- Why Dubai Marina?
- Where to Rent Flats in Dubai Marina?
- Where to Buy Apartments in Dubai Marina?
- The Dubai Marina ROI
Dubai is home to people from across the world, and naturally, all of them want to live in the trendiest neighbourhoods in the city. The best place to live in Dubai will vary based on people’s personal and housing preferences. Still, the essence of the best residential area in Dubai goes beyond the parameters of individual preferences.
The emirate of Dubai has an eclectic mix of residential areas that include newer self-sustained districts and older communities that are revamped periodically to cater to the population’s changing needs. Each neighbourhood has all the amenities its residents need and offers high living standards. So the question, ”which is the best place to live in Dubai?” is tricky to answer.
However, some neighbourhoods have organically evolved to become more popular than others over time. This is the case with Dubai Marina, which can be considered the best place for living in Dubai. Today, we examine why Dubai Marina continues to remain as popular as it was when it first launched in 2003.
Dubai Marina is the best place to live in Dubai
What does one typically look at when deciding on a place to live in Dubai or when planning to invest in the city? Most people would perhaps consider:
- Amenities on offer
- Entertainment options
- The area’s connectivity with the rest of the city
- Commuting options, including public transport links
- The average return on investment and rental costs
Based on these parameters, if you analyse Dubai Marina, it would certainly fit the bill as the best place to live in Dubai.
Dubai Marina covers 4.6 million sq.m. and is the heart of the area we now know as ‘New Dubai.’ The area has luxury residential high-rises, dazzling restaurants, sports facilities and entertainment options. Hence, it is considered the best residential district in Dubai.
According to the Bayut & dubizzle’s 2021 Dubai Annual Rental Market Report, Dubai Marina is the most popular area to rent luxury apartments in in the emirate.
- The average rent for a studio in Dubai Marina is AED 57k.
- The rental price rises to AED 86k and AED 132k for 1 and 2-bed apartments.
- To rent a 3-bed flat, the financial outlay would be AED 199k.

- 2 BEDS
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- 3 BATHS
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- 1404 SQFT

- 1 BED
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- 2 BATHS
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- 601 SQFT
Similarly, when we look at the Bayut & dubizzle’s 2021 Dubai Annual Sales Market report, Dubai Marina comes out on top of the list of areas to buy luxury apartments. Perhaps one reason is that these flats also offer a high ROI.
- To buy a studio in Dubai Marina, you will have to pay AED 776k, on average.
- The asking price rises to AED 1.2M for a 1-bed flat.
- For 2 and 3-bed apartments, you will have to pay AED 1.9M and AED 3.3M, respectively.
One thing that is noteworthy is that Dubai is constantly evolving and newer localities have been established. Yet, Dubai Marina has retained its charm and is rightly known as the best place to live for expats and locals in Dubai.
Whether you are looking for the best place to live in Dubai for families or the best place to live in Dubai for singles, Dubai Marina is likely to be top of any list.

Entertainment Avenues
If your motto in life is ‘work hard and party harder,’ Dubai Marina is just the right neighbourhood for you. It is brimming with entertainment avenues, which you can hit after a long day at work or on the weekends. This is why Dubai Marina is the best area to live in Dubai for tourists and the best place to live in Dubai as an expat.
You can head to the beach and enjoy water sports like jet-skiing, paddle-boarding, etc. If you enjoy the nightlife, there are some amazing nightclubs in Dubai Marina with excellent happy hour deals. You can choose from chic bars, old school pubs or sports bars. Dhow Cruises are also enjoyed by locals as well as tourists.
If you are looking to shop, the retail outlets in Dubai Marina Mall have everything you need. As you can tell, life is exhilarating in Dubai Marina, so it is the best place to live for expats in Dubai.
Connectivity
Dubai Marina is perfect even for those who don’t drive. The availability of various public transport options makes Dubai Marina the best place to live in Dubai. There are two Dubai Metro stations nearby – Sobha Realty and DMCC. And both are served by the Red Line.
This gives you the convenience of an easy commute. In case you don’t live close to these two stations, you can use the Dubai Tram or hire Careem Bike within the area.
If you own a car, there are plenty of parking spaces. More importantly, the neighbourhood is connected to Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) that offers excellent connectivity with the rest of the city. So, it’s a win-win for Dubai Marina dwellers.

A vibrant and luxurious lifestyle
There is a high demand for flats in Dubai Marina because of their lifestyle. Irrespective of your family status, you can find an array of luxurious apartments in Dubai Marina.
Most skyscrapers in the district have health clubs, fully equipped gyms, swimming pools, kid’s centre, sports courts, saunas and other facilities to offer. Moreover, Dubai Marina Park is a common space for residents to jog and burn some calories.
When you rent an apartment in Dubai Marina, it comes with the whole package. Take a look at Dubai Marina floor plans to find out more.
To summarise, it could be stated that the chic urban lifestyle Dubai Marina has to offer makes it the best place to live for expats in Dubai.
Popular buildings to rent apartments in Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina has many fabulous residential buildings. These are all top-notch in terms of luxury, service and architecture. One can expect all the modern luxurious at these flats
Here’s a quick overview of the asking prices in the five most popular buildings for renting apartments in Dubai Marina.
Buildings | Studio | 1-Bed | 2-Bed |
---|---|---|---|
Buildings Marina Diamonds | Studio AED 48,000 | 1-Bed AED 73,000 | 2-Bed N/A |
Buildings 5242 Towers | Studio N/A | 1-Bed AED 99,000 | 2-Bed AED 144,000 |
Buildings DEC Towers | Studio AED 54,000 | 1-Bed AED 86,000 | 2-Bed AED 110,000 |
Buildings Sulafa Tower | Studio N/A | 1-Bed AED 72,000 | 2-Bed AED 120,000 |
Buildings Marina Gate | Studio N/A | 1-Bed AED 96,000 | 2-Bed AED 142,000 |
The six-tower complex, Marina Diamonds, is the most popular choice for renting flats in the area. You can rent a studio in Marina Diamonds for AED 48k, on average. The average price goes up to AED 73k for a 1-bed flat.
The next most popular residential development is 5242 Towers. The rent for a 1-bed flat in 5242 Towers is AED 99k. Whereas, it stands at AED 144k and AED 223k for 2 and 3-bed apartments, respectively.
Potential tenants have also shown high interest in DEC Tower. To rent a studio in DEC Towers, your average yearly financial outlay would be AED 54k. The average rents for 1 and 2-bed flats stand at AED 86k and AED 110k, repsectively.
Other residential buildings preferred by tenants include the Sulafa Towers and Marina Gate.

Popular areas to buy apartments in Dubai Marina
The table below lists the best buildings to buy apartments in Dubai Marina and the average sales prices of units.
Buildings | 1-Bed | 2-Bed |
---|---|---|
Buildings Manchester Tower | 1-Bed AED 900,000 | 2-Bed N/A |
Buildings Marina Diamonds | 1-Bed AED 944,000 | 2-Bed AED 1,900,000 |
Buildings Marina Pinnacle | 1-Bed AED 1,042,000 | 2-Bed AED 1,600,000 |
Buildings 5242 Towers | 1-Bed AED 1,501,000 | 2-Bed AED 2,242,000 |
Buildings Marina Gate | 1-Bed AED 1,469,000 | 2-Bed AED 2,000,000 |
Topping the list of preferences for investors in search of flats for sale in Dubai Marina are the Manchester Towers. You can buy a 1-bed flat in Manchester Towers for AED 900k.
Potential buyers have also shown interest in Marina Diamonds, where apartments are available in studio, 1, 2 and 3-bed configurations. The average sales price for a studio in Marina Diamonds is AED 612k. It goes up to AED 944k and AED 1.9M for 1 and 2-bed flats.
The third most popular option is the Marina Pinnacle. You can buy a 1-bed flat in Marina Pinnacle for AED 1.4M, on average. The average sales price for a 2-bed apartment is AED 1.6M.
The 5242 Towers and Marina Gate conclude our list of popular buildings to buy apartments in Dubai Marina.
ROI FOR THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN DUBAI
If you are an investor looking to buy an apartment in Dubai Marina, an important consideration is a return on investment. As per the latest numbers, Dubai Marina yields one of the highest ROI of luxury apartments for sale. Investors can expect to earn a healthy average ROI of 6.68%.
Lucrative ROIs are another reason many investors consider Dubai Marina as one of the best areas to invest in Dubai. Rental yields are always high, as the demand for rental properties in the Marina area is consistent.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DOES DUBAI MARINA COMPARE WITH DOWNTOWN DUBAI?
You can read our comparison between Downtown Dubai vs Dubai Marina to gather information and analyse the pros and cons of both areas. You can also read our list of pros and cons of living in Dubai Marina.
WHAT ARE THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN DUBAI FOR FAMILIES?
You can consider any of the top areas for families in Dubai. Some of the best places to live in Dubai for families include JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence), Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) and Motor City.
Dubai Marina is also great for those in search of luxury family-friendly living. While many of the amenities it offers can be found in other popular neighbourhoods around the city, one of the biggest reasons for Marina’s undisputed position as the crowning glory of Dubai real estate is the fact that the development is constantly evolving.
For instance, restaurants in Dubai Marina can gratify your taste buds. For those who love to work out, there are several good gyms in the area, and the variety of outdoor activities in Dubai Marina makes sure there is little chance that you’ll be disappointed. Hence, we have no qualms saying it’s the best place to live in Dubai!
To know more about the UAE property market, stay tuned to MyBayut.
