Dubai Marina is a high-density waterfront district in western Dubai built around an artificial marina more than three kilometres long. The area combines a continuous landscaped promenade with clustered residential towers that face the water or the inner streets. The waterfront hosts a wide selection of restaurants and cafes; in the evenings the illuminated skyline and passing dinner cruises form a recognisable urban panorama.
What this place is and where it is located
Dubai Marina sits along a man-made canal that links to the Arabian Gulf and is part of the emirate’s larger coastal development zone known informally as New Dubai. The district is adjacent to several beachfront and leisure areas: Palm Jumeirah is about 3.8 km away and JBR Beach lies approximately 0.7 km from the central marina. Located at 25.078367 N, 55.140410 E, the district forms a continuous urban waterfront with a broad promenade used by pedestrians, runners and cyclists.
Transport and key distances
Dubai Marina is served by Dubai Metro via the Red Line. The nearest metro station, R36 on the Red Line, is approximately 723 metres from the marina and is walkable. Road access connects the marina with other parts of Dubai; distances from the central point of the district to key locations are approximately:
- Burj Khalifa / Downtown Dubai: 18.9 km
- The Dubai Mall: 19.3 km
- Dubai International Airport (DXB): 29.9 km
- Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC): 20.3 km
- Palm Jumeirah: 3.8 km
- JBR Beach: 0.7 km
- Mall of the Emirates: 7.5 km
- Business Bay: 17.3 km
- Expo City Dubai: 13.2 km
- Global Village: 16.8 km
- Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC): 20.6 km
These are straight-line or typical road-route approximations to central points and reflect the marina’s position relative to downtown, major malls and Dubai’s two principal airports.
Built environment and notable projects
The district is predominantly residential, with numerous high-rise apartment towers clustered along the waterfront and inner streets. The promenade beside the marina provides public access to the water’s edge as well as ground-floor hospitality and retail. The built environment ranges from landmark towers to mid-rise blocks, with newer towers and conversions alongside developments completed during the 2000s and 2010s.
Developments in Dubai Marina include:
- The Residences at Marina Gate
- Six Senses Residences Dubai Marina
- Pelagos by IGO
- Marina Living
- Marina Cove
- Mada’in Tower
- LIV Residence
- LIV Marina Tower
Completed towers nearby include The Residences by Emaar Properties (2015), 23 Marina (2005), Ariyana Tower (2008), Azure by Nakheel (2013), Cayan Tower by Cayan Group (2006), and Damac Heights by Damac Properties (2011). Bay Central was developed by Select Group.
Who the area suits
Dubai Marina is principally a high-density urban residential environment with a waterfront character. The district appeals to residents who prioritise proximity to the sea, an active public promenade, a range of eating-out options and short links to neighbouring leisure zones such as JBR and Palm Jumeirah. The built form and public realm support walking and cycling for local journeys. The combination of apartment living, marina-facing views and concentrated hospitality provision makes the area suitable for:
- Professionals and families seeking waterfront apartment living with good access to wider Dubai.
- Residents who use public transport and the nearby Red Line connection for regular commuting.
- People who prefer a compact urban neighbourhood with immediate access to cafes, restaurants and pedestrian routes along the marina.
Lifestyle and local environment
The waterfront promenade is a defining feature: it runs along much of the marina and is used throughout the day for walking, jogging and leisure. Ground-level hospitality and marine activity concentrate around the main pedestrian routes and quay areas. At dusk, the lighting of the surrounding towers and the movement of leisure vessels on the water create a distinct evening ambience. Public open space within the district is mainly linear along the marina, with pockets of landscaped areas beside some residential blocks.
FAQ
How far is the nearest metro station?
The nearest Red Line metro station, R36, is about 723 metres from the central marina area and is pedestrian-accessible.
How close are the beach and Palm Jumeirah?
JBR Beach is about 0.7 km from the marina, while Palm Jumeirah is approximately 3.8 km away by the usual road routes from the marina precinct.
Are there notable completed towers nearby?
Yes. Completed nearby towers include 23 Marina, Cayan Tower and Azure.
Actual transaction prices in Dubai Marina, since 2025
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 +10% over the same year — that gap reflects which buildings came to market, not existing homes changing in price.
How the price per square metre changed by year
From 2022 to 2025 — +18% on the price per square metre across 28 buildings that traded in both years.
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.
Where people bought most
| Building | Deals | Price per m² |
|---|---|---|
| ROVE HOME DUBAI MARINA | 672 | 38 312 |
| Franck Muller Vanguard | 635 | 28 724 |
| Pelagos by IGO | 249 | 30 594 |
| THE BRISTOL Emaar Beachfront | 230 | 55 287 |
| Grand Bleu Tower interiors by Elie Saab Tower 1 | 171 | 33 951 |
| DAMAC HEIGHTS | 148 | 19 648 |
| Palace Beach Residence Tower 1 | 132 | 31 045 |
| SEAPOINT Tower 1 | 127 | 49 680 |
| Dubai Harbour Residences (Area 3) | 124 | 44 068 |
| AETERNITAS TOWER | 120 | 25 220 |
| W Residences At Dubai Harbour - Tower 2 | 119 | 47 631 |
| Palace Beach Residence Tower 2 | 116 | 35 554 |
Linked names lead to our pages for those projects.
Source: Dubai Land Department transaction registry. Prices per square metre, sale transactions.
Nearby areas
Neighbouring areas and sub-communities to compare location and prices.
