Dubai Marina
A district of residential towers built around a man-made canal on the coast, with yachts moored below the apartments and the beach at JBR a short walk away.
Dubai Marina is one of the city's best-known places to live. Emaar Properties began building it in 2003 around a man-made canal of about 3 kilometres that runs parallel to the coast, and most of it was finished by 2008. More than 200 towers now line the water, many of them among the tallest residential buildings in the city, and the promenade along the canal, Marina Walk, is lined with cafes and restaurants at its base.
Almost every home here is an apartment, from studios to four bedrooms, with penthouses and duplexes on the upper floors of the premium towers. There are a few podium villas in the Dubai Marina Towers by Emaar, and several hotel apartment buildings, such as the JW Marriott Hotel Marina and Orra Harbour, cater to residents who want a serviced home and to investors in short-term letting.
The district is lively from morning until late in the evening and draws visitors as well as residents, particularly in the cooler months. It suits people who want to walk to restaurants, the beach and public transport rather than drive: two Metro stations on the Red Line and the Dubai Tram serve it, and The Beach at JBR is next door.
Tell us what you are looking for and we will send you what is available now, with the figures behind it.
Contact usLocation and connectivity
Getting around
Two Metro stations on the Red Line serve the district: DMCC and Sobha Realty, both on Sheikh Zayed Road, with direct trains to Downtown Dubai, the airport and Jebel Ali. The Dubai Tram runs through the Marina and along JBR, links to both Metro stations and continues to Al Sufouh. By car, Sheikh Zayed Road runs along the inland side of the district and King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street connects it to Media City and Internet City. Most towers have basement or podium parking for residents, but visitor and street parking is limited, especially near the promenade on weekend evenings. Traffic builds at the main exits at rush hour, and the many tram crossings add traffic lights to most journeys out of the district.
Travel times
| Destination | Minutes | Kilometres |
|---|---|---|
| Bluewaters Island | 10 to 15 min | 4 km |
| Dubai Media City | 15 to 20 min | 6 km |
| Dubai Internet City | 15 to 20 min | 9 km |
| Ibn Battuta Mall | 15 to 20 min | 6 km |
| Dubai Harbour | 15 to 20 min | 8 km |
| Mall of the Emirates | 20 to 25 min | 12 km |
| Palm Jumeirah (Atlantis The Palm) | 25 to 30 min | 15 km |
| Dubai Hills Mall | 25 to 30 min | 18 km |
| Destination | Minutes | Kilometres |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall) | 25 to 30 min | 24 km |
| DIFC | 30 to 35 min | 27 km |
| Expo City Dubai | 30 to 35 min | 19 to 23 km |
| Dubai International Airport (DXB), Terminal 1 | 35 to 40 min | 36 km |
| Dubai International Airport (DXB), Terminal 3 | 40 to 45 min | 37 km |
| Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) | 40 to 45 min | 34 to 35 km |
| Abu Dhabi (Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque) | 75 to 85 min | 109 km |
By car, outside rush hour. Times vary with traffic.
Investment potential
Dubai Marina has some of the steadiest rental demand in the city: the waterfront, the beach next door and two Metro stations keep apartments easy to let to professionals, couples and holiday guests.
Prices have held broadly level over the past year while the number of sales has fallen. Between about 2,200 and 2,800 sales were registered over the most recent twelve months, depending on the source and the period measured, with a median price of around AED 2.05 million. Registered prices averaged about AED 2,000 to 2,200 per square foot in 2026, well below Downtown Dubai and Palm Jumeirah for a comparable waterfront address.
Gross rental yields of about 5.5% to 6.5% are higher than in Downtown, because entry prices are lower. Studios and one-bedroom apartments tend to yield the most. Returns vary a great deal from tower to tower: many buildings are now 15 to 20 years old, service charges differ widely between them, and units with a direct marina or sea view sit at a clear premium over those without one.
The district is almost fully built, so new supply is limited to a small number of towers on the last plots, such as Marina Cove by Emaar and the Six Senses Residences by Select Group, both due later this decade.
Indicative prices
- Studio
- AED 560,000 to 1.2M
- Annual rent about AED 70,000 to 75,000
- 1 bedroom
- AED 1.0M to 1.7M
- Annual rent about AED 100,000
- 2 bedrooms
- AED 1.8M to 2.8M
- Annual rent about AED 155,000
- 3 bedrooms
- AED 4.1M to 4.4M
- Annual rent about AED 250,000
Key figures
- Average price per sq ft
- About AED 2,000 to 2,200
- Price change, last 12 months
- Broadly flat, within about 5% either way
- Gross rental yield
- About 5.5% to 6.5%
- Median sale price
- About AED 2.05M
- Sales in the last 12 months
- About 2,200 to 2,800
Figures as of October 2026.
Sources: Dubai Land Department data via Property Monitor, Property Finder and dataHabibi; Bayut H1 2026 market reports; Metropolitan Premium Properties H1 2026 resale report; listing data from Provident and Betterhomes.
Figures are indicative and for information only. They are not financial advice.
Lifestyle
Life here centres on Marina Walk, the promenade around the canal, where residents walk, run and cycle, and where most of the cafes and restaurants are. The Beach at JBR, a public beach with shops and restaurants behind it, is a few minutes on foot from the western towers, and Bluewaters Island and Dubai Harbour are a short drive away. Dubai Marina Mall covers everyday shopping, with a Waitrose supermarket and a cinema, and most towers have a small supermarket, pharmacy or cafe at street level. Green space is limited, and most families rely on the pools and play areas inside their building. There are no schools inside the Marina itself; families drive 10 to 20 minutes to schools in Emirates Hills, Al Sufouh, The Meadows and Jumeirah Park, while several nurseries operate in the Marina and at JBR.
Places nearby
Schools and nurseries
- Dubai British School, Emirates HillsBritish curriculum, outside the district
- Dubai International Academy, Emirates HillsIB curriculum, outside the district
- GEMS Wellington International School, Al SufouhBritish and IB curriculum
- Emirates International School, MeadowsIB curriculum
- Blossom Nursery, Dubai MarinaInside the district
Healthcare
- Medcare Medical Centre, Dubai MarinaMulti-speciality clinic
- Emirates Hospitals Clinic, Dubai MarinaClinic
- Saudi German Hospital, Al BarshaFull hospital, 15 to 20 minutes by car
Shopping and groceries
- Dubai Marina MallShops, restaurants, cinema and a Waitrose supermarket
- Spinneys, West Zone and Al MayaSupermarkets in and around the district
Dining
- Marina WalkCafes and restaurants along the canal promenade
- Pier 7Seven floors with a restaurant on each, beside Dubai Marina Mall
Parks and beaches
- The Beach at JBRPublic beach next to the Marina, with shops and restaurants
Culture and leisure
- Dubai Marina Yacht ClubBerths, sailing and restaurants on the canal
- Bluewaters IslandIsland of shops, restaurants and hotels, about 10 minutes by car
Why buyers choose it
- Waterfront living along the canal, with Marina Walk on the doorstep
- Two Metro stations on the Red Line and the Dubai Tram inside the district
- The Beach at JBR within walking distance of the western towers
- Gross yields of about 5.5% to 6.5%, with steady demand from tenants and holiday guests
- A wide range of entry prices, from studios at around AED 560,000
- Media City and Internet City in about 15 to 20 minutes outside rush hour
- Freehold for all nationalities
Worth knowing
- Traffic builds at the main exits at rush hour, and tram crossings add traffic lights to most journeys
- Visitor and street parking is limited, especially near the promenade on weekend evenings
- Busy with visitors, especially from November to February and at weekends
- No schools inside the district; families drive 10 to 20 minutes
- Little green space; children's play areas are mostly inside the towers
- Many towers are 15 to 20 years old, and service charges and upkeep vary widely between buildings
- About 35 to 45 minutes to Dubai International Airport outside rush hour
Who it suits
- Investors who want an easy-to-let apartment with a yield above the prime districts
- Young professionals and couples who want to walk to restaurants, the beach and the Metro
- People working in Media City, Internet City, JLT or Dubai Harbour who want a short commute
- Buyers who want a marina or sea view at a lower price per square foot than Palm Jumeirah or Downtown
- Small families comfortable with apartment living, if a school run to Emirates Hills or Al Sufouh suits them
Dubai Marina in pictures
Thinking about Dubai Marina?
Tell us what you are looking for and we will send you what is available now, with the figures behind it.
Contact us