International City
Who International City suits: and who it doesn't
International City is Dubai's lowest-cost freehold at scale: country-themed clusters of walk-up apartments around Dragon Mart, plus newer phases improving the spec. It suits deep-yield investors who understand the product and budget tenants keeping occupancy near-permanent. It doesn't suit image-conscious buyers — this is a spreadsheet decision. What to watch: cluster condition and parking pressure vary block to block, and the newer Phase 2/3 stock is a different (better) product than the originals. , Equity Edge analyst note
The numbers, registered
Apartments
| Layout | Median sale | AED/sqft | Median rent | Gross yield | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | AED 350K | 733 | AED 30K/yr | 8.6% | 853 sales · 6,000 rents |
| 1 bed | AED 480K | 636 | AED 39K/yr | 8% | 860 sales · 17,553 rents |
| 2 bed | AED 983K | 794 | AED 54K/yr | 5.5% | 118 sales · 2,507 rents |
| 3 bed | AED 1.6M | 650 | AED 67K/yr | 4.3% | 50 sales · 141 rents |
| 4+ bed | , | , | AED 105K/yr | , | 152 rents |
Villas & townhouses
| Layout | Median rent | Gross yield | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 bed | AED 115K/yr | , | 413 rents |
Where International City sits
How International City compares
| Community | Median AED/sqft | Gross yield | Entry (1BR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| International City (this guide) | 710 | 8.1% | AED 480K |
| Dubai Marina | 2,366 | 4.6% | AED 2M |
| Downtown Dubai | 2,965 | 5.2% | AED 2.3M |
| Palm Jumeirah | 3,531 | 3.5% | AED 3.8M |
Questions buyers ask about International City
What does an apartment cost in International City in 2026?
The median registered sale price for a International City apartment is AED 470K (1,881 DLD-registered sales, 12 months to Aug 2026), or AED 710/sqft. The median 1-bedroom sold for AED 480K.
What rent does an apartment achieve in International City?
The median registered rent is AED 38K/year across 26,353 Ejari contracts (12 months to Aug 2026). Per-bedroom medians are in the table above, these are registered contracts, not asking prices.
What gross yield do International City apartments deliver?
8.1% gross, median registered rent divided by median registered sale price, both from the trailing 12 months. Asking-price yields quoted elsewhere usually flatter; this is the registered number.
Are International City yields real?
The gross numbers on this page are among Dubai’s highest, and occupancy is structural — the city always needs its most affordable stock. Net yields depend on building management and maintenance surprises; we underwrite per building, not per brochure.
What about the area’s old reputation?
The early clusters had genuine issues — utilities, upkeep, parking. Conditions improved as owners’ associations matured, and the newer phases are conventionally decent. Walk the specific building; the spread between good and bad clusters is the whole story.
Who rents here?
Service-sector and logistics workers, Dragon Mart traders, and families on tight budgets — Dubai’s working backbone. Demand is price-driven and constant, which is exactly what a yield asset wants.
Upcoming launches in Dubai
All launches →
OFF-PLANQ4 2029Cedarwood Estates - South
OFF-PLANQ4 2026The Cove II
OFF-PLANQ2 2026