Dubai Marina is one of Dubai's best-known districts: a high-rise neighbourhood built around a man-made canal, with a waterfront promenade, a yacht marina, restaurants and the JBR beach right next door. If you are planning a holiday in Dubai, there is a good chance you will stay here or nearby. If you are thinking about buying an apartment in Dubai Marina, the questions are different: what does it cost, what does it earn when rented out, and who is it really for?
This article uses official Dubai Land Department (DLD) transaction and rental data to show 2026 prices, the trend since 2023 and the gross rental yield, and compares Dubai Marina with JBR, JLT and Business Bay. The data covers registered deals up to 13 October 2026.
Dubai Marina in 60 seconds
- Location: western "New Dubai", between Sheikh Zayed Road and the coast, next to Palm Jumeirah and Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT).
- Character: a dense, mature high-rise district on both banks of the canal, with the Marina Walk promenade and Dubai Marina Mall. Almost entirely apartments – there are practically no villas.
- Transport: the Dubai Metro Red Line runs along Sheikh Zayed Road, and the Dubai Tram links the Marina, JBR and the metro stations.
- Beach: the JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) beach and The Walk are within walking distance – one of the area's biggest draws for tenants and tourists alike.
- Maturity: most towers are completed and occupied, so the market is mainly about ready apartments (more on this below).
Prices in 2026: how much does an apartment cost?
In 2026 (1 January – 13 October) the DLD registered 1,380 apartment sales in Dubai Marina. The median price is AED 20,594/m² and the median deal value AED 2,150,000. Ready apartments have a median of AED 20,015/m², roughly EUR 4,870/m² (about HUF 1.77 million/m²) at today's exchange rate.
Exchange rate: 1 AED = EUR 0.2434 = HUF 88.67 (ECB, 13 October 2026). AED is pegged to USD at 3.6725. Current rate: dirham exchange rate.
Median prices by apartment type (2026)
| Type | Deals | Median price (AED) | Median size | AED/m² | approx. EUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 102 | 1,050,000 | 42 m² | 25,209 | 255,500 |
| 1-bedroom | 585 | 1,600,000 | 77 m² | 21,091 | 389,400 |
| 2-bedroom | 446 | 2,550,000 | 124 m² | 20,501 | 620,600 |
| 3-bedroom | 190 | 4,002,500 | 186 m² | 19,678 | 974,100 |
42% of deals are 1-bedroom and 32% are 2-bedroom apartments – the core of the market. 57% of deals closed above AED 2 million (about EUR 487,000), so most Dubai Marina apartments meet the Golden Visa value threshold. Only 6% of deals were below AED 1 million.
The spread is wide: the middle half of ready apartments sold between AED 15,690 and 26,733/m². The actual price depends mainly on the tower, the floor and the view (canal, sea, Palm).
Ready vs off-plan
| 2026 | Deals | Median AED/m² | Median price (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready | 1,270 | 20,015 | 2,100,000 |
| Off-plan | 110 | 28,447 | 3,133,750 |
Off-plan units are more expensive because they are new, premium towers (in 2026 e.g. Marina Shores, LIV LUX, Aeternitas Tower). The two segments should not be blended into one average.
Price trend 2023 → 2026
| Year | Deals | Median AED/m² (all) | Ready AED/m² | Off-plan share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,640 | 16,231 | 15,365 | 12% |
| 2024 | 4,458 | 20,551 | 17,231 | 33% |
| 2025 | 3,876 | 24,017 | 19,421 | 35% |
| 2026 (to 13 Oct) | 1,380 | 20,594 | 20,015 | 8% |
Two things need to be separated here:
- The overall median is misleading. In 2024–2025 many expensive new towers were sold off-plan, pushing the median up to AED 24,017/m²; in 2026, as the off-plan share fell, it "dropped". This is a mix effect, not a price fall.
- Ready prices show the clean trend: AED 15,365 → 20,015/m², i.e. +30% since 2023. In 2026 the ready median is +5.2% above the same period of 2025 (AED 19,017/m²) – slower, but still positive growth.
Transaction volume, however, is down: 1,380 deals up to 13 October 2026 versus 3,311 in the same period of 2025. Most of the drop comes from off-plan sales (1,297 → 110), but ready deals also fell (2,014 → 1,270). Across Dubai, 22% fewer apartment sales were registered in the same period. You can follow the city-wide picture on the Dubai property prices page.
Rents and gross rental yield
DLD rental data is published by land-registry area. Dubai Marina belongs to "Marsa Dubai", which also includes JBR, Dubai Harbour and Bluewaters. In 2026, 13,849 apartment leases were registered there:
- median annual rent: AED 120,000 (about EUR 29,200),
- median annual rent per square metre: AED 1,141/m²,
- the middle half of leases ranges from AED 85,000 to 165,000.
Looking only at leases in towers that can be identified by name as Dubai Marina buildings (6,097 leases), the median is AED 1,206/m².
Gross yield: AED 1,141–1,206/m² annual rent ÷ AED 20,015/m² ready price = about 5.7–6.0%.
| Size band | Median annual rent | Median price (ready) | Gross yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 55 m² (typically studio) | AED 60,000 | AED 1,010,000 | 5.9% |
| 55–95 m² (typically 1-bed) | AED 90,000 | AED 1,550,000 | 5.8% |
| 95–150 m² (typically 2-bed) | AED 132,000 | AED 2,382,094 | 5.5% |
| Over 150 m² | AED 200,000 | AED 3,850,000 | 5.2% |
Smaller units earn slightly more per square metre. Note that this is a gross yield. Net yield is reduced by the annual service charge, which can be significant in older towers with many amenities, plus maintenance, insurance and any vacancy. You can run your own numbers in the ROI calculator.
Who is it for?
Long-term rental: Dubai Marina is a mature market with deep, stable tenant demand. A gross yield of 5.7–6% is lower than in JLT or JVC, but in return you get a broader tenant pool and a ready apartment with immediate rental income.
Short-term rental / holiday home: the beach, the promenade and tourist traffic make the area popular with short-stay guests. You need a permit from Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and the building's own rules must be checked too. Comparing the two models: long-term vs short-term rental in Dubai.
Own use: for anyone spending several weeks a year in Dubai, the Marina is a convenient choice: beach on foot, restaurants, tram and metro.
Capital growth: ready prices are up 30% since 2023, rising more slowly in 2026. In a mature area future price growth is typically more moderate than in a district still under construction – but risk is lower too, as there is no construction risk.
Off-plan and ready supply
Dubai Marina is a mature, mostly completed area: in 2026, 92% of deals were ready apartments and only 8% off-plan. For comparison, 76% of all Dubai deals in 2026 were off-plan.
There are still new projects – the off-plan share was 33–35% in 2024–2025 – but these are towers on the few remaining plots, typically at premium price levels. Buyers in Dubai Marina usually purchase a ready unit on the secondary market. Pros and cons of both routes: off-plan vs ready property.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Liquid market: 3,600–4,500 apartment deals a year since 2023, which also makes reselling easier.
- Ready apartment, immediate rental income, no construction risk.
- Beach, promenade, tram and metro – strong tenant and tourist demand.
- Most units meet the AED 2 million Golden Visa threshold.
Cons
- Lower gross yield (about 5.7–6%) than JLT or JVC.
- Many older towers with varying condition and service charges.
- Dense, busy district with rush-hour traffic.
- Slowing price growth and fewer deals in 2026.
- Further from Downtown Dubai and Business Bay.
Comparison: Dubai Marina vs JBR vs JLT vs Business Bay
| 2026 (to 13 Oct) | Dubai Marina | JBR | JLT | Business Bay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment deals | 1,380 | 304 | 1,025 | 3,407 |
| Ready median AED/m² | 20,015 | 17,101 | 15,455 | 19,704 |
| Ready 1-bed median price | AED 1,550,000 | AED 1,765,160 | AED 1,125,000 | AED 1,480,000 |
| Ready 2-bed median price | AED 2,500,000 | AED 2,262,500 | AED 1,937,500 | AED 2,250,000 |
| Off-plan share | 8% | 0% | 42% | 52% |
| Ready price change 2023→2025 | +26% | +15% | +33%* | +13% |
| Median rent AED/m²/year | 1,141** | ** | 1,085 | 1,190 |
| Gross yield (ready) | approx. 5.7% | – | approx. 7.0% | approx. 6.0% |
* The whole DMCC master community, of which JLT is the main part. ** In DLD rental data Dubai Marina and JBR share one area ("Marsa Dubai"), so a separate JBR yield cannot be calculated.
JLT offers a cheaper entry and a higher yield, Business Bay sits at a similar price level but with far more off-plan supply, and JBR gives you the beachfront row with fewer transactions. More areas: best areas to buy property in Dubai.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an apartment cost in Dubai Marina in 2026? According to DLD data, the median studio sells for AED 1,050,000 (about EUR 255,500), a 1-bedroom for AED 1,600,000 (about EUR 389,400) and a 2-bedroom for AED 2,550,000 (about EUR 620,600). The median for ready apartments is AED 20,015/m².
What is the rental yield in Dubai Marina? Calculated from 2026 DLD rental and sales data, about 5.7–6.0% gross. Net yield is lower because of service charges and vacancy.
Are Dubai Marina and JBR the same? No, but they are neighbours. JBR is the beachfront row of towers, Dubai Marina the district around the canal. In the DLD land registry both belong to the "Marsa Dubai" area, so some statistics – including the "Dubai Marina (JBR)" row on our Dubai property prices page – show them together with Dubai Harbour, which is why higher prices appear there.
Can I get a Golden Visa with a Dubai Marina apartment? The 10-year Golden Visa requires property worth at least AED 2 million. In 2026, 57% of Dubai Marina deals reached this value, typically 2-bedroom and larger units.
What costs come on top of the purchase price? The 4% DLD transfer fee and about 6–8% in total buying costs; on the secondary market, typically a 2% + 5% VAT agency fee. Details: Dubai property buying costs.
Summary
We collected every key number for the decision – net yield, total cost, risks – in our investment guide for Dubai property.
Dubai Marina is a mature, liquid, mostly ready market: in 2026 the median ready price is AED 20,015/m², the median 1-bedroom AED 1.6 million and the gross rental yield about 5.7–6%. Prices are up 30% since 2023 but rising more slowly in 2026, with fewer deals. It suits buyers looking for a ready apartment, strong tenant demand and tourist appeal who accept a lower yield than in JLT or JVC.
If you would like to know whether Dubai Marina or another area better fits your goals, and which numbers to use for a specific tower, book a personal consultation.
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