What is Downtown Dubai
Downtown Dubai is a 500-acre freehold district that Emaar built around Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and The Dubai Fountain.
Emaar Properties PJSC is the master developer. Emaar Community Management (ECM) states this on its Downtown Dubai pages. Khaleej Times reported on 23 June 2004 that Emaar described the project as "a city within a city". Gulf News listed the project in 2007 as a 500-acre, mixed-use, freehold development with a stated value of Dh73 billion (US$20 billion).
The district was first called Downtown Burj Dubai. The name changed after the tower became Burj Khalifa on 4 January 2010. The Christian Science Monitor reported the tower name change on that date. Wikipedia says the land was known as Umm Al Tarif before 2000. We could not confirm this from a government source.
The district mixes a 160-floor tower, 60-to-78-storey apartment towers, office blocks, hotels and three-storey Old Town buildings. Emaar Community Management lists more than 20 named sub-communities.
The sub-communities
Emaar Community Management describes these named areas inside Downtown Dubai. The list below uses its descriptions.
- Burj Khalifa and Burj Park: the tower, its hotel and residences, and the park on an island in Burj Lake.
- The Old Town and The Old Town Island: three-storey buildings and mid-rise towers in six districts. ECM says the design takes its style from the Al Bastakia quarter. Souk Al Bahar and The Palace hotel stand on The Old Town Island.
- The Residences: nine towers around Burj Lake with a retail podium.
- Opera District: Dubai Opera, Opera Grand (70 storeys), Il Primo, Grande, Act One | Act Two and Forte.
- Boulevard towers: 8 Boulevard Walk, 29 Boulevard, Boulevard Central, Boulevard Crescent, Boulevard Heights and Boulevard Point. Also Boulevard Plaza (offices), Burj Vista, Claren, Standpoint and The Lofts.
- South Ridge: six towers near the boulevard and The Dubai Mall.
- Burj Views: three towers on a podium at the outer edge of the district.
- Emaar Square: six office buildings around two courtyards. Archnet says it sits near the DIFC gate.
- Downtown Views: towers opposite the Opera District, on the Financial Centre Road side.
Sources: Gulf News, Downtown Burj Dubai, 4 September 2007; Khaleej Times, Emaar plans Downtown Dubai, 23 June 2004; Khaleej Times, Boulevard renamed, 27 December 2012; Emaar Community Management, Communities in Downtown Dubai; Archnet, Downtown Burj Dubai; Wikipedia, Downtown Dubai; citypopulation.de, Dubai Sector 3 (Dubai Statistics Center data)
Where you can live in Downtown Dubai: the residential projects
Homes in Downtown Dubai are in 11 residential areas: Other buildings, Burj Khalifa Area, Opera District, Old Town, The Address Residences Dubai Opera, South Ridge, The Address Residence Fountain Views, The Residences.
Map of the Downtown Dubai projects
Other buildings
56 residential buildings: 56 apartments. 47 completed, 9 off-plan. 1,717 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Emaar Development P.J.S.C., Emaar Properties (P.J.S.C), Binghatti Developers Fze.
| Project or building | Buildings | Status | Homes | Sales, 12 months | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binghatti Skyblade | 1 | Off-plan | apartments | 472 | AED 3,909 |
| Burj Lake Hotel - The Address DownTown | 1 | Completed | apartments | 73 | – |
| One Residence | 1 | Off-plan | apartments | 71 | AED 2,930 |
| Imperial Avenue | 1 | Completed | apartments | 64 | AED 2,392 |
| Fairmont Residences Solara Tower | 1 | Off-plan | apartments | 50 | AED 3,705 |
| Burj Crown | 1 | Completed | apartments | 49 | AED 2,761 |
| Kempinski Blvd (The address Blvd) | 1 | Completed | apartments | 42 | – |
| Forte 1 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 40 | AED 2,837 |
| Boulevard Point | 1 | Completed | apartments | 34 | AED 2,769 |
| Burj Vista Tower 1 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 33 | AED 2,955 |
| W Residences Downtown | 1 | Off-plan | apartments | 32 | AED 2,703 |
| Vida Residence Downtown | 1 | Completed | apartments | 32 | – |
| 29 Burj Boulevard Tower 1 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 32 | AED 2,353 |
| 8 Boulevard Walk | 1 | Completed | apartments | 31 | AED 1,792 |
And 42 more projects or buildings: see the map.
Burj Khalifa Area
15 residential buildings: 15 apartments. 8 completed, 6 off-plan. 386 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Emaar Development P.J.S.C., Emaar Properties (P.J.S.C), Damac Star Properties (L L C).
| Project or building | Buildings | Status | Homes | Sales, 12 months | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Regis The Residences | 3 | Off-plan | apartments | 122 | AED 3,116 |
| Burj Khalifa | 1 | Completed | apartments | 114 | AED 2,936 |
| Damac Maison Dubai Mall Street (The Signature) | 1 | Completed | apartments | 37 | AED 1,528 |
| Inaura Hotels & Residences | 1 | Off-plan | apartments | 35 | AED 4,989 |
| Baccarat Hotel and Residences | 1 | Off-plan | apartments | 29 | AED 5,699 |
| Opera Grand | 1 | Completed | apartments | 25 | AED 2,977 |
| Dunya Tower | 1 | Completed | apartments | 11 | AED 1,974 |
| Sofitel Residences Downtown | 1 | Off-plan | apartments | 10 | AED 2,452 |
| Armani Residence | 1 | Completed | apartments | 2 | – |
| The Residence | Burj Khalifa | 1 | Completed | apartments | 1 | – |
| Bridge Sky | 1 | Completed | apartments | 0 | – |
| A Tower | 1 | Completed | apartments | 0 | – |
| Maram Residence | 1 | Not known | apartments | 0 | – |
Opera District
6 residential buildings: 6 apartments. 6 completed, 0 off-plan. 128 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Emaar Development P.J.S.C..
| Project or building | Buildings | Status | Homes | Sales, 12 months | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grande | 1 | Completed | apartments | 60 | AED 3,591 |
| Act One Act Two Towers | 4 | Completed | apartments | 56 | AED 3,059 |
| IL Primo | 1 | Completed | apartments | 12 | AED 5,337 |
Old Town
41 residential buildings: 41 apartments. 41 completed, 0 off-plan. 122 sales in 12 months.
| Project or building | Buildings | Status | Homes | Sales, 12 months | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yansoon | 10 | Completed | apartments | 26 | AED 2,480 |
| The Old Town Island | 5 | Completed | apartments | 23 | AED 2,636 |
| Zanzebeel | 4 | Completed | apartments | 18 | AED 2,145 |
| Reehan | 8 | Completed | apartments | 16 | AED 2,381 |
| Miska | 5 | Completed | apartments | 15 | AED 2,174 |
| Zaafaran | 5 | Completed | apartments | 14 | AED 2,348 |
| Kamoon | 4 | Completed | apartments | 10 | AED 2,112 |
The Address Residences Dubai Opera
3 residential buildings: 3 apartments. 3 completed, 0 off-plan. 71 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Emaar Development P.J.S.C..
| Project or building | Buildings | Status | Homes | Sales, 12 months | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Address Residences Dubai Opera Tower 2 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 39 | AED 3,512 |
| The Address Residences Dubai Opera Tower 1 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 32 | AED 3,478 |
| The Address Residences Dubai Opera Podium | 1 | Completed | apartments | 0 | – |
South Ridge
7 residential buildings: 7 apartments. 7 completed, 0 off-plan. 56 sales in 12 months.
| Project or building | Buildings | Status | Homes | Sales, 12 months | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Ridge 1 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 11 | AED 2,039 |
| South Ridge 5 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 11 | AED 2,058 |
| South Ridge 6 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 10 | AED 2,081 |
| South Ridge 4 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 9 | AED 2,146 |
| South Ridge 3 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 8 | AED 1,924 |
| South Ridge 2 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 7 | AED 2,142 |
| Podium Villas | 1 | Completed | apartments | 0 | – |
The Address Residence Fountain Views
3 residential buildings: 3 apartments. 3 completed, 0 off-plan. 52 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Emaar Development P.J.S.C..
| Project or building | Buildings | Status | Homes | Sales, 12 months | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Address Residence Fountain Views 2 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 27 | – |
| The Address Residence Fountain Views 1 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 25 | – |
| The Address Residence Fountain Views 3 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 0 | – |
The Residences
12 residential buildings: 12 apartments. 12 completed, 0 off-plan. 52 sales in 12 months.
| Project or building | Buildings | Status | Homes | Sales, 12 months | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Residences 3 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 11 | AED 2,444 |
| The Residences 8 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 8 | AED 2,457 |
| The Residences 1 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 8 | AED 2,688 |
| The Residences 7 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 6 | AED 2,656 |
| The Residences 5 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 6 | AED 2,118 |
| The Residences 6 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 4 | – |
| The Residences 4 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 3 | – |
| The Residences West Podium | 1 | Completed | apartments | 3 | – |
| The Residences 2 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 2 | – |
| The Residences East Podium | 1 | Completed | apartments | 1 | – |
| The Residence Villas | 1 | Completed | apartments | 0 | – |
| The Residences 9 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 0 | – |
The Lofts
4 residential buildings: 4 apartments. 4 completed, 0 off-plan. 40 sales in 12 months.
| Project or building | Buildings | Status | Homes | Sales, 12 months | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lofts Central | 1 | Completed | apartments | 15 | AED 2,046 |
| The Lofts East | 1 | Completed | apartments | 15 | AED 2,019 |
| The Lofts West | 1 | Completed | apartments | 10 | AED 2,085 |
| The Lofts Podium | 1 | Completed | apartments | 0 | – |
Burj Views
4 residential buildings: 4 apartments. 4 completed, 0 off-plan. 40 sales in 12 months. Main developers: Emaar Properties (P.J.S.C).
| Project or building | Buildings | Status | Homes | Sales, 12 months | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burj Views podium | 1 | Completed | apartments | 18 | AED 1,757 |
| Burj Views A | 1 | Completed | apartments | 10 | AED 1,787 |
| Burj Views C | 1 | Completed | apartments | 6 | AED 1,827 |
| Burj Views B | 1 | Completed | apartments | 6 | AED 1,895 |
Emaar Square
6 residential buildings: 6 apartments. 1 completed, 0 off-plan. 1 sales in 12 months.
| Project or building | Buildings | Status | Homes | Sales, 12 months | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emaar Square Building 3 | 1 | Completed | apartments | 1 | – |
| Emaar Square Building 1 | 1 | Not known | apartments | 0 | – |
| Emaar Square Building 2 | 1 | Not known | apartments | 0 | – |
| Emaar Square Building 4 | 1 | Not known | apartments | 0 | – |
| Emaar Square Building 5 | 1 | Not known | apartments | 0 | – |
| Emaar Square Building 6 | 1 | Not known | apartments | 0 | – |
Source: Dubai Land Department sale records and our building list, 15 October 2026. A project is a group of buildings with one name; a building with no group is listed on its own. Per sq ft is the median of apartment sales in 12 months.
Downtown Dubai property prices and sales
Apartments in Downtown Dubai sold for a median of AED 2,956 per sq ft in the 12 months to 10 October 2026, across 2,382 apartment sales.
Where Downtown Dubai ranks in Dubai
Rank among 66 Dubai communities with 300 or more sales in 12 months. See what the sales records say.
Downtown Dubai apartment price per sq ft, by quarter
The median price of an apartment sold in Downtown Dubai was AED 2,572 per sq ft in 2026 Q3. The highest quarter in the last three years was 2025 Q4, at AED 3,622. A median moves when the mix of homes sold changes.
What the sale records show now
- Sales fell. Downtown Dubai had 871 sales in the last 6 months, against 1,631 in the same months a year before (-47%).
- New buildings keep launching. 5 buildings had their first sale in the last 12 months, with 78 sales between them.
- Most sales are of finished homes. 65% of sales in 12 months were of completed homes.
- Rental yield. Asking rents against sold prices give a gross yield of 5.6%.
- Homes due. Land Department projects in Downtown Dubai due by June 2027 hold 9,750 homes.
Downtown Dubai price per sq ft by district
| District | Per sq ft, 12 months | Change on the year | Sales, 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | AED 3,600 | +22.5% | 1,242 |
| Burj Khalifa Area | AED 3,059 | +3.3% | 392 |
| Opera District | AED 3,335 | +5.7% | 128 |
| Old Town | AED 2,378 | +7.0% | 124 |
| The Address Residence Fountain Views | – | – | 74 |
| The Address Residences Dubai Opera | AED 3,508 | -12.5% | 71 |
| Forte | AED 2,842 | -3.0% | 70 |
| 29 Burj Boulevard | AED 2,324 | -4.2% | 65 |
| South Ridge | AED 2,050 | +1.9% | 57 |
| The Residences | AED 2,540 | +2.7% | 52 |
| Vida Residences Dubai Mall | AED 3,803 | +6.0% | 45 |
| The Address Sky View Towers | – | – | 43 |
| The Lofts | AED 2,034 | -0.0% | 41 |
| Burj Views | AED 1,800 | +4.8% | 40 |
| Burj Vista | AED 2,772 | +2.6% | 39 |
| Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard | AED 1,804 | +6.2% | 38 |
| Boulevard Central Towers | AED 2,239 | +0.1% | 32 |
| Standpoint Towers | AED 2,219 | -5.1% | 31 |
| BLVD Heights | AED 2,590 | +7.6% | 29 |
| Elite Downtown Residence | AED 2,203 | -2.9% | 27 |
| Claren Towers | AED 2,228 | +7.3% | 25 |
| Bellevue Towers | AED 2,148 | -1.8% | 23 |
The 10 Downtown Dubai buildings with the most sales in 12 months
| Building | Status | District | Developer | Per sq ft | Sales, 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binghatti Skyblade | Off-plan | – | Binghatti Developers FZE | AED 3,909 | 472 |
| Burj Khalifa | Completed | Burj Khalifa Area | EMAAR PROPERTIES (P.J.S.C) | AED 2,936 | 114 |
| Burj Lake Hotel - The Address DownTown | Completed | – | – | – | 73 |
| One Residence | Off-plan | – | GINCO PROPERTIES L.L.C | AED 2,930 | 71 |
| The St. Regis Residences - Tower 1 | Off-plan | Burj Khalifa Area | EMAAR DEVELOPMENT P.J.S.C. | AED 3,328 | 66 |
| Imperial Avenue | Completed | – | SP INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY DEVELOPERS L.L.C | AED 2,392 | 64 |
| Grande | Completed | Opera District | EMAAR DEVELOPMENT P.J.S.C. | AED 3,591 | 60 |
| The St. Regis Residences - Tower 2 | Off-plan | Burj Khalifa Area | EMAAR DEVELOPMENT P.J.S.C. | AED 2,989 | 56 |
| Fairmont Residences Solara Tower | Off-plan | – | S O L PROPERTIES DEVELOPMENT L.L.C | AED 3,705 | 50 |
| Burj Crown | Completed | – | EMAAR DEVELOPMENT P.J.S.C. | AED 2,761 | 49 |
Source: Dubai Land Department sale records and project register, as built into BUY DUBAI on 15 October 2026. Price per sq ft is a median of apartment sales. Yield is asking rent against sold price. Dates are registration dates.
Where is Downtown Dubai in Dubai
Downtown Dubai lies inland of Sheikh Zayed Road between DIFC and Business Bay, about 15 minutes by car from Dubai International Airport.
The district is in the centre of the modern city. Sheikh Zayed Road forms its north-west edge. Al Wasl lies across that road. Financial Centre Road separates the district from Za'abeel and Trade Centre 2 to the north-east. Business Bay lies to the south and south-east. Wikipedia gives these boundaries, and the road names match RTA project descriptions.
Emaar Hospitality Group says Address Downtown is "only 15 minutes from the Dubai International Airport". Hospitality Net published this statement on 6 June 2018. Travel time depends on traffic and route. We could not confirm an official RTA drive time.
Neighbours
- DIFC: the financial free zone on the north side of Financial Centre Road. Wikipedia says DIFC covers 110 hectares and began operations in 2004.
- Business Bay: Wikipedia says Business Bay is "immediately south of Downtown Dubai" and covers about 4.36 km². The Dubai Statistics Center counted 25,817 residents there at end-2023.
- Za'abeel: the area north-east of Financial Centre Road around Za'abeel Park and Dubai World Trade Centre. One Za'abeel opened there on 10 February 2024.
- Al Wasl and City Walk: across Sheikh Zayed Road. The RTA is upgrading Al Safa Street between the two areas, Gulf Business reported on 30 June 2025.
- Dubai Creek Harbour: Emaar's 6 km² waterfront district east of Downtown, across Ras Al Khor. Khaleej Times reported the size on 12 August 2022.
The Dubai Statistics Center records Downtown Dubai under the community name "Burj Khalifa" in Sector 3.
Sources: Wikipedia, Downtown Dubai; Hospitality Net, Address Downtown reopens, 6 June 2018; Wikipedia, DIFC; Wikipedia, Business Bay; Wikipedia, One Za'abeel; Khaleej Times, Emaar to buy Dubai Creek Harbour, 12 August 2022; citypopulation.de, Dubai Sector 3 (Dubai Statistics Center data)
Downtown Dubai roads, traffic, parking and transport
Downtown Dubai has one Red Line metro station, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, with an 820-metre walkway to the mall and road access from three main roads.
Roads and exits
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard is the 3.5 km loop road inside the district. Emaar renamed it from Emaar Boulevard on 27 December 2012, as reported by Khaleej Times. Drivers enter from Financial Centre Road (also called Doha Street) and from Sheikh Zayed Road at the First Interchange. Al Asayel Street gives access from the Business Bay side. Wikipedia says Doha Street was rebuilt as a double-deck road in April 2009 to serve The Dubai Mall.
Traffic is heavy at peak hours and at events. On New Year's Eve the RTA closes parts of Sheikh Zayed Road, Financial Centre Road and Burj Khalifa Street. For the 2026 event the RTA planned 1,300 buses and about 20,000 park-and-ride spaces. Gulf News reported this on 28 December 2025.
Road projects near the district
- Al Mustaqbal Street: Gulf Business reported on 13 July 2025 that the RTA awarded a Dh633 million contract. The road will go from three to four lanes each way over 3.5 km, from Za'abeel Palace Street to Financial Centre Street. The RTA says capacity rises from 6,600 to 8,800 vehicles per hour and travel time falls from 13 to 6 minutes. The RTA lists Downtown Dubai among the areas served.
- Al Safa Street: Gulf Business reported on 30 June 2025 that a 1,500-metre upgrade will cut travel time from 12 to 3 minutes. The RTA says this improves access to Downtown Dubai.
Metro
Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station is on the Red Line. The Dubai Media Office says it opened in early 2010. The station handled over 10.577 million passengers in 2024, or nearly 58,000 a day. On 22 June 2025 the RTA announced an expansion with Emaar. The station area will grow from 6,700 to 8,500 square metres. Hourly capacity will rise from 7,250 to 12,320 passengers. The RTA and Emaar signed the agreement on 15 January 2026. No completion date has been published.
The Dubai Mall Metro Link joins the station to the mall. Khaleej Times reported on 25 December 2012 that the link opened that day. Emaar gave its length as 820 metres with ten travelators. Gulf News says the walk takes 10 to 15 minutes. Business Bay station is the next Red Line station to the south.
The Blue Line, due in 2029, does not serve Downtown Dubai. Gulf News published the route on 10 June 2025.
Buses and trolley
Gulf News reported on 16 August 2024 that bus routes 27 (Gold Souq) and 29 (Al Ghubaiba) serve The Dubai Mall every 16 minutes. Khaleej Times reported on 3 March 2011 that Emaar started a hop-on, hop-off trolley bus. Its stops were The Dubai Mall, Address Downtown, Souk Al Bahar, The Palace, Burj Park and Burj Khalifa. We could not confirm the trolley still runs in 2026.
Parking
The Dubai Mall has over 14,000 parking spaces in three car parks, according to Wikipedia. Gulf News reported on 16 August 2024 that the mall moved to Salik-based paid parking in July 2024. Parking is free for four hours on weekdays and six hours at weekends. Zabeel and Fountain Views car parks were free at that date. Dubai Mall Zabeel has access to more than 3,000 spaces, Gulf News reported on 27 October 2019. Residential towers have basement parking.
Sources: Khaleej Times, Boulevard renamed, 27 December 2012; Wikipedia, Downtown Dubai; Gulf News, NYE 2026 transport guide, 28 December 2025; Gulf Business, Al Mustaqbal Street project, 13 July 2025; Dubai Media Office, RTA metro station expansion, 22 June 2025; Khaleej Times, Dubai Mall Metro Link opens, 25 December 2012; Gulf News, Blue Line guide, 10 June 2025; Gulf News, Dubai Mall parking and transport, 16 August 2024; Khaleej Times, Trolley buses for Downtown, 3 March 2011
Living in Downtown Dubai
Residents live next to The Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar, Dubai Opera, Burj Park and The Dubai Fountain, with clinics, a mosque and supermarkets nearby.
Shops and malls
The Dubai Mall opened on 4 November 2008. Khaleej Times reported on 3 June 2024 that it covers 1.2 million square metres and has more than 1,200 outlets. Emaar said the mall had 105 million visitors in 2023. Gulf News reported on 13 July 2024 that the mall had 57 million visitors in the first half of 2024.
Dubai Mall Zabeel is a nine-storey extension joined to the main mall by a footbridge over 200 metres long. Gulf News reported this on 27 October 2019. Emaar built five link bridges with a combined length of 1.78 km to connect the extension with Financial Centre Road. Emaar announced this on 22 January 2019. Chinatown opened on the first floor of the mall opposite the ice rink in September 2023, according to Images RetailME.
Souk Al Bahar is on The Old Town Island beside the lake. Emaar Malls opened its first phase in December 2007. Al Bawaba reported it was planned for over 100 shops and 22 restaurants and cafés. The Old Town also has small retail streets. ECM names Dukkan Al Manzil and Dukkan Qamardeen.
Supermarkets
Al Bawaba reported in December 2007 that a Spinneys opened in Souk Al Bahar. Grandiose opened in Dubai Mall Zabeel in October 2019, Gulf News reported. Khaleej Times reported on 10 November 2022 that Lulu signed for a 72,000 sq ft hypermarket in Dubai Mall Zabeel, due by April 2023. We could not confirm its opening date.
Clinics and hospitals
There is no hospital inside Downtown Dubai. Mediclinic Dubai Mall is on Level 7 of the Fashion Parking. It offers a laboratory, general medicine, MRI and day surgery. Medeor Downtown Medical Centre is in Yansoon 9 in The Old Town. Drs. Nicolas and Asp is in Souk Al Manzil. Emirates Hospital Clinic and Aster Clinic are in Bay Avenue, Business Bay. Luxhabitat lists these in its clinic guide. Larger hospitals are in Dubai Healthcare City, about 10 minutes away by car.
Parks and open space
Burj Park is on an island in Burj Lake at the base of Burj Khalifa. Emaar owns it and Dubai Municipality operates it, according to Wikipedia. Archnet gives the lake park area as 32,000 square metres. The park hosts concerts, the Ramadan iftar cannon and New Year's Eve viewing. Gulf News reported on 27 September 2025 that the fountain lake covers the area of 18 football fields. It is about 1.3 metres deep.
The fountain closed in May 2025 for its first major refurbishment. It reopened on 1 October 2025. Emaar says Phase One covered tiling, water insulation and paint. Shows run at 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm daily, and every 30 minutes from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Emaar said Phase Two was due in the second quarter of 2026. We could not confirm that Phase Two has finished.
Culture and hotels
Dubai Opera opened on 31 August 2016 with 2,000 seats. Gulf News reported on 13 August 2022 that it had hosted 1,200 shows and one million visitors. Emaar Hospitality runs Address Downtown, Address Dubai Mall, Palace Downtown, Vida Downtown and Manzil Downtown in the district. Vida Dubai Mall opened in February 2025 with 195 rooms and 620 residence units, Business Traveller reported. Kempinski The Boulevard was Address Boulevard until 2024, according to Wikipedia.
Mosques
Gulf News reported on 15 September 2018 that Emaar unveiled the Shaikh Zayed Bin Mansour Al Nahyan Mosque. It stands near The Old Town, behind the Qamardeen hotel. It has seating for 800 people and a prayer hall for over 85 women. The Dubai Mall also has prayer rooms.
Sources: Khaleej Times, Dubai Mall Dh1.5bn expansion, 3 June 2024; Gulf News, Dubai Mall 57 million visitors, 13 July 2024; Gulf News, Supermarket opens in Dubai Mall Zabeel, 27 October 2019; Emaar, Five new link bridges, 22 January 2019; Al Bawaba, Souk Al Bahar opens, 16 December 2007; Luxhabitat, Clinics in Downtown Dubai; Wikipedia, Burj Park; Emaar, Dubai Fountain reopening, 27 September 2025; Gulf News, Dubai Opera 1 million visitors, 13 August 2022; Business Traveller, Vida Dubai Mall opens, 26 February 2025; Gulf News, New mosque in Downtown Dubai, 15 September 2018
Schools in and near Downtown Dubai
Downtown Dubai has no KHDA-rated school inside it, so families use schools in Al Wasl, Al Safa, Oud Metha, Al Jaddaf and Nad Al Sheba.
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) inspects private schools in Dubai. Ratings run from Weak to Outstanding. Gulf News published the list of 23 Outstanding schools on 9 August 2025, based on the 2023-24 inspections. Arabian Business published the list of Very Good schools from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles. Gulf News published the first ratings for new schools on 21 November 2025.
KHDA-rated schools nearby
- Horizon English School (Al Wasl): UK curriculum. Rated Outstanding by KHDA, per the Gulf News list.
- Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Safa 1: UK curriculum. Rated Outstanding by KHDA.
- Safa Community School (Al Safa): UK curriculum. Rated Outstanding in 2023-24, per Gulf News; Very Good in 2022-23, per Arabian Business.
- Dubai English Speaking School (Oud Metha): UK primary. Rated Outstanding by KHDA.
- Lycée Français International Georges Pompidou (Oud Metha): French curriculum. Rated Outstanding by KHDA.
- GEMS Jumeira Primary School and Jumeirah College: UK curriculum in Jumeirah. Both rated Outstanding by KHDA.
- Hartland International School (Sobha Hartland, MBR City): UK curriculum. Rated Very Good by KHDA, per Arabian Business.
- North London Collegiate School Dubai (Nad Al Sheba): IB curriculum. Rated Very Good by KHDA, per Arabian Business.
- Swiss International Scientific School (Al Jaddaf, Healthcare City Phase 2): IB with bilingual streams. Sotheby's International Realty Dubai says it is rated Very Good and about 10 minutes away.
- Citizens School (Al Satwa): UK curriculum. Rated Good in its first KHDA inspection, Gulf News reported on 21 November 2025.
- Kings School Nad Al Sheba: UK curriculum. Rated Very Good by KHDA, per Arabian Business.
Sotheby's International Realty Dubai also lists GEMS Wellington International School and Dubai College in Al Sufouh. It gives a 20 to 25 minute drive time. Both are rated Outstanding by KHDA. Drive times vary with traffic. We could not confirm bus routes for each school.
Nurseries
Several nurseries operate inside Downtown Dubai towers and in The Old Town. We could not confirm a full list from a government source.
Sources: Gulf News, 23 Outstanding KHDA schools, 9 August 2025; Arabian Business, Every Very Good KHDA school; Gulf News, KHDA ratings for new schools, 21 November 2025; Sotheby's International Realty Dubai, Schools near Downtown Dubai
Who lives in Downtown Dubai
About 23,600 people lived in the Burj Khalifa statistical community at end-2023, mostly expatriate professionals in apartments.
The Dubai Statistics Center population estimate for the Burj Khalifa community was 389 at end-2010, 9,792 at end-2015, 20,795 at end-2020 and 23,616 at end-2023. The figures appear on citypopulation.de, which cites the Dubai Statistics Center. Emaar's 2007 plan expected "more than 100,000" people, Gulf News reported. Sources disagree on population: Wikipedia's summary box says 100,000+, but its text cites 13,201 for 2017. The Dubai Statistics Center count is the official figure.
Many homes are second homes or short-stay units, so the resident count is lower than the number of homes. The daytime population is far higher. The Dubai Media Office says the metro station alone handled nearly 58,000 passengers a day in 2024.
Nationalities
No official nationality breakdown exists for the district. Dubai's total population passed 4 million on 5 September 2025, Gulf News reported citing the Dubai Statistics Center population clock. AGBI reported on 25 March 2024 that agents see Turkish buyers favouring central areas such as Downtown Dubai and Business Bay. Khaleej Times reported on 20 November 2025 on tenants in Business Bay, next door. There, 40 per cent fall into an "others" group of many smaller nationalities. Lebanese and Egyptian tenants are prominent. We could not confirm a tenant breakdown for Downtown Dubai itself.
Household types
- Single professionals and couples: the main tenant group in studio, one and two-bedroom towers along the boulevard.
- Families: found in The Old Town three-storey buildings, Burj Views, South Ridge and larger units in The Residences. Schools are outside the district.
- Owners of holiday homes: Downtown Dubai has many units registered for short-term rental with Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism. We could not confirm the current count.
- Hotel residents: Armani Residences, Address and Vida branded residences house long-stay guests and owners.
Sources: citypopulation.de, Dubai Sector 3 (Dubai Statistics Center data); Gulf News, Downtown Burj Dubai, 4 September 2007; Gulf News, Dubai passes 4 million residents, 5 September 2025; AGBI, What Dubai property buyers want, 25 March 2024; Khaleej Times, Where nationalities rent in Dubai, 20 November 2025
Downtown Dubai service charges and running costs
Owners pay a building service charge approved by the Dubai Land Department, an Emaar Community Management fee and district cooling charges.
How service charges work
Gulf News explained the system on 13 February 2026. Owners pay recurring fees for cleaning, security, landscaping, waste, repairs, management and shared utilities. The Dubai Land Department (DLD) publishes a Service Charge Index of approved rates. Owners can check their building on the DLD website or the Dubai REST app with the title deed number. Payments go through the Mollak system into DLD-approved bank accounts. Gulf News gives a city-wide range of Dh3 to more than Dh30 per square foot.
What Downtown towers pay
Rates differ by tower. Older towers with few facilities pay less. Branded and hotel-serviced towers pay more. Arabian Business reported in 2024 that Burj Khalifa charges about AED 60 to 70 per square foot a year. Christie's International Real Estate Dubai, a brokerage, gives a Downtown Dubai average of about AED 21 per square foot. It gives a typical range of AED 17 to 40, and up to AED 68 in branded towers. These brokerage figures are estimates. We could not confirm an official district average from the DLD index. Check the DLD index for the exact tower before you buy.
Master community fee
Emaar Community Management collects a community service fee on top of the building charge. ECM says the fee has a general fund, a capital reserve fund, a possible special levy and a master community levy. The master community levy pays for roads, underground services, drains and pavements. ECM charges 5 per cent VAT. ECM sends invoices by email only. ECM can withhold a No Objection Certificate for a sale or visa until dues are paid.
Cooling and utilities
Downtown towers use district cooling. Cooling charges are billed separately from DEWA. Some towers include the cooling capacity charge in the service charge, and some bill it to the tenant. We could not confirm the cooling provider for every tower in the district. DEWA bills electricity and water, with a housing fee of 5 per cent of annual rent added to the DEWA bill.
Other costs
- Parking: most towers include one or more bays. Visitor parking at The Dubai Mall is free for four hours on weekdays, Gulf News reported in August 2024.
- Salik: drivers using Sheikh Zayed Road pass toll gates. Financial Centre Road and Al Khail Road have no gate at the district.
- Short-term rental permits: holiday home operators need a Department of Economy and Tourism permit, which has a yearly fee.
Sources: Gulf News, What are service charges in Dubai, 13 February 2026; Arabian Business, Cost of living in Burj Khalifa, 2024; Christie's International Real Estate Dubai, Service charges guide, April 2026; Emaar Community Management, Community service fee
New projects and what is coming to Downtown Dubai
The main projects are the Dh1.5 billion Dubai Mall expansion, the metro station upgrade, the fountain Phase Two works and the last Opera District towers.
The Dubai Mall expansion
Khaleej Times reported on 3 June 2024 that Emaar will spend Dh1.5 billion on 240 new luxury retail and dining outlets. The contractor was already on site. Gulf News listed the project again on 1 August 2026 among nine new retail projects in Dubai. Emaar has not published an opening date. Wikipedia says the extension is due by 2027. We could not confirm this date from Emaar.
Metro station expansion
The RTA and Emaar signed the station expansion agreement on 15 January 2026, the Dubai Media Office reported. The works add entrances, pedestrian bridges, a larger concourse, new escalators and lifts, separate entry and exit gates and more fare gates. Daily capacity will reach 220,000 passengers. No completion date has been published.
The Dubai Fountain
Emaar said on 27 September 2025 that Phase Two of the fountain renovation was due in the second quarter of 2026. Emaar said it would add new features. We could not confirm completion.
Residential towers
- Grande: 78 storeys in the Opera District. Khaleej Times reported the launch on 10 May 2018.
- Act One | Act Two: 52 and 46 storeys with 718 units, next to Dubai Opera. Gulf News reported the launch in 2016.
- Il Primo: Wikipedia says Tower 2 (77 floors) finished in 2025 and Tower 1 is under construction.
- St. Regis The Residences: two Emaar towers on the boulevard. Several agents give a handover of late 2026. We could not confirm the date from Emaar.
Next door
Gulf News reported on 10 June 2025 that Deyaar launched Downtown Residences next to Business Bay metro station. It is a 445-metre twin tower with over 110 floors and 522 homes. It is in Business Bay, not Downtown Dubai.
Khaleej Times reported on 11 June 2026 that Emaar will reveal a Dh200 billion master plan for nearly 150,000 residents. It will have over 4.5 million square metres of floor area. Emaar did not name the site. The plan is not part of Downtown Dubai.
The RTA's Al Mustaqbal Street and Al Safa Street projects will change access from the north and west. Gulf Business reported both in June and July 2025. The Trade Centre Roundabout rebuild began in late 2024, the RTA said.
Sources: Khaleej Times, Dubai Mall Dh1.5bn expansion, 3 June 2024; Gulf News, 9 new malls and retail hubs, 1 August 2026; Dubai Media Office, RTA and Emaar sign station agreement, 15 January 2026; Emaar, Dubai Fountain reopening, 27 September 2025; Khaleej Times, Emaar launches Grande, 10 May 2018; Gulf News, Deyaar 445m tower, 10 June 2025; Khaleej Times, Emaar Dh200bn master plan, 11 June 2026
Downtown Dubai history
Emaar launched Downtown Burj Dubai in 2004, opened The Dubai Mall in 2008 and Burj Khalifa in 2010, then renamed the district Downtown Dubai.
Timeline
- Before 2000: Wikipedia says the site was called Umm Al Tarif. Archnet says it lay at the First Interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road. We could not confirm earlier land use from a government source.
- 23 June 2004: Khaleej Times reported Emaar's plan for a 400-acre Burj Dubai development with a 3.5 km boulevard, The Residences and The Old Town. Emaar compared it to Lower Manhattan and London's West End.
- 21 September 2004: construction of Burj Dubai began, according to Wikipedia. Archnet says district construction started the same month.
- 16 December 2007: Emaar Malls opened the first phase of Souk Al Bahar on The Old Town Island, Al Bawaba reported.
- September 2008: The Address Downtown, 63 floors and 306 metres, was completed, Archnet says.
- 4 November 2008: The Dubai Mall opened with about 1,000 retailers, according to Wikipedia.
- 4 January 2010: Burj Dubai opened as Burj Khalifa. The Christian Science Monitor reported the name change was announced at the ceremony, weeks after Abu Dhabi supported Dubai's finances. The metro station opened in early 2010, the Dubai Media Office says.
- 3 March 2011: Emaar started a trolley bus service for visitors, Khaleej Times reported.
- 25 December 2012: the Dubai Mall Metro Link opened, Khaleej Times reported.
- 27 December 2012: Emaar renamed Emaar Boulevard as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Khaleej Times reported.
- October 2013: Emaar presented the Opera District at Cityscape Global, Khaleej Times reported on 6 October 2013.
- 31 December 2015: a fire damaged the facade of Address Downtown. No one died. The hotel reopened in 2018, Gulf News reported on 5 November 2018.
- 31 August 2016: Dubai Opera opened with a Plácido Domingo concert, Gulf News reported.
- February 2019: five link bridges to Dubai Mall Zabeel opened, Emaar said.
- October 2019: Dubai Mall Zabeel opened with the Grandiose supermarket, Gulf News reported.
- 10 February 2024: One Za'abeel opened across Financial Centre Road, Wikipedia says.
- 3 June 2024: Emaar announced the Dh1.5 billion mall expansion, Khaleej Times reported.
- 1 October 2025: The Dubai Fountain reopened after a five-month closure, Emaar said.
- 15 January 2026: the RTA and Emaar signed the metro station expansion agreement, the Dubai Media Office reported.
Gulf News reported in 2007 that most homes were due for delivery in 2009. Delivery continued through the 2010s as the Opera District towers were built.
Sources: Wikipedia, Downtown Dubai; Archnet, Downtown Burj Dubai; Khaleej Times, Emaar plans Downtown Dubai, 23 June 2004; Al Bawaba, Souk Al Bahar opens, 16 December 2007; Christian Science Monitor, Tallest building opens with a new name, 4 January 2010; Khaleej Times, Boulevard renamed, 27 December 2012; Gulf News, Address Downtown reopens after blaze, 5 November 2018; Gulf News, Dubai Opera 1 million visitors, 13 August 2022; Emaar, Dubai Fountain reopening, 27 September 2025
Downtown Dubai vs Business Bay, DIFC, Za'abeel, Dubai Creek Harbour
Downtown Dubai is the oldest and most complete of the five central districts, with one master developer and the main landmarks.
Downtown Dubai vs Business Bay
Business Bay is immediately south, across Al Asayel Street and the canal. Wikipedia says it was established in 2003, covers about 4.36 km² and planned over 230 towers. Many developers build there, not one. The Dubai Statistics Center counted 25,817 residents in Business Bay at end-2023 against 23,616 in Burj Khalifa. Business Bay has its own Red Line station. Downtown Dubai has one master developer, Emaar, and one community manager. Business Bay towers vary more in quality and age. Deyaar's 445-metre Downtown Residences is being built in Business Bay next to the metro, Gulf News reported on 10 June 2025.
Downtown Dubai vs DIFC
DIFC is a financial free zone with its own courts and laws in English. Wikipedia says it covers 110 hectares and began operations in 2004. It had over 3,000 companies in 2022. DIFC is office-led. Its homes sit in a few towers around Gate Avenue, which opened in 2018. Downtown Dubai is home-led with far more apartments, parks and a lake. Financial Centre Road separates the two. Residents of Emaar Square and Boulevard Plaza can walk to the DIFC Gate.
Downtown Dubai vs Za'abeel
Za'abeel is mostly government land, Za'abeel Park and the Dubai World Trade Centre. The Dubai Statistics Center counted 3,632 residents in Za'abeel First and 9,145 in Za'abeel Second at end-2023. One Za'abeel, by Ithra Dubai, opened on 10 February 2024 with 264 apartments and 94 private residences. Za'abeel has little freehold housing. Downtown Dubai is fully freehold.
Downtown Dubai vs Dubai Creek Harbour
Dubai Creek Harbour is Emaar's second landmark district. Khaleej Times reported on 12 August 2022 that it will cover six square kilometres, and that Emaar bought Dubai Holding's stake for Dh7.5 billion. Arabian Business says it is twice the size of Downtown Dubai. It is on the creek, 10 to 15 minutes east by car, and will get a Blue Line metro station in 2029. Khaleej Times reported on 20 November 2025 that Russian (11 per cent) and British (10 per cent) tenants are prominent there. Downtown Dubai is finished and central. Dubai Creek Harbour is newer, with more water frontage and less transport today.
Downtown Dubai, Business Bay and DIFC have Red Line stations today. Dubai Creek Harbour waits for the Blue Line. None of the five districts has a school inside it.
Sources: Wikipedia, Business Bay; citypopulation.de, Dubai Sector 3 (Dubai Statistics Center data); Gulf News, Deyaar 445m tower, 10 June 2025; Wikipedia, DIFC; Wikipedia, One Za'abeel; Khaleej Times, Emaar to buy Dubai Creek Harbour, 12 August 2022; Khaleej Times, Where nationalities rent in Dubai, 20 November 2025
Common questions about Downtown Dubai
These answers cover the questions buyers and tenants ask most about living in Downtown Dubai.
Is Downtown Dubai freehold?
Yes. Gulf News listed Downtown Burj Dubai as a freehold development in 2007. Foreign nationals can buy and own apartments there. The Dubai Land Department registers the title deeds.
Who is the master developer of Downtown Dubai?
Emaar Properties PJSC. Emaar Community Management states this on its Downtown Dubai pages. Emaar also owns The Dubai Mall, Burj Park and The Dubai Fountain. Some towers were built by other developers on Emaar plots.
How big is Downtown Dubai?
Gulf News and Khaleej Times give 500 acres. Archnet and Wikipedia give about 2 square kilometres. Both figures describe the same land. Khaleej Times reported a 400-acre core in June 2004.
Which metro station serves Downtown Dubai?
Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station on the Red Line. The Dubai Media Office says it opened in early 2010. An 820-metre air-conditioned walkway links it to The Dubai Mall. The RTA and Emaar are expanding the station to 12,320 passengers an hour.
How long is the drive to Dubai International Airport?
Emaar Hospitality says Address Downtown is 15 minutes from the airport. Peak-hour traffic can double this. We could not confirm an RTA figure.
Are there schools in Downtown Dubai?
No KHDA-rated school is inside the district. Horizon English School (Al Wasl), Jumeirah English Speaking School (Al Safa) and Dubai English Speaking School (Oud Metha) are rated Outstanding. All are a short drive away. Hartland International and North London Collegiate are rated Very Good.
Is there a hospital in Downtown Dubai?
No. Mediclinic Dubai Mall is a day-care clinic with MRI and a laboratory. Full hospitals are in Dubai Healthcare City, about 10 minutes away. Smaller clinics operate in The Old Town and in Bay Avenue, Business Bay.
How many people live in Downtown Dubai?
The Dubai Statistics Center estimated 23,616 residents in the Burj Khalifa community at the end of 2023. Emaar's 2007 plan expected more than 100,000. Many homes are holiday homes or second homes, so the resident count stays below the number of units.
What are service charges like in Downtown Dubai?
They vary by tower. The Dubai Land Department approves each building's rate and publishes it in its Service Charge Index. Arabian Business reported Burj Khalifa at about AED 60 to 70 per square foot in 2024. Brokerage guides put the district average near AED 21 per square foot. Owners also pay an Emaar Community Management fee and district cooling.
Is The Dubai Fountain open?
Yes. Emaar closed it in May 2025 and reopened it on 1 October 2025. Shows run at 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm, and every 30 minutes from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Emaar said Phase Two of the works was due in the second quarter of 2026. We could not confirm completion.
What is The Old Town?
The Old Town is a low-rise district on the south side of Burj Lake. ECM says it has three-storey buildings and mid-rise towers in six districts. The design follows the Al Bastakia quarter. Souk Al Bahar and The Palace hotel stand on The Old Town Island.
Will the Blue Line reach Downtown Dubai?
No. Gulf News published the route on 10 June 2025. The Blue Line runs from Al Jaddaf and Al Rashidiya to Dubai Creek Harbour, International City and Academic City. It opens in 2029. Downtown Dubai keeps its Red Line station.
Sources: Gulf News, Downtown Burj Dubai, 4 September 2007; Emaar Community Management, Communities in Downtown Dubai; Gulf News, 23 Outstanding KHDA schools, 9 August 2025; citypopulation.de, Dubai Sector 3 (Dubai Statistics Center data)