--- title: "Dubai Islands vs Dubai Maritime City" canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/compare/areas/dubai-islands-vs-dubai-maritime-city markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/compare/areas/dubai-islands-vs-dubai-maritime-city.md type: area-comparison description: "Dubai Islands and Dubai Maritime City compared on published prices, rental yields, new developments and drive times." last_verified: 2026-11-12 publisher: "UAE Property Agents (Omnia)" language: en-GB usage: "You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting." --- # Dubai Islands or Dubai Maritime City? ## Side by side | | [Dubai Islands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands) | [Dubai Maritime City](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-maritime-city) | | --- | --- | --- | | Emirate | Dubai | Dubai | | Tenure | freehold | freehold | | Price per sq ft | AED 2,744, [Property Finder](https://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/transactions/buy/dubai/dubai-islands), 12 months to 12 November 2026 | AED 3,128, [Property Finder](https://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/transactions/buy/dubai/maritime-city), 12 months to 12 November 2026 | | Developments we list | 8 | 4 | | Drive to Dubai International Airport | about 20 minutes | about 20 minutes | | Drive to Downtown Dubai | about 24 minutes | about 20 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. ## Where each one leads - **Lower price per sq ft**: Dubai Islands averages AED 2,744 per sq ft against AED 3,128 in Dubai Maritime City, about 12% less (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026). - **Lower entry price**: The lowest developer price we list in Dubai Islands is AED 1,050,000 at DO Hotels & Residences Dubai Islands, against AED 1,650,000 at Shahrukhz Residences by Danube in Dubai Maritime City. - **Closer to Downtown Dubai**: Dubai Maritime City is about 20 minutes from Downtown Dubai by car, against about 24 minutes from Dubai Islands. ## Developments in Dubai Islands - [DO Hotels & Residences Dubai Islands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/do-hotels-and-residences-dubai-islands): One Development; Dubai Islands, Dubai; launched; handover Q4 2027; from AED 1,050,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Azizi Wasel](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/azizi-wasel): Azizi Developments; Dubai Islands, Dubai; under construction; handover Q1 2028; from AED 1,680,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Ellington Sands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/ellington-sands): Ellington Properties; Dubai Islands, Dubai; under construction; handover Q4 2028; from AED 1,700,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Hado by Beyond](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/hado-by-beyond): Beyond Developments; Dubai Islands, Dubai; launched; handover 2029; from AED 2,200,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [The Meriva Collection](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/the-meriva-collection): Ellington Properties; Dubai Islands, Dubai; launched; handover Q2 2030; from AED 2,700,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Samana Ocean Bay](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/samana-ocean-bay): Samana Developers; Dubai Islands, Dubai; under construction; handover Q2 2028; from AED 2,887,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Samana Ocean Pearl](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/samana-ocean-pearl): Samana Developers; Dubai Islands, Dubai; under construction; handover Q4 2027; from AED 3,940,444 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Samana Ocean Pearl 2](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/samana-ocean-pearl-2): Samana Developers; Dubai Islands, Dubai; under construction; handover Q4 2027; from AED 4,278,811 (as of 2026-11-13) ## Developments in Dubai Maritime City - [Shahrukhz Residences by Danube](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-maritime-city/shahrukhz-residences-by-danube): Danube Properties; Dubai Maritime City, Dubai; launched; handover Q4 2029; from AED 1,650,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Chelsea Residences](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-maritime-city/chelsea-residences): DAMAC Properties; Dubai Maritime City, Dubai; under construction; handover Q2 2030; from AED 2,457,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Soulever by Beyond](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-maritime-city/soulever-by-beyond): Beyond Developments; Dubai Maritime City, Dubai; launched; handover Q1 2029; from AED 2,500,000 (as of 2026-11-13) - [Harbour Lights by de GRISOGONO](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-maritime-city/harbour-lights-de-grisogono): DAMAC Properties; Dubai Maritime City, Dubai; under construction; handover Q4 2027; from AED 6,666,000 (as of 2026-11-13) ## What Dubai Islands is like > Five Nakheel-reclaimed islands off Deira in old Dubai, now the emirate's busiest launch zone for mid-rise beachfront apartments, with most handovers falling between 2027 and 2031. Who it suits: Buyers wanting beachfront at a lower entry price; Frequent flyers using Dubai International Airport; Investors comfortable with a long build-out; End-users who prefer low-rise buildings. In its favour: - More than 20 km of beaches and 60 km of waterfront, according to Nakheel - About 20 minutes to Dubai International Airport - Mid-rise and low-rise buildings rather than towers Worth weighing: - Heavy supply pipeline: Property Finder listed 2,796 homes for sale on 12 November 2026, 1,366 of them added in the previous 30 days. Expect competition on resale and rent when buildings complete. - Most of the islands will be a construction site into the 2030s; published handover dates on current projects run from late 2026 to Q1 2031. Full guide: [Dubai Islands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands) ## What Dubai Maritime City is like > 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. Full guide: [Dubai Maritime City](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-maritime-city) ## Questions and answers ### Is Dubai Islands or Dubai Maritime City cheaper per square foot? Dubai Islands is cheaper on the published figures: AED 2,744 per sq ft against AED 3,128 in Dubai Maritime 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 is closer to Dubai International Airport, Dubai Islands or Dubai Maritime City? Both are about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport by car. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic. ### Which is closer to Downtown Dubai, Dubai Islands or Dubai Maritime City? Dubai Maritime City, at about 20 minutes by car against about 24 minutes from Dubai Islands. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic. ### Can foreigners buy property in Dubai Islands and Dubai Maritime City? Dubai Islands is a designated freehold area, open to buyers of any nationality. Dubai Maritime City 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 Islands and Dubai Maritime City? In Dubai Islands: [DO Hotels & Residences Dubai Islands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/do-hotels-and-residences-dubai-islands) from AED 1,050,000, [Azizi Wasel](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/azizi-wasel) from AED 1,680,000, [Ellington Sands](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/ellington-sands) from AED 1,700,000 and [Hado by Beyond](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-islands/hado-by-beyond) from AED 2,200,000. In Dubai Maritime City: [Shahrukhz Residences by Danube](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-maritime-city/shahrukhz-residences-by-danube) from AED 1,650,000, [Chelsea Residences](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-maritime-city/chelsea-residences) from AED 2,457,000, [Soulever by Beyond](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-maritime-city/soulever-by-beyond) from AED 2,500,000 and [Harbour Lights by de GRISOGONO](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-maritime-city/harbour-lights-de-grisogono) from AED 6,666,000. --- Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/compare/areas/dubai-islands-vs-dubai-maritime-city. Published by UAE Property Agents, Omnia Capital Group. You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting.