Dubai International City is one of the most affordable yet rapidly developing areas of Dubai. The master developer of the area is Nakheel, which has already built 10 clusters of low-rise buildings here. These clusters are named after different countries around the world and feature landscaped public spaces, a lake, and their own infrastructure. The Warsan Village townhouses and other residential projects by Nakheel are also adjacent to the area. According to the developer, there are now more than 22,000 residences in International City. The concept of the area includes sports facilities, green zones, and a convenient network of local services. The Bayut portal emphasizes that International City is one of the most sought-after places for affordable rentals of properties in Dubai.
Transport accessibility here is decent thanks to a combination of major highways and RTA buses. The area is located between junctions 5 and 6 of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), with access to Al Awir Road (E44) and Academic City Road. There is no metro station in the area, but thanks to bus routes, residents of International City can easily reach the nearby stations of the “red” and “green” metro lines. The nearest metro stations are Centrepoint (formerly Al Rashidiya) and Etisalat. The journey time between Centrepoint and International City is approximately 10-15 minutes, with 2-4 trains per hour, depending on the time of day.
Shops, restaurants, and entertainment are concentrated primarily in the giant Dragon Mart mall (Dragon Mart 1 and Dragon Mart 2), which features numerous stores, a Carrefour hypermarket, and a huge Novo Cinemas movie theater. The area also has the International City Pavilion, a compact mall in the south with a supermarket and cafes. It’s located next to Warsan Village and primarily serves residents of the nearby clusters. For outdoor recreation, Dubai Safari Park and Ras Al Khor Nature Reserve are also located nearby, as well as a golf course in Nad Al Sheba.
When it comes to educational institutions, the area and its surroundings offer everything, from kindergartens to universities. There are popular kindergartens in the residential clusters, and decent schools in the neighboring areas of Al Warqa and Nad Al Sheba, such as the International School of Arts & Sciences (American program up to 12th grade), GEMS Modern Academy (Indian ICSE/ISC + international in upper grades), and Repton School (British and international programs). In terms of higher education, the area's advantage is its proximity to Dubai International Academic City, the emirate's largest educational hub, which has both international and local universities, including the University of Birmingham Dubai, Murdoch University Dubai, and Zayed University.
As for the projects that drive demand for rental and purchase of housing, Nakheel has ready-built townhouses in Warsan Village within International City, as well as the Dragon Towers in the Dragon City cluster at Dragon Mart. International City Phase 2 (this cluster is often called Warsan 4) and the Lawnz by Danube offer a significant number of liquid studios and 1-bedroom apartments. According to Bayut, these clusters are the most popular for rentals within the area, along with the Central Business District. For investors, this means a wide selection of properties with low prices and steady demand from tenants.
From an investment perspective, International City remains one of the most affordable locations in Dubai, where, nevertheless, properties at Dubai International City can generate good returns. The average gross yield for apartments here is around 8.66% per annum, and for townhouses/villas in Warsan Village it can exceed 7% — the specific figures depend on the type of property and its condition. Usually it is reasonable to consider completed or nearly completed projects in International City Phase 2 and Lawnz by Danube, as well as residences in Dragon Towers. Warsan Village townhouses with large areas and all the necessary amenities are suitable for both family life and long-term capitalization.
Dubai International City is a “city within a city” with reasonable prices, services and retail outlets, as well as good transport accessibility. When choosing a specific project, consider its proximity to bus stops and Dragon Mart, the condition of the building, and also the reputation of the management company.
Dubai International City
