Dubai Sports City or The Valley by Emaar?
Side by side on published prices, yields, new developments and drive times.
Pictured: Aspirz by Danube by Danube Properties
Where each one leads
Drawn only from published figures and the developments we list, each with its source.
Lower price per sq ft
The Valley by Emaar averages AED 1,350 per sq ft against AED 1,393 in Dubai Sports City, about 3% less (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Higher gross yield
Dubai Sports City shows a gross yield of 7.93% against 5.17% in The Valley by Emaar (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 The Valley by Emaar average AED 147,722 a year against AED 68,470 in Dubai Sports City (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Lower entry price
The lowest developer price we list in Dubai Sports City is AED 879,000 at Aspirz by Danube, against AED 8,891,888 at Ovelle in The Valley by Emaar.
Closer to Dubai Marina
Dubai Sports City is about 22 minutes from Dubai Marina by car, against about 25 minutes from The Valley by Emaar.
Side by side
| Measure | Dubai Sports City | The Valley by Emaar |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Freehold |
| Price per sq ft | AED 1,393Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,850 sales | AED 1,350Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 948 sales |
| Gross rental yield | 7.93%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,850 sales | 5.17%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 948 sales |
| Average annual rent | AED 68,470Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 9,529 contracts | AED 147,722Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 914 contracts |
| Developments we list | 2 | 1 |
| Lowest developer price | AED 879,000Aspirz by Danube | AED 8,891,888Ovelle |
| Drive to Dubai Marina | about 22 minutes | about 25 minutes |
| Drive to Dubai International Airport | about 27 minutes | about 25 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 Sports City
- Aspirz by DanubeDanube PropertiesAED 879,000
- Azizi GrandAzizi DevelopmentsAED 1,104,000
What each area is like
Dubai Sports City
Established apartment and villa district built around Dubai International Cricket Stadium and The Els Club golf course, with a new wave of budget towers under construction.
Who it suits
- Budget apartment investors
- Tenants and owners who use the sports facilities
- Families looking at Victory Heights villas
- Buyers wanting an established district at JVC-level prices
In its favour
- Existing community with schools, clinics, a golf course and an international cricket stadium
- Direct access to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, with Al Khail Road minutes away
- Entry prices for new studios from about AED 600,000 (Property Finder, November 2026)
Worth weighing
- No metro: Bayut puts the nearest station about 12 minutes away by car, so residents need a vehicle or rely on buses
- A cluster of new towers, most of them studios and one-bedroom flats, is due between 2027 and 2028 and will compete with a large existing stock of older apartments
The Valley by Emaar
Emaar's townhouse and villa community on the Dubai-Al Ain Road, about 25 minutes from Downtown Dubai. Early phases are complete; newer villa phases such as Ovelle and Avelia hand over towards 2029.
Who it suits
- Families who want a house and garden at a lower entry price than central villa districts
- Buyers who want to inspect a partly completed community before committing
- Households commuting towards Downtown Dubai or Academic City
- Upgraders within the community moving from a townhouse to a villa
In its favour
- Partly delivered: the first townhouse clusters (Eden, Nara, Talia) are listed as ready by Bayut
- 47,000 sq m Golden Beach, 25,000 sq m Sports Village and 13,000 sq m Kids Dale
- 24 phases listed by Emaar, from three-bedroom townhouses to five-bedroom villas
Worth weighing
- Car-dependent: there is no metro, and Emaar describes public transport as planned
- A long way from the beach, Dubai Marina and the Jebel Ali employment zones
Dubai Sports City or The Valley by Emaar: quick answers
Is Dubai Sports City or The Valley by Emaar cheaper per square foot?
The Valley by Emaar is cheaper on the published figures: AED 1,350 per sq ft against AED 1,393 in Dubai Sports City (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 Sports City or The Valley by Emaar?
Dubai Sports City, on the published figures: a gross yield of 7.93% against 5.17% in The Valley by Emaar (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 Sports City and The Valley by Emaar?
New tenancy contracts average AED 68,470 a year in Dubai Sports City and AED 147,722 in The Valley by Emaar (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026). Both averages mix small and large homes.
Which is closer to Dubai Marina, Dubai Sports City or The Valley by Emaar?
Dubai Sports City, at about 22 minutes by car against about 25 minutes from The Valley by Emaar. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Which is closer to Dubai International Airport, Dubai Sports City or The Valley by Emaar?
The Valley by Emaar, at about 25 minutes by car against about 27 minutes from Dubai Sports City. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Sports City and The Valley by Emaar?
Dubai Sports City is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. The Valley by Emaar 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 Sports City and The Valley by Emaar?
In Dubai Sports City: Aspirz by Danube from AED 879,000 and Azizi Grand from AED 1,104,000. In The Valley by Emaar: Ovelle from AED 8,891,888.
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- Dubai Sports City vs Town Square
- DAMAC Islands vs Dubai Sports City
- Dubai Sports City vs Dubai Studio City
- Dubai Sports City vs Motor City
- Downtown Jebel Ali vs Dubai Sports 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
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- One salaried adviser, not on commission, from first call to handover
