Dubai area guide
Freehold studios and apartments in one of Dubai's easiest communities to reach, a few minutes from Academic City.
3 off-plan projectsfrom AED 700K
Overview
Nakheel Properties developed International City in Al Warsan on a master plan covering more than 800 hectares. Homes are grouped into ten clusters, each themed on a country: Persia, Greece, Spain, Morocco, England, France, Italy, Russia, China and the Emirates. Buildings are low-rise, and each cluster borrows from the design traditions of the country it is named after.
Most of the stock is studios and 1-bedroom apartments. Some buildings, and the Central Business District (CBD), have larger units. Freehold townhouses exist only in Warsan Village, a sub-community planned around families. It is the one part of International City where buyers can own villas and townhouses outright.
The second phase, Warsan 4, added newer buildings with modern amenities to the original clusters. Each cluster largely runs on its own: residential ground floors usually hold grocery stores, cafés and small supermarkets.
Academic City and Dubai Silicon Oasis are close by, and the community has direct access to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) and Al Awir Road (E44). No Dubai Metro line serves it directly. RTA bus routes take residents to nearby stations, Etisalat and Centrepoint among them.
Investment case
Yields run from 7.1% to 10%, among the best in Dubai's freehold market. Steady tenant demand for affordable homes keeps them there.
Nakheel Properties, one of Dubai's longest-standing master developers, still manages and expands the community. That gives buyers more certainty about upkeep over the long term.
With prices from AED 310,000, this is one of the cheapest routes into freehold property in Dubai.
Buying a property worth AED 2 million or more here qualifies you for the UAE's 10-year Golden Visa, provided you meet the scheme's standard criteria.
Dragon Mart stretches 1.2km and pulls shoppers from all over Dubai. The result is footfall and commercial activity rarely seen in a district that is otherwise purely residential.
Prices have risen 10% to 13.3%, in line with steady demand for one of Dubai's cheapest and highest-yielding communities.
Community
International City feels relaxed and multicultural, and it pairs low costs with day-to-day convenience. Residents include first-time buyers, young professionals and families who come for the country-themed clusters and affordable rents. Each cluster has internal walkways and landscaped courtyards, so the area stays calm and walkable even though the community is large.
Most residential buildings have pharmacies, launderettes, salons and grocery stores on the ground floor, so residents rarely have to leave their cluster for essentials.
A number of nurseries run inside the clusters, offering EYFS, multicultural and interactive approaches for young children.
Examples include Masjid-e-Noor in the England cluster, Sheikh Abdel Hameed Masjid in the Spain cluster and the Cabin Mosque in the Persia cluster.
Residents use this landscaped, green-fringed lake for easy walks and evening runs.
Small parks are dotted across the clusters, the Paris Children's Park in the France cluster among them, giving children safe places to play outdoors.
Controlled access gates, covered underground parking and security monitoring 24 hours a day keep residents at ease.
Nearby
Opened in late 2017, it houses more than 2,500 animals, birds and reptiles and is the tourist attraction near the community that draws the most visitors.
This wholesale market, only 8 minutes away, supplies fresh produce to the whole emirate.
Open from October to April, this seasonal cultural venue has themed pavilions, shops and entertainment.
Roughly 25-30 minutes away, this seasonal garden displays more than 50 million flowers in themed arrangements.
The tallest building in the world stands at the centre of Downtown Dubai, only minutes from the community.
A 150-metre landmark with panoramic views over both old and new Dubai.
Daily life
Several of the themed clusters have their own nurseries, so early education is available near home. For older children, Academic City is a few minutes away and offers a broad choice of higher education.
Clinics sit inside the clusters themselves and cover general medicine, family care and specialist consultations, so residents seldom travel far for treatment.
Food shopping is simple. Well-stocked markets are spread through the residential clusters, ranging from small convenience shops to major supermarket chains like Dragon Mart. Fresh produce and household basics are usually a short walk away.
Residents reach the rest of the city via Al Awir Road (E44) and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), both major highways with direct access. The Dubai Metro does not serve the community directly, so RTA buses run to nearby stations such as Al Nahda, Etisalat and Centrepoint.
Starting prices
Starting prices by unit type as published by the developers active in the area. Individual units vary by floor, view and finish; the project pages carry the detail.
| Unit | Starting from |
|---|---|
| Studio | AED 310,000 |
| 1-Bedroom | AED 450,000 |
| 2-Bedroom | AED 750,000 |
| Unit | Starting from |
|---|---|
| 3-Bedroom | AED 3,000,000 |
| Unit | Starting from |
|---|---|
| 3-Bedroom | AED 1,900,000 |
Getting around
The community lies between Junctions 5 and 6 on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), near Dubai Silicon Oasis and Academic City.
Drive times are the developer’s typical figures in light traffic.
Master developer
Discover Nakheel, one of Dubai’s original master developers and now part of Dubai Holding, responsible for some of the most ambitious projects ever built, none more famous than Palm Jumeirah, the man-made island recognised around the world and home to the city’s most exclusive beachfront living. For over two decades,…
All Nakheel Properties projectsOff-plan now
Buyers looking for a low-cost way into one of Dubai's cheapest freehold communities are turning to off-plan launches in International City. Developers keep bringing studios and 1 to 2-bedroom apartments to market, along with larger townhouses and villas, which widens the choice. At Sports View Residence, studio to 2-bedroom apartments start at AED 549,000, and handover is targeted for Q2 2026. Valores Property Development's Elevia Residences adds another studio to 2-bedroom option, priced from AED 450,000. Those wanting more space can look at Kensington Gardens by LEOS Developments in the Greenwood neighbourhood, with 3 to 7-bedroom townhouses and villas measuring 850 to 3,200 sq. ft. These projects offer flexible payment plans tied to construction, keeping entry costs manageable for buyers targeting long-term capital growth in one of Dubai's highest-yielding communities.
AED 700Kfrom
Handover 2026
TBA
Handover 2027
AED 290
Handover 2019
FAQ
It is a Nakheel-developed residential community in Al Warsan, split into ten clusters themed on different countries. Homes are mainly affordable studios and one-bedroom flats, while Warsan Village offers townhouses on freehold title.
It lies between Junctions 5 and 6 on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), near Dubai Silicon Oasis and Academic City.
Yes. The community is freehold, and buyers of any nationality can own property there, mostly apartments and townhouses.
The choice is mainly studios and one-bedroom apartments, plus townhouses held freehold in Warsan Village. Newer projects such as Kensington Gardens also bring villas.
It is one of Dubai's most budget-friendly places to live. Low prices, high rental yields and the presence of Dragon Mart attract both buyers and tenants.
Yes. Yields of 7.1% to 10% and steady price growth place it among the highest-yielding freehold communities in Dubai.
Yes. A property worth AED 2 million or more qualifies the buyer for the UAE's 10-year Golden Visa, as long as the scheme's standard eligibility criteria are met.
The Spain Cluster ranks among the most popular, valued for its architecture and its sense of community.
Talk to an expert
Ask which launches in Dubai International City are actually worth the premium, what resale and rent look like today, and which payment plans are open right now.
