The Lakes property investment guide

Key numbers

Median price

AED 2,234/sqft

Price tier

Premium

Ownership

Freehold

Maturity

Established

Handover

Ready

Metro served

No

Commute to downtown

20 min

Projects tracked

7

Market data: recorded sales

Over the 12 months to Sep 2026, The Lakes recorded 43 property sales with a residential median of AED 2,224 per sqft — +11.6% on the previous 12 months.

See how The Lakes ranks city-wide: price per sqft, sales momentum, price growth.

Median sale price

AED 2,234/sqft

31 residential sales, last 4 quarters

Sales, last 12 months

43

-34.8% vs the 12 months before

Price change, year on year

+11.6%

residential median AED/sqft

Top-selling projects in The Lakes

Ranked by registered sales, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. "Prior year" is the 12 months before that window.

Projects

Build status and unit counts from the Dubai Land Department project register; rows we could not match to a register entry are marked unverified.

Amenities & access

Beach

15 min drive

Metro

12 min

Schools

Nearby

Also nearby

Lakes Club, parks

Getting around & daily life

Nearest of each, measured to the edge of The Lakes — not driving distance.

Metro station

Al Fardan Exchange · 1.0 km away

Tram stop

Marina Towers · 1.4 km away

School

Dubai International Academy · 70 m away

Hospital

Saudi German Hospital · 1.7 km away

Mall

The Springs Souk · 2.0 km away

Supermarket

Carrefour JLT · 770 m away

Park

Nisreen park · 540 m away

Beach

2.3 km away

Golf course

Par 3 - 9 hole course · 260 m away

University

American University in Dubai · 1.4 km away

Airport

Al Maktoum International Airport · 18 km away

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Infrastructure that moves values

• Al-Fardan Exchange Metro Station (Red Line, ex-Al Khail/Nakheel)operational · 2010

  Nearest Red Line station, beside Emirates Golf Club on Sheikh Zayed Road (~6 min drive from the community centre). Originally Nakheel, renamed Al Khail in 2020 and Al-Fardan Exchange in March 2025.

• Sobha Realty Metro Station (Red Line)operational · 2010

  Second nearby Red Line station (formerly DMCC), giving Emirates Living residents an alternative metro access point toward Dubai Marina and JLT.

• Dubai Tram (Al Sufouh - Dubai Marina)operational · 2014

  Tram network linking Dubai Marina and Al Sufouh with Red Line transfers, giving Emirates Living residents onward connectivity along the beachfront corridor.

• Dubai British School Emirates Hills expansionoperational · 2025

  Established British-curriculum school in neighbouring Emirates Hills/Springs that expanded onto the former Amity Early Learning Centre site from August 2025, adding capacity for Emirates Living families including The Lakes.

• The Lakes Cluboperational

  The community's ~30,000 sq ft social and wellness hub with gym, outdoor and children's pools, tennis and squash courts, and a spa - the central amenity for The Lakes.

• Reform Social & Grilloperational

  Popular licensed British neighbourhood restaurant with a lakeside garden setting, the heart of The Lakes' dining and social scene.

• Choithrams Supermarketoperational

  In-community supermarket covering residents' daily grocery needs without leaving The Lakes.

• Emirates International School Meadowsoperational

  KHDA 'Very Good'-rated IB school (EY1-Grade 12) in adjacent The Meadows, a primary schooling option for The Lakes families.

• Dubai International Academy / Regent International Schooloperational

  Leading international schools serving Emirates Living, alongside the American School of Dubai, all within a short drive of The Lakes.

• Medcare Medical Centre, Meadowsoperational

  Multi-specialty clinic in neighbouring Meadows Village handling everyday primary-care needs for Emirates Living residents.

• American Hospital Dubai / Saudi German / Al Zahraoperational

  Major hospitals within ~14 minutes' drive (American Hospital Dubai, plus Saudi German and Al Zahra) providing full secondary/tertiary care for the community.

• Emirates Golf Club & Address Montgomerie Golf Cluboperational

  Two championship golf courses flanking The Lakes; Emirates Golf Club (host of the Dubai Desert Classic) and the Address Montgomerie define the community's greenbelt setting.

• Mall of the Emiratesoperational

  Major super-regional mall (Ski Dubai, department stores, cinemas) about 13 minutes' drive from The Lakes.

• Dubai Marina Malloperational

  Waterfront retail and dining destination roughly 8 minutes' drive away, the closest large mall to The Lakes.

• Dubai Metro Gold Line (Line 4)approved · 2032

  RTA's announced ~$9bn Gold Line (Metro Line 4) starts at Al Ghubaiba and runs broadly parallel to the Red Line before turning inland via Business Bay; consultancy awarded to Aecom. Improves the wider Red Line corridor that serves Emirates Living. Still early-stage with no confirmed opening date as of June 2026.

• Airport Express Line spur to Al-Fardan Exchange (Emirates Golf Club)announced

  RTA's planned ~55km Airport Express Line (DXB to Al Maktoum/DWC) includes a branch spur running from the new JVC station to the Al-Fardan Exchange (ex-Al Khail) Red Line station beside Emirates Golf Club, the metro stop serving The Lakes. As of June 2026 the project is in the consultancy/study tender phase, with a contractor meeting set for 21 July 2026 and bids due 20 September 2026; no opening date yet.

• Dubai Internet City Loop / wider metro-network capacity upgradesannounced

  Part of Dubai's 35-project 2026 traffic-improvement programme covering Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road and surrounding interchanges that carry The Lakes' commuters. These corridor upgrades are announced/in early stages and improve regional access from Emirates Living.

Frequently asked questions

How much does property cost in The Lakes?

Recorded residential sales in The Lakes over the last four quarters have a median price of AED 2,234 per sqft, across 31 transactions. Prices are up +11.6% year on year. 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.

What is the nearest metro station to The Lakes?

Al Fardan Exchange is the nearest metro station — 1.0 km away, measured to the edge of The Lakes.

What are the best-selling projects in The Lakes?

By registered sales over the last 12 months, the top projects in The Lakes are The Lakes Zulal (12 sales), The Lakes Ghadeer (8 sales), The Lakes Deema 4 (5 sales).

Can foreigners buy property in The Lakes?

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

How far is The Lakes from downtown Dubai?

The Lakes is roughly 20 minutes from downtown by car. Upcoming infrastructure: Dubai Metro Gold Line (Line 4), Airport Express Line spur to Al-Fardan Exchange (Emirates Golf Club), Dubai Internet City Loop / wider metro-network capacity upgrades.

Compare with nearby areas