‘How much does an apartment in Dubai cost?’ can only be answered honestly with two figures: the minimum and the median. The minimum shows where the conversation starts. The median shows what the apartments you will actually consider cost.
Below are both figures for Dubai’s areas. They are based on 1,310 projects in our catalogue with an advertised starting price. The median means half the area’s projects cost less and half cost more. An average does not work here: an AED 100 million villa on the Palm would distort it so much that the figure would no longer describe the area.
Where entry costs less
Dubai’s lowest entry point today is AED 499,000. It is a studio in a development on the city’s outer edge, 40 minutes from the centre, yet priced comparably to a one-bedroom flat on the outskirts of St Petersburg.
| Area | From | Median | Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Industrial City | AED 595,000 | AED 758,000 | 14 |
| Warsan Fourth | AED 504,000 | AED 824,000 | 21 |
| Motor City | AED 755,000 | AED 880,000 | 11 |
| Dubai Production City | AED 600,000 | AED 914,000 | 16 |
| Wadi Al Safa 5 | AED 544,000 | AED 915,000 | 64 |
| Dubai Sports City | AED 499,000 | AED 1.06 million | 16 |
What these areas have in common is that they have grown over the last 10 years around highways rather than the sea. Not all have a metro station, and the beach requires a drive. These apartments are bought to let: tenants in these areas care less about a view than price and parking.
Where it costs most
| Area | From | Median | Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Jumeirah | AED 1.53 million | AED 10.55 million | 18 |
| Al Wasl | AED 2.13 million | AED 7.09 million | 15 |
| Downtown Dubai | AED 1.43 million | AED 5.55 million | 14 |
| Dubai Marina | AED 1.85 million | AED 4.52 million | 14 |
| Wadi Al Safa 3 | AED 1.06 million | AED 3.51 million | 20 |
| Dubai Harbour | AED 2.3 million | AED 3.43 million | 10 |
Here, it is not the square metre that drives the price but the view and address. On the Palm and in the Marina, the gap between floors in the same building can reach a third of the price: the waterfront position costs extra. If you are buying to let, calculate the rent rather than the price per square metre: rents in these areas rise more slowly than asking prices.
What this looks like in projects
Three real projects from our catalogue: low, mid-range and high entry points in the same city. Prices are starting prices as of the date this page was prepared.
What is behind ‘from’
The developer’s advertised starting price applies to one specific apartment, usually a studio on a lower floor overlooking the courtyard. By the time you come to choose, it may already be gone. Calculate it this way:
The rule is simple: add 5% to the advertised price. That is the amount you will actually pay upfront.
How much money you need upfront
You do not need the full amount at the start: almost all off-plan projects are sold with a payment plan. The first instalment is 10 to 24% of the price. So for an AED 1.2 million apartment, you will need about AED 170,000 to AED 290,000 upfront, including the fee. We explain separately how payment plans work and where the catch lies.
Where to start
Our catalogue brings together the entire UAE new-build market, with prices and payment plans. Prices by Dubai area are available on a separate page.
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