International City property investment guide

Key numbers

Avg asking price*

AED 812/sqft

Price tier

Budget

Ownership

Freehold

Maturity

Under construction

Handover

Ready · ongoing

Metro served

No

Commute to downtown

22 min

Projects tracked

51

New & off-plan projects

Amenities & access

Beach

30 min drive

Metro

25 min

Schools

Nearby

Also nearby

Dragon Mart, clusters

Infrastructure that moves values

• Dragon Mart 1operational · 2004

  Nakheel/Chinamex retail hub and the largest trading centre for Chinese goods outside mainland China, anchoring International City with 4,000+ stores.

• Centrepoint Metro Station (Red Line)operational · 2011

  Nearest existing Metro station (Red Line terminus at Rashidiya/Centrepoint), reached by RTA feeder buses until the Blue Line opens within International City in 2029.

• Dragon Mart 2 (incl. Carrefour hypermarket)operational · 2016

  Feb-2016 extension adding a full Carrefour hypermarket, Novo Cinemas and family entertainment to the Dragon Mart complex.

• Dragon Towers (Nakheel)operational · 2021

  Twin 37-storey residential towers (~1,142 1- and 2-bed apartments) in Dragon City with retail podium, 25m pool, gym and clubhouse; completed and handed over.

• Paid public parking (RTA)operational · 2026

  RTA introduced paid on-street parking across International City on 1 Feb 2026 (08:00-midnight, free Sundays/holidays; AED 2 per 30 min up to AED 25/day), replacing previously free parking.

• NMC Clinic & Pharmacy (China cluster)operational

  NMC outpatient clinic and pharmacy in the China cluster offering general consultations for the community.

• Aster Clinics (France & Russia clusters)operational

  Aster Specialty Clinic (France cluster) plus an Aster Clinic in the Russia cluster covering family medicine, paediatrics, orthopaedics, physiotherapy and labs.

• Al Warsan Lakeoperational

  Landscaped lake with walking and jogging tracks on the edge of International City, the area's main green/recreation amenity.

• Cluster mosques (Cabin, Masjid-e-Noor, Sheikh Abdel Hameed)operational

  Several neighbourhood mosques across the country clusters, including Cabin Mosque (Persia), Masjid-e-Noor (England) and Sheikh Abdel Hameed Masjid (Spain).

• Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuaryoperational

  Ramsar-listed wetland and flamingo reserve immediately west of International City along the Blue Line corridor.

• Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) & Al Awir Road (E44)operational

  The two arterial highways bounding International City, giving direct car access to DXB, Downtown and the Northern Emirates; subject to ongoing RTA traffic-improvement upgrades (67 projects completed 2025, 45+ more in 2026).

• Dubai International Airport (DXB)operational

  The world's busiest international airport, roughly a 15-minute drive north of International City via E311/E44.

• International City Phase 2 (Warsan 4) off-plan waveunder construction · 2027

  The 731-hectare Warsan 4 expansion (Nakheel Phase 2/3) is the area's main pipeline, with dozens of freehold mid-market towers under construction - e.g. Vio Residences (Q4 2026), 27 East End Garden Residences (Q1 2027) and Moonsa Residences 2 (Q3 2027). The former green belt between phases now hosts the Blue Line alignment.

• Dubai Metro Blue Line - International City 1 (interchange station)under construction · 2029

  Underground Y-junction interchange and the flagship Blue Line hub inside International City; the AED 20.5bn, 30km/14-station line opens 9 Sep 2029 and connects the area to Dubai Creek Harbour, Festival City and the Red/Green lines.

• Dubai Metro Blue Line - International City 2 stationunder construction · 2029

  Second of three Blue Line stations serving International City, extending rail access deep into the residential clusters; opening with the line on 9 Sep 2029.

• Dubai Metro Blue Line - International City 3 stationunder construction · 2029

  Third Blue Line station serving the residential and commercial hubs of International City (near the Phase 2/Phase 3 corridor); part of the line's 9 Sep 2029 launch.

• Dubai Metro Blue Line (30km, 14 stations)under construction · 2029

  AED 20.5bn line (15.5km underground, 14.5km elevated, 28 trains) routed through Ras Al Khor and International City; forecast 200,000 riders/day in 2030 rising to 320,000 by 2040. Opens 9 Sep 2029, the Metro's 20th anniversary.

• BCD Global Warsan freehold projectunder construction

  BCD Global broke ground on its first Warsan/International City freehold residential project (1- and 2-bed apartments) in late 2025, targeting AED 300m revenue in Q1 2026 - positioned for long-term rental demand rather than speculation.

• Dragon City retail & leisure extensionannounced

  Nakheel's long-term plan to grow the Dragon Mart complex into 'Dragon City' - a ~6.5m sq ft retail, residential and hotel extension (taking the complex to ~11m sq ft) with a 250-room hotel and 6,200-space car park, serving 100,000+ International City residents.

Frequently asked questions

How much does property cost in International City?

Property in International City averages AED 812 per sqft, based on recorded transactions across its sub-communities — a budget price tier for Dubai. Buying costs add roughly 7–10% on top, and net rental yield after service charges typically lands 2–3 percentage points below the gross figure.

Can foreigners buy property in International City?

Yes — International City is a freehold zone, so foreign buyers get full ownership with no residency requirement.

How far is International City from downtown Dubai?

International City is roughly 22 minutes from downtown by car. Upcoming infrastructure: International City Phase 2 (Warsan 4) off-plan wave, Dubai Metro Blue Line - International City 1 (interchange station), Dubai Metro Blue Line - International City 2 station, Dubai Metro Blue Line - International City 3 station, Dubai Metro Blue Line (30km, 14 stations), BCD Global Warsan freehold project, Dragon City retail & leisure extension.

What new projects are selling in International City?

Current launches include Phase 3 Apartments by Nakheel (from AED 420,000), Dar Al Aiham One by Dar Al Aiham Properties, Equiti Apartments by B.N.H Developer, Linden Residences by BlackSoil Real Estate Development, Zyra Hills by Laraix Developers, Elevia Residences Iii by Valores Property Development, Greenfield 2 By Samana Developers by Samana, Longfor International Center by Star, Zyra Vista Residences by Laraix Developers, Coventry 2 by GFS Developments, Orbit Residences By Jewel by Jewel Development, Sunlight Homes by SASD Group, Kyomi Residence by Anax Developments, Vio Residences by Modelux Real Estate Development, Mayflower Residences by AJG, Al Helal Al Zahaby 3 by Al Helal Al Zahaby Real Estate, Crystal Tower by VHS Developments, Park Residency by Park Group, Moonsa Residences by Dugasta, Stellar Axis By Ajmal Estate Developers by Ajmal Estate Developers, Sports View Residence 2 By Al Helal Al Zahaby by Al Helal Al Zahaby Real Estate, Hz Residences 4 by Al Helal Al Zahaby Real Estate, Dragon View by Tabeer, Tabeer 1 by Tabeer, Global Green View Ii, Lady Ratan Manor by Lokhandwala Builders International.

Compare with nearby areas