Dubai Maritime City or Palm Jumeirah?
Dubai Maritime City, 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 Maritime City and Palm Jumeirah?
Dubai Maritime City 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 Maritime City and Palm Jumeirah?
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 Palm Jumeirah: Passo by Beyond from AED 5,500,000 and Ocean House from AED 23,000,000.
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 Nad Al Sheba
- Dubai Marina vs Dubai Maritime City
- Dubai Harbour vs Palm Jumeirah
- Jumeirah Lake Towers vs Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Marina 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
