DUBAI MARITIME CITY vs INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1
Both areas compared on price, entry level, liquidity and off-plan share, using 1,829 sales recorded by the Dubai Land Department between 1 Jan 2026 and 31 Jul 2026.
| Metric | DUBAI MARITIME CITY | INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Median price / sqft | AED 3,293 | AED 739 |
| Median sale price | AED 2.21M | AED 500K |
| Entry level (p25) | AED 1.42M | AED 370K |
| Upper range (p75) | AED 2.83M | AED 808K |
| Recorded sales | 821 | 1,008 |
| Off-plan share | 98% | 30% |
What the data shows
The price gap is substantial
DUBAI MARITIME CITY trades at AED 3,293 per square foot against AED 739 in INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1 — 4.5× the price for the same floor area. At that spread these are not really competing for the same buyer; the decision is closer to choosing a budget than choosing a location.
What AED 1.5M buys
At current medians, AED 1.5 million buys roughly 2,030 sq ft in INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1 against about 456 sq ft in DUBAI MARITIME CITY. That is the difference between a comfortable two-bedroom and a compact one in most Dubai layouts.
Comparable turnover
821 sales against 1,008 — 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
98% of sales in DUBAI MARITIME CITY are off-plan, against 30% in INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1. In DUBAI MARITIME CITY you are largely buying forward from developers with payment plans; in INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1 you are mostly buying an existing home from an existing owner. Those are different transactions with different risks.
Nearest metro
DUBAI MARITIME CITY records Al Ghubaiba Metro Station on 89% of sales; INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1 records Rashidiya Metro Station on 100%. These are the stations most often logged against transactions, not measured walking distances.
Price per square foot by month
DUBAI MARITIME CITY
AED 3,293INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1
AED 739What sells in each
DUBAI MARITIME CITY
INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1
Better for what
No overall winner — it depends what you are buying for
AED 739 per square foot, and a typical sale around AED 0.50M.
1,008 recorded sales in the period — more comparables and more active buyers.
98% off-plan, so more choice on payment plans and more stock arriving.
70% of sales are completed property you can occupy or let immediately.
Common questions
Is DUBAI MARITIME CITY more expensive than INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1?
DUBAI MARITIME CITY is more expensive. DUBAI MARITIME CITY has a median of AED 3,293 per square foot against AED 739 in INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1, based on 1,829 recorded sales.
Which has more property sales, DUBAI MARITIME CITY or INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1?
INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1 recorded more sales — 1,008 against 821 in the period 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Jul 2026.
Is DUBAI MARITIME CITY or INTERNATIONAL CITY PH 1 better for off-plan?
DUBAI MARITIME CITY has the higher off-plan share, at 98% of recorded sales against 30%.