Emaar Master Community · Dubai
Downtown Dubai
Emaar's Landmark Urban Core Around Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall
Emaar's 2 km² urban core, launched in 2003 around Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, and Dubai Opera. Home to more than 20,000 residents across 154 developments, with 101 towers already completed and new launches still arriving.
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Overview
Downtown Dubai Community Overview
Master Developer
Emaar Properties, the master developer that launched the district in 2003 and shaped its landmark skyline.
Location
Between Business Bay and Financial Centre Road, directly off Sheikh Zayed Road in central Dubai.
Entry Price
Available projects start from AED 1.44 million ≈ USD 394,000 and rise past AED 10 million.
Delivery Status
101 towers already completed out of 154 developments, with new off-plan launches still releasing.
Downtown Dubai is the district Emaar built to give the city a center. Two square kilometers of high-density urban core, launched in 2003 on what was then the Umm Al Tarif area, planned around Burj Khalifa and Burj Lake and filled in with mixed-use towers, pedestrian boulevards, and the retail and hospitality anchor of The Dubai Mall.
For buyers, the appeal is a mature address rather than a promise. More than 20,000 people already live here across 101 completed towers, gross rental yields run between 6 and 8 percent, and Emaar and other developers continue to release new off-plan stock inside the same two square kilometers.
Start Here
Explore Downtown Dubai Listings and the Emaar Portfolio
Two routes into the district: browse the apartments, branded residences, and penthouses currently for sale inside Downtown Dubai, or review the full Emaar developer portfolio behind the masterplan.
Downtown Dubai Properties for Sale
Explore luxury apartments, branded residences and penthouses in Downtown Dubai, with property prices, payment plans and handover dates.
Browse Downtown Dubai properties for sale
Emaar Properties: Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai and Twenty Master Communities
Emaar, founded in 1997, built Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai and has delivered over 85,000 homes across twenty master communities.
Explore the Emaar developer portfolioHistory
From Umm Al Tarif to the Center of Modern Dubai
The district was conceived in the early 2000s as Dubai's bid for a world-class urban landmark. Emaar launched the 2 km² masterplan in 2003 on the former Umm Al Tarif area and anchored it with Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, and the Dubai Fountain.
Two decades on, Downtown Dubai has settled into its role as the city's civic and commercial center: 154 developments, 101 of them complete, a low-rise Old Town quarter of 35 buildings, and a skyline that has become the shorthand image of Dubai worldwide.
Sub-Communities
Sub-Communities in Downtown Dubai
Downtown Dubai reads as one skyline, but it is built from distinct clusters: the low-rise courtyards of Old Town, the branded Address towers, the mid-rise buildings along Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, and the landmark residences at the base of Burj Khalifa. Each carries its own price level, tenant profile, and view line.
Burj Khalifa
The world's tallest tower, holding ultra-luxury residences, the Armani Hotel, and public observation decks.
Boulevard Heights
Contemporary twin towers on the Boulevard, favored by investors targeting consistent rental demand and yields.
Burj Vista
Twin towers linked to The Dubai Mall by an air-conditioned bridge, with panoramic skyline views.
Old Town
Low-rise Arabic-style residences with courtyards and walkways beside Souk Al Bahar and The Dubai Mall.
The Residences
One of Emaar's flagship clusters, with direct views over Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain.
The Address Residences
Branded serviced apartments and hotels: Address Downtown, Address Boulevard, and Address Sky View towers.
South Ridge
A quieter cluster of six towers with landscaped gardens and park views, popular with families.
Claren Towers
Mid-rise residences on Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard with modern finishes and steady rental demand.
Boulevard Central
Mid-rise towers ringed by cafes, galleries, and boutiques, residential in feel but centrally placed.
Not sure which sub-community fits your budget and goals?
Ask Me on WhatsAppProperty Types
Property Types in Downtown Dubai
The mix here is overwhelmingly vertical: apartments and serviced residences dominate, with a small number of villas and podium townhouses surviving inside Old Town. Here is how the offering breaks down.
Apartments
The dominant type, one to five bedrooms, with skyline or fountain views and premium finishes.
Penthouses
Top-floor residences with expansive terraces, private pools, and panoramic Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain views.
Serviced Apartments
Furnished residences with hotel-style management, found in The Address, Armani Residences, and Vida Residences.
Hotel Apartments
Branded units run as managed hospitality inventory, aimed at investors seeking consistent operating returns.
Lofts & Duplexes
Multi-level layouts with double-height ceilings, concentrated along the Boulevard and in The Lofts by Emaar.
Villas & Podium Townhouses
A limited collection of Arabic-style villas and podium townhouses inside Old Town, offering rare privacy.
Commercial & Retail Spaces
Offices and retail units inside mixed-use towers, suited to boutique brands and F&B concepts.
Prices
What Does Downtown Dubai Cost Right Now?
Apartments and penthouses across the community currently average AED 2,830 ≈ USD 771 per sq ft, but real entry prices move with every release, district, and payment plan. I keep the current price list for every active launch.
Get the Price List on WhatsAppKey Figures
Downtown Dubai in Numbers
Master Community Size
2 km² of urban core
Total Developments
154 developments district-wide
Completed Towers
101 towers already delivered
Current Population
20,000+ residents today
Old Town Low-Rise
35 low-rise buildings
Retail Outlets
1,200+ at The Dubai Mall
Shopping & Dining Space
12 million sq ft
Landmark Attractions
Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain, Dubai Opera
Average Rental Yield
6-8 percent gross
Entry Price
From AED 1.44M ≈ USD 394K
How I Work
Buying in Downtown Dubai Through Tohid Fetrat
My role is buyer-side from the first message to handover. In a district this dense, the tower, the floor, and the view line separate a good Downtown purchase from an average one at the same price.
Tower and unit shortlists matched to your budget and goals
Every payment verified into the project's DLD-registered escrow account
Construction tracked against RERA inspection data through to handover
Pre-handover snagging inspection arranged before you take the keys
Location
Downtown Dubai Location on the Dubai Map
Downtown Dubai sits between Business Bay and Financial Centre Road, directly off Sheikh Zayed Road, about 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport. Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, Dubai Opera, and the Dubai Fountain all sit within walking distance of the residential towers, which is what keeps short-term and long-term rental demand high across the district.
- Dubai International Airport15 min
- Burj Khalifa · The Dubai Mall · Dubai OperaWalking distance
- Business Bay · DIFC · Sheikh Zayed RoadDirect road links
See the district's position relative to schools, retail, parks, and every other community on the Dubai interactive real estate map.
Want a shortlist of projects in this exact area?
Message Me on WhatsAppThe Process
What Happens After You Message Me
No pressure and no sales script. Here is exactly how it works.
Message on WhatsApp
Tell me the district you like, your budget range, and whether you are buying to live or to invest.
Receive the full picture
You receive current availability, prices, and payment plans for the units that fit, drawn from live developer inventory.
Decide with full information
You compare, ask anything, and move only when a unit genuinely fits. No obligation at any point.
FAQ
Downtown Dubai Frequently Asked Questions
Emaar Properties is the master developer. Emaar launched the district in 2003 and built its defining landmarks, including Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, and the Dubai Fountain. Other developers now build individual towers inside the district, but the masterplan itself is Emaar's.
Downtown Dubai lies between Business Bay and Financial Centre Road, directly off Sheikh Zayed Road, at the geographic and social center of the city. Dubai International Airport is roughly 15 minutes away by road.
Yes. Downtown Dubai is a designated freehold area, so foreign nationals can buy, sell, lease, and inherit property with full ownership rights. The wider ownership framework is covered in the Dubai real estate guide library.
The district is dominated by apartments, from one to five bedrooms, alongside penthouses, serviced and hotel residences, lofts and duplexes, and commercial units. A small number of Arabic-style villas and podium townhouses sit inside Old Town.
The main clusters are Burj Khalifa, Boulevard Heights, Burj Vista, Old Town, The Residences, The Address Residences, South Ridge, Claren Towers, and Boulevard Central. Each has its own building height, price level, and tenant profile.
Most towers provide 24-hour concierge, fitness centers, swimming pools, and children's play areas. Beyond the buildings, residents have walking access to The Dubai Mall, the Boulevard cafe strip, Dubai Opera, and the Dubai Fountain.
Yes. Despite the district being largely built out, new off-plan towers continue to launch with developer payment plans. Projects currently under construction or nearing completion include Binghatti Skyblade, Volta by DAMAC, Rove Home Downtown Dubai, Mercedes-Benz Places by Binghatti, and The St. Regis Residences.
Gross rental yields in Downtown Dubai generally run between 6 and 8 percent, depending on the tower, the view, and the property type. Sustained tourist, corporate, and long-term tenant demand keeps occupancy high across the year.
Entry prices across the projects currently for sale start at AED 1.44M ≈ USD 394K and reach AED 10.30M ≈ USD 2.80M for branded residences. One-bedroom apartments in the wider district have typically started around AED 1.6M ≈ USD 436K, while penthouses and branded residences can exceed AED 20M ≈ USD 5.45M depending on view, size, and developer.
Yes. A property purchase of AED 2M ≈ USD 545K or more, ready or off-plan, makes the buyer eligible to apply for the UAE Golden Visa, which grants ten-year renewable residency and can extend to immediate family members.
The main cost is the 4 percent Dubai Land Department registration fee, plus administrative and registration trustee charges. Off-plan purchases are recorded in the DLD's interim registry and payments go into the project's DLD-registered escrow account. Dubai has no annual property tax; owners pay community service charges based on unit size.
A question I have not covered here?
Ask It Directly on WhatsAppGet today's Downtown Dubai availability and prices
Get Availability & Prices on WhatsAppOff-plan releases sell in phases. Availability and prices change with each launch.
Your Advisor
Tohid Fetrat
Independent of the developer: I work for the buyer. On this page my job is helping you choose the right Downtown Dubai district and unit for your goals, then protecting the purchase through escrow verification, construction tracking, and a pre-handover inspection. Client identities and transactions are never published or referenced. Message or call me directly: you will always reach me personally, never a call center or sales team.
Ask your question, get your answer. No obligation and no follow-up unless you ask for it.