--- title: "Dubai South, Dubai" canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-south markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/dubai/dubai-south.md type: area description: "The 145 sq km government-planned district around Al Maktoum International Airport, mixing logistics, aviation and free-zone land with residential communities. Low entry prices; the case rests on the airport's long expansion." last_verified: 2026-11-12 sources: 6 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 South: property and area guide > The 145 sq km government-planned district around Al Maktoum International Airport, mixing logistics, aviation and free-zone land with residential communities. Low entry prices; the case rests on the airport's long expansion. Facts last verified 12 November 2026 against the sources listed at the end. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Emirate | [Dubai](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai) | | Area type | district | | Tenure | Freehold for all nationalities | | Also known as | Dubai World Central, DWC, Dubai South Residential District, Dubai South Golf District | | Developments covered | 1 | ## Overview Dubai South is the planned city around Al Maktoum International Airport, formerly marketed as Dubai World Central. Bayut's area guide puts it at 145 sq km across eight zones covering residential, commercial, logistics, aviation and exhibition uses. It is a Dubai Government project, and its residential arm, [Dubai South Properties](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/developers/dubai-south-properties), builds and sells homes directly alongside private developers. The residential map has several distinct parts. The Residential District holds mid-market apartment buildings by many smaller developers. The Golf District contains [Emaar South](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/emaar-south), which this site treats as its own area, and Dubai South Properties' Hayat villa and townhouse community. South Bay is another Dubai South Properties community, The Pulse is a further residential cluster, and Azizi Venice is a large lagoon-themed scheme by Azizi that Property Finder lists as bordering Emaar South. [Expo City Dubai](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/expo-city) adjoins the district and is also covered separately. Property Finder listed 144 new projects in Dubai South in November 2026. Launch prices on its first page ran from under AED 600,000 for a studio to AED 6.5 million for a villa at Hayat, with handover targets mostly between 2028 and 2030. This is one of the most heavily supplied off-plan districts in Dubai. The long-term argument is the airport. In April 2024 Dubai approved a new AED 128 billion passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International, designed for an eventual 260 million passengers a year with five parallel runways, and said Dubai International's operations would move there in time. That is a programme measured in decades, and full completion is not expected before the mid-2030s. Roads are the district's present-day strength, with direct access to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) and Emirates Road (E611). Because the district is so large, drive times vary widely between communities, so we give them on individual development pages rather than here. ## Who it suits - Budget-conscious buyers who accept a long commute for a lower price - People employed at the airport, in logistics or in the Dubai South free zone - Patient investors taking a ten-year view on the airport relocation - Families wanting a villa below the prices of established suburbs ## Highlights - 145 sq km planned district built around Al Maktoum International Airport - AED 128 billion airport expansion approved in April 2024, planned for up to 260 million passengers a year - Direct access to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) and Emirates Road (E611) - Wide choice, from studios under AED 700,000 to detached villas above AED 6 million - Government-backed master developer that also builds homes through Dubai South Properties ## Considerations - Very large pipeline: Property Finder listed 144 new projects here in November 2026, most handing over between 2028 and 2030 - The airport expansion is a multi-decade programme, and passenger services at Al Maktoum International have so far been limited - Far from the established city; the metro Red Line reaches Expo City, not the residential communities - Quality varies sharply between large master developers and small first-time builders in the Residential District; check each developer's record - Dubai's off-plan market weakened in 2026, and outlying districts with heavy supply are the most exposed to price pressure - Community retail, schools and healthcare are still catching up with the housing ## Developments in Dubai South - [Azizi Venice](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-south/azizi-venice): Azizi Developments; Dubai South, Dubai; under construction; handover 2027; from AED 758,000 (as of 2026-11-13) ## Nearby areas - [Emaar South](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/emaar-south) - [Expo City Dubai](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/expo-city) - [Downtown Jebel Ali](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/downtown-jebel-ali) - [Grand Polo Club & Resort](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/grand-polo-club-and-resort) - [The Heights Country Club & Wellness](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/the-heights-country-club) - [Palm Jebel Ali](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/palm-jebel-ali) - [Jumeirah Golf Estates](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/jumeirah-golf-estates) - [Dubai Production City](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-production-city) ## Questions and answers ### Is Dubai South the same as Dubai World Central? Yes. Dubai World Central (DWC) was the earlier name for the district and is still used for the airport's code. Property portals often list projects under 'Dubai South (Dubai World Central)'. ### Can foreigners buy property in Dubai South? Yes. The residential projects listed on Property Finder in Dubai South, including those by Emaar, Dubai South Properties and Imtiaz, are sold as freehold. ### When will Al Maktoum International Airport be expanded? Dubai approved designs for a new AED 128 billion passenger terminal in April 2024, with an eventual capacity of 260 million passengers a year. It will be built in phases, and full completion is not expected before the mid-2030s. Treat any single completion date quoted by a sales agent with caution. ### Which communities are inside Dubai South? The main ones are the Residential District, the Golf District (including Emaar South and Hayat), South Bay, The Pulse and Azizi Venice. Expo City Dubai adjoins the district. ### How much does new property in Dubai South cost? Among the developments we cover in Dubai South, prices start from AED 758,000 at [Azizi Venice](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-south/azizi-venice). ### Which developers are building in Dubai South? Current developments we cover in Dubai South are by Azizi Developments. ### What are property prices in Dubai South per square foot? Published figures for Dubai South: AED 1,599 per sq ft for all homes (average sale price per sq ft; Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 14,741 sales). Averages move with the mix of homes sold, and asking prices usually sit above prices paid. Compare areas in our [price per sq ft table](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/data/area-prices). ### What is the rental yield in Dubai South? The published average gross rental yield in Dubai South is 6.36% for all homes (Property Finder, from registered transactions, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 14,741 sales). Gross yield is before service charges, empty months, management and fees, so the net figure is lower: work it out for a specific home with the [rental yield calculator](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/tools/rental-yield-calculator), or compare areas on [rental yields by area](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/data/area-yields). ### What is the average rent in Dubai South? The average annual rent on new contracts in Dubai South is AED 83,416 for all homes (Property Finder, from registered tenancy contracts, 12 months to 12 November 2026, 7,898 contracts). That average mixes studios with larger homes, so ask for the rents achieved on comparable units before relying on a figure for one property. ## Sources Facts on this page were last checked against these sources on 12 November 2026. - [Bayut: Dubai South area guide](https://www.bayut.com/area-guides/dubai-south/) - [Dubai South Properties: Hayat by Dubai South](https://www.dubaisouthproperties.ae/) - [Dubai South official website](https://www.dubaisouth.ae/) - [Property Finder: new projects in Dubai South](https://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/new-projects/lp/dubai/dubai-south-dubai-world-central) - [Property Finder: Azizi Venice](https://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/new-projects/azizi-developments/azizi-venice) - [Wikipedia: Al Maktoum International Airport (April 2024 expansion announcement)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Maktoum_International_Airport) --- Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/dubai/dubai-south. 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.