Off-plan property in DIFC

The Dubai International Financial Centre is a 110-hectare financial free zone on Sheikh Zayed Road, between Downtown Dubai and the Trade Centre area. It began operating in 2004 and is a separate jurisdiction for civil and commercial matters, with its own laws written in English on common-law lines and its own courts. Bayut counts more than 6,900 active companies, from global banks and wealth managers to fintech firms, and the district is anchored by Gate Avenue, a shopping and dining promenade.

Housing here has always been a small part of the mix. Bayut describes apartments from studios to three bedrooms, with four- and five-bedroom penthouses, alongside office towers and hotels such as the Four Seasons Hotel DIFC and The Ritz-Carlton DIFC. The new supply is mostly at the top of the market. H&H Development is building Eden House Za'abeel on the Za'abeel side, Four Seasons Private Residences at DIFC on Gate Avenue, and Janu Dubai Hotel & Residences, designed by Herzog & de Meuron.

The district is well served. Emirates Towers and Financial Centre metro stations on the Red Line are a short walk from most buildings, and Bayut puts Downtown Dubai about 8 minutes away and Dubai International Airport under 15 minutes by car. Property Finder lists the new DIFC projects as freehold.

The trade-offs are density and cost. Bayut notes heavy rush-hour traffic, difficulty finding taxis at peak times and visitor parking at about AED 25 an hour in the main garages. Prices are high by the square foot even against Downtown, so compare carefully with Business Bay and Downtown before committing.