BUSINESS BAY vs Palm Deira
Both areas compared on price, entry level, liquidity and off-plan share, using 7,339 sales recorded by the Dubai Land Department between 1 Jan 2026 and 31 Jul 2026.
| Metric | BUSINESS BAY | Palm Deira |
|---|---|---|
| Median price / sqft | AED 2,534 | AED 2,876 |
| Median sale price | AED 2.30M | AED 2.87M |
| Entry level (p25) | AED 1.42M | AED 2.39M |
| Upper range (p75) | AED 3.47M | AED 4.02M |
| Recorded sales | 4,108 | 3,231 |
| Off-plan share | 54% | 100% |
What the data shows
Priced within a few percent of each other
At AED 2,534 and AED 2,876 per square foot, these two sit within 13% of each other. Price is unlikely to be the deciding factor — the split below on unit mix and off-plan share will matter more.
What AED 1.5M buys
At current medians, AED 1.5 million buys roughly 592 sq ft in BUSINESS BAY against about 522 sq ft in Palm Deira. That is the difference between a comfortable two-bedroom and a compact one in most Dubai layouts.
Comparable turnover
4,108 sales against 3,231 — both areas trade actively enough that finding a buyer or a comparable is unlikely to be the constraint.
One is a construction market, the other a resale market
100% of sales in Palm Deira are off-plan, against 54% in BUSINESS BAY. In Palm Deira you are largely buying forward from developers with payment plans; in BUSINESS BAY you are mostly buying an existing home from an existing owner. Those are different transactions with different risks.
Nearest metro
BUSINESS BAY records Business Bay Metro Station on 93% of sales; Palm Deira records Palm Deira Metro Stations on 15%. These are the stations most often logged against transactions, not measured walking distances.
Price per square foot by month
BUSINESS BAY
AED 2,534Palm Deira
AED 2,876What sells in each
BUSINESS BAY
Palm Deira
Better for what
No overall winner — it depends what you are buying for
AED 2,534 per square foot, and a typical sale around AED 2.30M.
4,108 recorded sales in the period — more comparables and more active buyers.
100% off-plan, so more choice on payment plans and more stock arriving.
46% of sales are completed property you can occupy or let immediately.
Common questions
Is BUSINESS BAY more expensive than Palm Deira?
Palm Deira is more expensive. BUSINESS BAY has a median of AED 2,534 per square foot against AED 2,876 in Palm Deira, based on 7,339 recorded sales.
Which has more property sales, BUSINESS BAY or Palm Deira?
BUSINESS BAY recorded more sales — 4,108 against 3,231 in the period 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Jul 2026.
Is BUSINESS BAY or Palm Deira better for off-plan?
Palm Deira has the higher off-plan share, at 100% of recorded sales against 54%.