Dubai Sports City or Villanova?
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
Dubai Sports City averages AED 1,393 per sq ft against AED 1,462 in Villanova, about 5% 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 5.56% in Villanova (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 Villanova average AED 163,621 a year against AED 68,470 in Dubai Sports City (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026).
Closer to Mall of the Emirates
Dubai Sports City is about 15 minutes from Mall of the Emirates by car, against about 20 minutes from Villanova.
Side by side
| Measure | Dubai Sports City | Villanova |
|---|---|---|
| Emirate | Dubai | Dubai |
| Tenure | Freehold | Freehold |
| Price per sq ft | AED 1,393Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,850 sales | AED 1,462Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 381 sales |
| Gross rental yield | 7.93%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 2,850 sales | 5.56%Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 381 sales |
| Average annual rent | AED 68,470Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 9,529 contracts | AED 163,621Property Finder, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 1,836 contracts |
| Developments we list | 2 | 0 |
| Drive to Mall of the Emirates | about 15 minutes | about 20 minutes |
| Drive to Dubai Marina | about 22 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
Villanova
We do not list a development in Villanova yet.
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
Villanova
Dubai Properties' Mediterranean-style townhouse and villa community on Emirates Road in Dubailand: mostly complete, family-oriented and priced below the better-known villa suburbs.
Who it suits
- Families wanting a townhouse under about AED 3.5 million
- Owner-occupiers more than short-term investors
- Buyers who want to inspect a finished community first
- Residents working in Academic City or Silicon Oasis
In its favour
- Largely complete: finished clusters, parks and pools can be inspected before buying
- Backed by Dubai Properties, part of Dubai Holding
- Townhouses from AED 2.69 million in the current phase (Property Finder, November 2026)
Worth weighing
- Outer location: no metro, limited buses and few restaurants or cafes close by
- La Tilia is the only phase with developer stock, so choice of new homes is narrow and other purchases are resale
Dubai Sports City or Villanova: quick answers
Is Dubai Sports City or Villanova cheaper per square foot?
Dubai Sports City is cheaper on the published figures: AED 1,393 per sq ft against AED 1,462 in Villanova (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 Villanova?
Dubai Sports City, on the published figures: a gross yield of 7.93% against 5.56% in Villanova (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 Villanova?
New tenancy contracts average AED 68,470 a year in Dubai Sports City and AED 163,621 in Villanova (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026). Both averages mix small and large homes.
Which is closer to Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Sports City or Villanova?
Dubai Sports City, at about 15 minutes by car against about 20 minutes from Villanova. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Which is closer to Dubai Marina, Dubai Sports City or Villanova?
Dubai Sports City, at about 22 minutes by car against about 25 minutes from Villanova. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Sports City and Villanova?
Dubai Sports City is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Villanova 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 Villanova?
In Dubai Sports City: Aspirz by Danube from AED 879,000 and Azizi Grand from AED 1,104,000. We do not list a development in Villanova yet.
More area comparisons
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- Dubai Hills Estate vs Dubai Sports City
- Dubai Production City vs Dubai Sports City
- Dubai Sports City vs Jumeirah Golf Estates
- Dubai Sports City vs Jumeirah Lake Towers
- Dubai Sports City vs Jumeirah Village Circle
- Dubai Sports City vs Tilal Al Ghaf
- 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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