Dubai International City is a district of Dubai.
Dubai International City is a large residential and commercial district located to the north-east of central Dubai. The development is organised as a set of themed clusters named after countries and regions, arranged around a Central Business District (CBD) and a planned replica of Beijing’s Forbidden City. The community grew around Dragon Mart and focuses on affordable accommodation and trade-related retail space rather than high-end residential product.
International City sits between interchanges 5 and 6 of Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), opposite the Dubai Central Fruit and Vegetable Market. The masterplan uses repeating cluster blocks, each adopting an architectural theme associated with a different country. Clusters include:
The overall stock comprises 485 apartment buildings distributed across nine residential districts and the Central Business District. The Central Business District contains larger apartment layouts and buildings with additional resident amenities such as swimming pools and gyms.
Public transport within walking distance is limited. The nearest Dubai Metro station on the Red Line is coded R11, approximately 7,330 metres from the community, making it impractical for most daily commutes on foot. Road connectivity is via Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311). During peak hours, residents commonly experience delays entering or exiting the community due to the number of vehicles on access roads.
Selected approximate road distances from Dubai International City:
The community grew in parallel with large retail warehouses and wholesale markets. A defining element is the original Dragon Mart retail complex: a dragon-shaped mall 1.2 kilometres long, with around 3,950 shops and a gross area of 150,000 sq m. It opened before the wider International City masterplan and remains a major destination for Chinese goods. Dragon Mart 2 is a 93,000 sq m extension with nearly 1,000 shops, restaurants and entertainment outlets. It also includes a hypermarket, a multi-screen cinema and a hotel connected to the mall.
The first delivered building was a four-storey mixed-use block in the China Cluster, containing 60 residential units and 18 retail units. Development handovers were planned in phases across multiple years.
On-site residential projects include:
Nearby developments include Prime Residency by Prescott Real Estate Development, launched in 2008, and Tabeer 1 by Tabeer Developments, launched in 2018. Other nearby projects include Vancouver Tower, Indigo Capital, Rufi Prime View, Al Dana, Golden Homes 2 and Indigo Optima.
The community borders established industrial and service facilities. Residents report that odour from the Al Aweer Sewage Treatment Plant, close to the eastern side of International City, can be noticeable at certain times. This is particularly relevant to the Emirati cluster, which lies within a short distance of the plant. Prospective residents commonly factor this local condition into site selection within the development.
International City is primarily positioned as an affordable residential district with a high proportion of rental accommodation aimed at low- to middle-income households. It suits:
Because road access can be congested at peak times and the nearest metro station is several kilometres away, residents who rely on private cars or specific retail-sector access routes typically find the location more practical than those who require rapid transit access to downtown Dubai.
The masterplan incorporates several named clusters and smaller sub-areas, including Keturah Ardh.
How far is Dubai International City from Dubai International Airport (DXB)?
The road distance to DXB is approximately 10.6 km.
Is there a metro station within walking distance?
The nearest Dubai Metro Red Line station is coded R11 and lies about 7,330 metres from the community; this distance is generally not walkable for daily commuting.
What major retail or leisure destinations are in the area?
Dragon Mart and Dragon Mart 2 are the principal retail complexes associated with International City. The original Dragon Mart has around 3,950 shops and a covered area of roughly 150,000 sq m, while Dragon Mart 2 spans roughly 93,000 sq m and has nearly 1,000 shops alongside leisure and hospitality facilities.
Are there new developments nearby?
Several developments are located nearby, including Prime Residency, Tabeer 1, Vancouver Tower, Indigo Capital and Rufi Prime View.
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How to cite:Dubai International City — Continental Club Property, 2026-07-30, https://continentalclub.ae/location/dubai-international-city/
The figures below come from registered Dubai Land Department transactions, not from listings. We show the median rather than the mean, so that one-off penthouses do not distort it.
The yearly figure compares the last 12 months with the 12 before them. Calendar years would not work here: the current one is unfinished, so the comparison would understate the change. The median across the whole district moved +16% over the same year — that gap reflects which buildings came to market, not existing homes changing in price.
From 2022 to 2025 — +27% on the price per square metre across 28 buildings that traded in both years.
For comparison: the median across the whole district moved +41%. The gap between the two figures is not existing homes appreciating — it is newer, more expensive buildings entering the market. Returns on a purchase follow the first figure.
Top to bottom: purchase price per m², year, annual rent per m², gross yield. Showing the last 13 years, from 2014.
* 2026 is still in progress, so its bar covers part of the year and is not directly comparable with the ones before it. The growth figure below uses completed years only.
All figures are medians rather than means: in thin years the mean swings with the mix of units and shows movement the market never had. The yield is gross — service charges are not published in the register, so they cannot be deducted honestly.
| Building | Deals | Price per m² |
|---|---|---|
| Ayami Residence, By Ayat Development | 209 | 14 444 |
| YIGO26 | 121 | 12 692 |
| Tomorrow Commercial Tower | 109 | 16 117 |
| P23 | 99 | 8 297 |
| WARSAN VILLAGE A | 96 | 11 649 |
| WARSAN VILLAGE - B & C | 80 | 11 306 |
| Longford Residences by Devan Real Estate Development A | 78 | 11 221 |
| LAWNZ BLOCK 2 | 63 | 11 522 |
| Ryze by AUM | 60 | 13 827 |
| LAWNZ BLOCK 3 | 59 | 10 997 |
| Prime Residence 2 | 58 | 7 124 |
| Longford Residences by Devan Real Estate Development C | 55 | 11 559 |
Linked names lead to our pages for those projects.
Source: Dubai Land Department transaction registry. Prices per square metre, sale transactions.
Dubai market as a whole: prices, transactions and trends (DLD data) →
Largest management companies in the area: Stratum Owner Association Management Services (8), Provis Owners Association Management Services (5), Dh Community Management (5).
Check any building’s service charge → All communities
RERA-approved 2026 budgets from the DLD service charge index (Mollak); residential buildings. Rate is AED per sq ft per year; YoY compares the same buildings in 2025.
Neighbouring areas and sub-communities to compare location and prices.
