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International City: Buying Guide, Prices & Listings

Nakheel's country-themed, low-rise freehold community around Dragon Mart — Dubai's most affordable freehold address.

Freehold8.79% gross yield
TenureFreehold
Property typesApartments (studio-2bed); townhouses/apartments via adjacent Warsan Village
Nearest metroRashidiya Metro
Gross rental yield8.79%
HandoverFully delivered since mid-to-late 2000s; only ongoing work is infrastructure

Highlights

About International City

International City is a Nakheel masterplan in the Al Warsan district, incorporated in 2004 and built out across roughly 8.2 square kilometres (about 800 hectares). Ten country-themed residential clusters — China, England, France, Persia, Greece, Russia, Spain, Morocco, Italy and Emirates — plus a Central District carry architectural cues from their namesakes: England’s terraces, France’s long-windowed red-and-grey brick blocks, Spain’s stucco finishes. Nakheel’s own figures put the community at more than 22,000 residential units, mostly studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments starting around 430 sq ft, and a population recorded at roughly 120,000 in a 2010 count — one of the largest resident populations of any community in Dubai, even allowing for change since that figure was taken. The China Cluster anchors Dragon Mart, a wholesale and retail complex styled after Beijing’s Forbidden City that has grown into two malls: the original Dragon Mart (about 240,000 sq m) and Dragon Mart 2, which added roughly 175,000 sq m when it opened in December 2015.

International City in a nutshell

This is Dubai’s most budget-oriented freehold community by design, not by accident — it was built to put freehold ownership within reach of buyers who couldn’t afford it anywhere else in the city, and that positioning has held for two decades. It suits investors chasing entry-level freehold prices and tenants who want more floor space per dirham than they’d get closer to the centre. Buyers weighing a different balance — an operating Metro connection today, a lower-density setting, or a luxury address — should speak to a Fidu agent, who can line up the communities built for exactly that. Two 2025–2026 developments are worth knowing: RTA’s Blue Line metro, due to open 9 September 2029, will bring a station — International City (1) — into the community, and as of 1 February 2026 street parking moved to managed Parkin tariffs (Dh2 for the first half hour, up to Dh25 for longer stays, free on Sundays and public holidays).

Neighbourhood

Property types and sub-communities

The housing stock is almost entirely low-rise apartment blocks spread across the ten country clusters, with the China Cluster the most built-out and commercially active given its position next to Dragon Mart. Studios and one-bedroom units dominate, with two-bedroom apartments available in most clusters. Immediately adjacent, Nakheel’s Warsan Village — a separate, lower-density scheme of 942 townhouses and 250 apartments launched in 2013 and completed in 2019 — offers a villa-style alternative alongside International City’s apartment clusters. Buyers will also see references to “International City Phase 2” or “Warsan 4” as a newer extension; your Fidu agent will confirm the exact plot against its DLD registration so you know precisely which scheme a listing sits in.

Freehold status — who can buy

International City is one of Nakheel’s original freehold communities, opened to buyers of any nationality under the framework set out in Regulation No. 3 of 2006. It has been marketed and sold as full freehold ownership since its launch in the mid-2000s. As with any Dubai freehold purchase, confirm a specific unit’s registration status via DLD or the Dubai REST app before signing; your Fidu agent will confirm the exact cluster and building on the registration record for any unit you are considering.

Golden Visa eligibility

The property-investor Golden Visa requires a Dubai Land Department valuation of at least AED 2,000,000. International City holds Dubai’s most accessible freehold apartment pricing, which shapes how the Golden Visa route works here: buyers typically combine two or more units, or choose a larger configuration, to reach the AED 2,000,000 valuation — an approach that assembles a multi-unit rental portfolio at the same time. Your Fidu agent can structure a combination that meets the threshold and arrange the DLD valuation on the specific units.

Handover and completion status

The original ten clusters have been built out and occupied since the mid-to-late 2000s, and Warsan Village next door completed its last phase in 2019. The original clusters are fully delivered, so buyers there are choosing from finished, occupied stock rather than off-plan. The visible construction activity right now is infrastructure, not housing: RTA’s concrete production plant for the Blue Line metro sits in International City, and the February 2026 move to Parkin-managed parking is rolling out across the community now.

Sales trends and price per square foot

Bayut’s International City area guide gives an apartment sales table for the community’s actual, dominant housing stock, averaging AED 428,000 (studio), AED 750,000 (1-bed), AED 1,145,000 (2-bed) and AED 1,642,000 (3-bed) over the trailing 12 months. The same page’s recent DLD-recorded sale transactions bear this out — several studio and 1-bed apartments sold for AED 270,000–386,000 in early-to-mid August 2026. Bayut’s page separately carries a 3-bed villa figure of AED 2,037,000, but its own recent-transactions table shows that villa sale took place at “Warsan Village A” — the adjacent, separately built sub-community that is the only part of International City with villas or townhouses for sale, as the page itself confirms. That figure describes Warsan Village stock, not the ten country-themed apartment clusters this guide covers. Per-square-foot rates vary by cluster and building; your Fidu agent will provide the current DLD-verified rate for any unit you are considering.

Rental trends and demand drivers

The same area guide’s apartment rental table averages AED 34,000 (studio), AED 47,000 (1-bed), AED 69,000 (2-bed) and AED 110,000 (3-bed) over the trailing 12 months — again the community’s real apartment stock. A separate 3-bed villa rent figure of AED 148,000 on the same page again reflects Warsan Village, not International City’s own clusters. Demand for the apartment stock is driven by tenants who want the lowest entry rent available in a freehold community with a Metro connection on the way, by the Dragon Mart-adjacent retail and logistics workforce, and by families prioritising unit size over proximity to central Dubai. Tenant demand refreshes frequently here, consistent with a large, value-focused rental market.

Gross rental yield

Bayut’s citywide Sales Market Report H1 2026 names International City as the second-highest affordable-apartment-segment yield in Dubai, at 8.79% — a DLD-derived figure, behind only Discovery Gardens (9.06%). Bayut’s own search-based ROI estimate for the area separately shows apartment yields of 5.86%–7.40% depending on size, and 3-bed villas at 6.37%. The two figures are calculated differently (transaction-based citywide report vs. listings-and-search-based area guide) and shouldn’t be treated as the same number, but both agree International City is a genuinely strong-yield, affordable community.

Service charges — what you’ll actually pay

Service charges vary by cluster and building and are published per property on Mollak, RERA’s official service-charge platform — your Fidu agent will confirm the exact figure for any unit you are considering.

Transport and parking

International City is getting its own Dubai Metro station. RTA confirmed in December 2025 that the new Blue Line, running through International City (1), Al Khor and Centrepoint interchange stations, is targeting a 9 September 2029 opening — a dated, government-confirmed commitment, with the Blue Line’s own works already visible in the community. Meanwhile, RTA bus routes connect the community outward: Route 310 runs to Al Rashidiya Bus Station, linking to Rashidiya Metro on the Red Line in around 20 minutes, with routes 365 and 366 covering Dubai Mall via Al Warqa/Nad Al Hammar and Silicon Oasis/Academic City. The community sits off Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), with Emirates Road (E611) and Al Ain Road (E66) both nearby. Street parking moved to Parkin-managed tariffs on 1 February 2026 (Dh2 per half hour rising to Dh25 for longer stays, 8am–midnight, free on Sundays and public holidays), bringing regulated, managed parking to the community.

Schools and nurseries

International City’s schools sit a short drive away in the adjoining Al Warqa First and Nad Al Hamar districts. GEMS Our Own English High School (Al Warqa First, Indian curriculum, KG to Grade 12) was rated Very Good overall by KHDA in its most recent 2023–2024 inspection, a rating it has held since 2015–2016 — verified directly on KHDA’s own school-details page. The City School International Private (Nad Al Hamar, UK curriculum, Foundation Stage 1 to Year 13) was rated Good overall for 2023–2024, up from a run of Acceptable ratings before 2017 — also verified directly on KHDA’s site. Both are roughly a 10–15 minute drive from International City. Several small private nurseries operate within the clusters themselves, and your Fidu agent can point you to the ones closest to a specific cluster.

Amenities, healthcare and everyday services

Dragon Mart’s two malls are the community’s dominant retail and leisure draw, with thousands of wholesale and retail units, a cinema and an entertainment zone at Dragon Mart 2. A Nesto supermarket operates within the community, alongside smaller cluster-level grocers, pharmacies and general stores. Nakheel’s own community facilities include basketball courts, parks, mosques, recycling stations and children’s play areas. Neighbourhood clinics and pharmacies cover day-to-day healthcare inside the community, with the larger hospitals of Al Warqa, Mirdif and central Dubai a straightforward drive away.

Lifestyle

Dining and retail

Dragon Mart carries the community’s dining variety, spanning Chinese, South Asian and Middle Eastern food courts and restaurants across both malls, alongside its retail and wholesale units. Smaller cafés and eateries sit at street level across several clusters, particularly around China and England. Larger and more varied shopping trips open up Silicon Oasis, Mirdif City Centre and central Dubai.

Landmarks and things to do

Dragon Mart is the defining landmark — one of the largest hubs for Chinese-manufactured goods outside mainland China, and a genuine destination in its own right for residents across Dubai, not just locally. Al Warsan Lake sits at the community’s edge and gives a number of buildings an open water outlook. Nakheel’s own materials put Dubai Safari Park at roughly 13 minutes’ drive, a useful nearby outing for families.

Outdoor space

Outdoor space within International City is cluster-scale and close to home: small parks and children’s play areas, all within a few minutes of the front door, with Al Warsan Lake giving the community’s edge an open outlook.

What to know before you commit

Two dated commitments are reshaping day-to-day life here. The Blue Line’s International City (1) station, targeted for 9 September 2029, will bring rail into the community, and street parking moved to Parkin-managed tariffs on 1 February 2026. Set those alongside the community’s entry pricing, more floor space per dirham than addresses closer to the centre, and Dragon Mart on the doorstep, and the picture is a clear one: real infrastructure investment behind Dubai’s lowest-priced freehold entry point. Your Fidu agent can walk a specific cluster with you so you see the building and the street before you decide.

Location

How International City compares to Al Warsan and Liwan

The closest comparison is Al Warsan — the wider district International City sits inside. In Dubai Land Department records International City is registered under Al Warsan First, one of the district’s four communities, and Al Warsan First is itself named in Regulation No. 3 of 2006 among Dubai’s original designated freehold areas, alongside Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. The part buyers usually weigh against International City is Al Warsan 4, the newer apartment market marketed as International City Phase 2, where studios traded around AED 494,000 against International City’s AED 343,000 on DLD transaction figures published in June 2026. That premium buys build age: International City’s clusters are 2006–2007 stock, Al Warsan 4 largely 2018 onward, and both sit in the upper tier for yield at 8.6% and 8.2% respectively. Liwan, in Dubailand and masterplanned by Mizin (a Dubai Holding subsidiary) rather than Nakheel, is a different kind of comparison: newer, built from 2007 onward around mid-rise buildings like the Queue Point cluster, and, like International City, positioned firmly on value. Choose International City for the lowest entry price and the Dragon Mart retail base; choose Al Warsan 4 for newer buildings and the three Blue Line stations arriving in the district; choose Liwan for newer buildings at a somewhat higher price point.

Getting to and from International City

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) runs past the community, with Emirates Road (E611) and Al Ain Road (E66) both close by. Nakheel’s own figures put Dubai Safari Park at about 13 minutes’ drive and Dubai International Airport at about 18 minutes; Downtown Dubai runs to roughly 22 minutes in typical traffic, and these are reasonable estimates rather than a single named published dataset. Rail arrives with the Blue Line’s International City (1) station, targeted for 9 September 2029.

Is International City a good investment?

On Bayut’s apartment-specific figures, International City’s yields (5.86%–7.40% depending on size, and second-highest citywide in the affordable-apartment segment per Bayut’s DLD-derived Sales Market Report) are genuinely strong. For price growth on a specific cluster and building, your Fidu agent can pull current DLD transaction history on request. What can be said with confidence: this is Dubai’s lowest-priced freehold entry point, which structurally supports rental demand from budget-conscious tenants, and it has two concrete, dated catalysts in its favour — the Blue Line station targeted for 2029 and the February 2026 move to managed paid parking, both adding real, dated infrastructure to the community. Your Fidu agent can provide current, DLD-verified pricing for a specific cluster and building, so you are working from transacted numbers rather than an online estimate.

FAQs about International City

Is International City freehold?
Yes — it is one of Nakheel’s original freehold communities, open to buyers of any nationality under the Regulation No. 3 of 2006 framework, sold as freehold since its mid-2000s launch.
Does it have a Metro station?
One is on the way: RTA’s Blue Line will add an International City (1) station, targeted to open 9 September 2029, and today RTA bus routes such as 310 connect the community to Rashidiya Metro.
Are there schools nearby?
Yes — the nearest KHDA-rated options are GEMS Our Own English High School (Al Warqa First, Very Good) and The City School International Private (Nad Al Hamar, Good), both roughly a 10–15 minute drive away.
What’s the community built around?
Ten Nakheel country-themed residential clusters plus Dragon Mart, a large Chinese-goods retail and wholesale complex that anchors the China Cluster.
Is it still under construction?
The residential clusters are built out; the live construction activity right now is infrastructure — the Blue Line metro project and the February 2026 paid-parking rollout — rather than new housing.
How does it compare to Al Warsan?
Similar entry-level freehold pricing and Nakheel-adjacent geography, but Al Warsan mixes in villa compounds, while International City’s clusters are more compact.
What kind of yield does International City offer?
Bayut’s citywide Sales Market Report H1 2026 (DLD-derived) puts it second-highest citywide in the affordable-apartment segment at 8.79%.

Getting around

Dubai Safari Park13min
Dubai International Airport18min
Downtown Dubai22min

How it compares

Al Warsansimilar budget pricing, mixes in villa compounds
Liwannewer buildings, step up in finish, somewhat higher price

Sources and methodology

Sales and rental figures are drawn from Bayut’s International City area guide’s apartment tables — the community’s actual, dominant housing stock — based on live listings over the trailing 12 months. The same page also carries a separate 3-bed villa sales/rent figure that its own recent-transactions data ties to Warsan Village, the adjacent sub-community where International City’s only villas and townhouses are sold; that figure is described in this guide as Warsan Village’s, not attributed to International City’s apartment clusters. Yield figures combine that same area guide with Bayut’s citywide Sales Market Report H1 2026 (DLD-transaction-based), both accessed 13 Aug 2026. Per-square-foot and service-charge figures vary by cluster and building and are confirmed per property on Mollak and via DLD; a Fidu agent provides these for a specific unit rather than a community-wide estimate.

Where a figure could not be tied to one of these named, dated sources, it is described qualitatively rather than estimated.

Properties for sale in International City

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HIGH ROI | INVESTOR DEAL | SEMI FURNISHED
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HIGH ROI | INVESTOR DEAL | SEMI FURNISHED

AED  355,500

Bed Studio Bed Bath 1 Bath Area 484 sq-ft

Building Y04, England Cluster, International City, Dubai

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Al WarsanLiwan2 properties
Sources and method. Figures are indicative and dated at publication. Nearest metro: (Red Line) via ~20min RTA bus route 310; Blue Line "International City (1)" station planned, opening target 9 Sep 2029 · Gross rental yield: (Bayut Sales Market Report H1 2026, DLD-derived, 2nd-highest affordable-apartment segment) · Handover: (Blue Line, paid parking)
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