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What Is the Average Apartment Price Per Square Foot in Dubai Marina Right Now in September 2026
By Farheen Ahmed
September 11, 2026 · 10 min read
If you are asking what is the average apartment price per square foot in Dubai Marina right now in September 2026, the short answer is approximately AED 2,100 to AED 2,600 per square foot across the general market, with significant variation depending on the tower, floor level, and view. This article breaks down current pricing by apartment type, explains what is driving those numbers, and gives you the context you need to buy, sell, or invest with confidence in one of Dubai's most active waterfront communities.

1. Dubai Marina Price Per Square Foot in September 2026: The Direct Answer
The average apartment price per square foot in Dubai Marina right now in September 2026 sits between AED 2,100 and AED 2,600. That range reflects the bulk of completed, ready-to-move-in units currently listed on the open market. The median across all transaction types recorded in 2026 to date is closer to AED 2,350 per square foot, based on registered sales data from the Dubai Land Department.
That figure has moved meaningfully over the past twelve months. In September 2025, the comparable median was around AED 2,050 per square foot, which means the Marina has recorded roughly a 14 to 15 percent year-on-year increase in price per square foot as of this month. Demand from European, South Asian, and GCC buyers has remained strong through the first three quarters of 2026, and limited new supply within the completed stock has kept upward pressure on values.
Current Market Range
Breaking the range down further gives a clearer picture. Entry-level units in older towers with partial or no marina view typically transact between AED 1,850 and AED 2,100 per square foot. Mid-tier units with marina or sea views in well-maintained buildings trade between AED 2,200 and AED 2,600. Premium units in newer, branded, or architecturally distinctive towers with full sea or JBR views regularly exceed AED 2,800 and in some cases push past AED 3,200 per square foot for high-floor penthouses.
How This Compares to Other Dubai Areas
Dubai Marina sits in the upper tier of the city's apartment market, though it is not the most expensive area per square foot. According to Engel and Voelkers' 2026 Dubai property price index, Downtown Dubai and Palm Jumeirah consistently record higher per-square-foot averages than the Marina, while areas such as Jumeirah Village Circle and Dubai Silicon Oasis record lower averages. For buyers comparing waterfront options at a city-wide level, the Marina offers a price point that sits below the Palm but above most mid-market communities.
If you are researching how Dubai Marina fits into your overall budget, the Cost of Living in Dubai guide on this site covers broader housing and lifestyle costs that affect your total monthly outgoings beyond the purchase price.
2. Price Per Square Foot by Apartment Type and Tower Tier
Apartment type and tower tier are the two biggest variables in Dubai Marina pricing. A studio in an older building and a two-bedroom in a newer tower can have price-per-square-foot figures that differ by 40 percent or more, even within the same postcode. Understanding which tier you are buying in matters as much as the headline average.
Studio and One-Bedroom Apartments
Studios in Dubai Marina currently range from around 400 to 650 square feet in built-up area. At the current average price per square foot of AED 2,100 to AED 2,400 for this segment, that puts total asking prices between AED 840,000 and AED 1.56 million for a studio. One-bedroom units typically run from 700 to 1,100 square feet, and at AED 2,000 to AED 2,500 per square foot, the total price range is roughly AED 1.4 million to AED 2.75 million.
Studios and one-bedrooms in the Marina attract strong investor interest because the gross rental yield on these unit sizes currently runs between 5.5 and 7 percent annually, depending on whether the unit is rented furnished or unfurnished. If you want to understand how furnishing affects your rental income and total costs, the Furnished vs Unfurnished Rentals guide on this site gives a thorough side-by-side breakdown.
Two and Three-Bedroom Apartments
Two-bedroom apartments in Dubai Marina cover a wide size band, from around 1,100 square feet in compact layouts to over 1,800 square feet in larger configurations with separate laundry rooms and storage. At current price-per-square-foot levels of AED 2,100 to AED 2,700, the total price range for a two-bedroom sits between roughly AED 2.3 million and AED 4.9 million. Three-bedroom units are less common in the Marina's older stock but appear more frequently in newer towers; these typically run 1,700 to 2,400 square feet and can reach AED 5 million to AED 7.5 million at current rates.
Larger units in the Marina tend to have a slightly lower price per square foot than studios and one-bedrooms on a like-for-like tower basis. This is a consistent pattern across Dubai's apartment market: smaller units carry a premium per square foot because absolute entry prices are lower and demand from investors is proportionally higher.
Penthouse and Full-Floor Units
Penthouses and full-floor units in Dubai Marina operate in a different segment entirely. Price per square foot for these units regularly exceeds AED 3,000 and in trophy properties along the marina walk or with unobstructed Arabian Gulf views can reach AED 4,000 or more. These are not liquid, high-volume transactions; they are negotiated sales that depend heavily on the specific unit, the seller's timeline, and current buyer appetite at the top of the market.
3. What Is Driving Prices in Dubai Marina Right Now
Several converging factors explain why the average apartment price per square foot in Dubai Marina has risen through 2026. Understanding those drivers helps you assess whether current pricing is likely to hold, soften, or continue rising over your intended holding period.
Supply Constraints and Handover Timelines
Dubai Marina is a largely built-out community. The original master plan has been delivered, and the waterway itself is fixed in size, which caps how many additional units can ever be added to the address. New supply within the Marina proper is limited to a small number of remaining plots and any demolition-and-rebuild scenarios, which are rare. This structural constraint on supply has been a consistent support for values.
Nearby communities such as Jumeirah Village Circle and Dubai Hills Estate are seeing active new development launches in 2026. If you are weighing the Marina against those newer supply-heavy areas, the new residential developments guide for JVC and Dubai Hills Estate on this site explains what is launching and at what price points.
Demand From International Buyers
Dubai Marina continues to draw a high volume of international buyers, particularly from the United Kingdom, France, Russia, India, and Pakistan. The Marina's combination of a 7-kilometre waterfront promenade, direct access to JBR beach, the Dubai Marina Mall, and the Dubai Tram line makes it a recognisable and trackable address for buyers who are purchasing remotely or relocating. That international name recognition sustains demand even during periods when the broader Dubai market softens.
Rental Yield as a Buying Motivator
Gross rental yields in Dubai Marina currently average between 5.5 and 6.5 percent for most unit types, which compares favourably to prime waterfront assets in London, Paris, or Singapore. Investors who buy at today's price per square foot and rent the unit immediately can generate meaningful cash flow, particularly on smaller units. This yield profile keeps investor demand active and prevents the kind of buyer withdrawal that typically softens prices in other markets.
For a detailed look at the Marina's investment characteristics alongside neighbourhood context, the Dubai Marina area guide on Dubai Property Insight covers living, renting, and investing across the community in depth.
4. Key Towers and Micro-Location Price Differences
Not all towers in Dubai Marina command the same price per square foot, and the gap between the highest and lowest can be substantial. Micro-location within the Marina, meaning which side of the waterway a building sits on, how many floors it has, and how recently it was handed over, can shift the per-square-foot figure by AED 400 to AED 800 in either direction from the community average.
Cayan Tower and Twisted Architecture Premium
Cayan Tower, the distinctive 73-floor helical skyscraper at the northern end of the Marina, consistently records price-per-square-foot figures above the community average. Units in Cayan have transacted between AED 2,400 and AED 2,900 per square foot in 2026, reflecting the tower's architectural profile, its elevated floor plates, and the panoramic views that begin from around the 30th floor. The building's infrastructure and finishing quality also hold up well relative to its 2013 handover date.
Marina Gate and Newer Stock
Marina Gate, a three-tower development by Select Group delivered between 2019 and 2022, represents the newer end of the Marina's completed inventory. Units in Marina Gate have been trading at AED 2,500 to AED 3,100 per square foot in September 2026, supported by contemporary finishes, hotel-style amenities including an infinity pool and co-working spaces, and direct access to the Marina Walk. The towers also benefit from larger balconies and more efficient layouts compared to buildings from the early 2000s.
Older Towers Along the Promenade
Buildings such as Marina Crown, Sulafa Tower, and Al Sahab, all handed over between 2006 and 2010, typically trade at the lower end of the Marina's price-per-square-foot range. Units in these buildings currently change hands at AED 1,850 to AED 2,200 per square foot. The lower price reflects older mechanical systems, smaller unit layouts by modern standards, and in some cases less efficient building management. That said, many of these towers sit directly on the promenade and offer genuine marina views from lower floors, which sustains demand.
5. What to Know Before You Buy in Dubai Marina
The price per square foot is the starting point, not the full picture. Buyers who focus only on the headline number and overlook service charges, transaction costs, and ownership structure can find that the true cost of ownership is meaningfully higher than the purchase price implied.
Service Charges and True Cost of Ownership
Service charges in Dubai Marina vary by building and are set by the Dubai Land Department's Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). For most towers in the Marina, annual service charges run between AED 12 and AED 22 per square foot. On a 1,000-square-foot apartment, that is AED 12,000 to AED 22,000 per year in maintenance fees alone, before any utility costs. Newer towers with more amenities tend to sit at the higher end of that range. Always request the most recent RERA-approved service charge schedule before committing to a purchase.
Transaction costs in Dubai add approximately 4 to 6 percent on top of the purchase price. The Dubai Land Department transfer fee is 4 percent of the purchase price, paid at the time of transfer. Agency fees are typically 2 percent of the purchase price and are negotiable. Mortgage registration fees, if applicable, add a further 0.25 percent of the loan amount.
Freehold Status and Ownership Rights
Dubai Marina is a designated freehold area, which means non-UAE nationals can purchase property with full ownership rights and receive a title deed registered with the Dubai Land Department. There is no restriction on resale, and foreign owners can pass the property through inheritance under UAE law or their home country's legal framework depending on how the estate is structured. This freehold status is one reason the Marina has consistently attracted international capital since the community's first towers were completed in the mid-2000s.
Resale vs Off-Plan in the Marina
Genuine off-plan supply within Dubai Marina itself is extremely limited in September 2026, because the community is fully built out. What does appear under the Marina address occasionally is a small-scale boutique development on a remaining plot, and these units are typically priced at AED 2,800 to AED 3,500 per square foot given the scarcity of the land. Most buyers in the Marina are therefore buying resale units from existing owners, which means standard title deed transfers rather than developer payment plans.
If you are considering a broader Dubai purchase and want to understand how the full buying process works from search to completion, the Homes for Sale in Dubai: Complete 2026 Buyer Guide on this site walks through every stage in detail.
FAQ
What is the average apartment price per square foot in Dubai Marina right now in September 2026?
The average apartment price per square foot in Dubai Marina in September 2026 is approximately AED 2,100 to AED 2,600 for the broad market, with a median around AED 2,350 based on Dubai Land Department transaction data recorded through 2026 to date. Entry-level units in older towers without marina views can trade as low as AED 1,850 per square foot, while premium units in newer or architecturally distinctive towers with full sea views regularly exceed AED 2,800. Penthouses and full-floor units in trophy buildings have recorded prices above AED 3,200 per square foot in 2026. The year-on-year increase from September 2025 to September 2026 is approximately 14 to 15 percent across the community.
How much does a one-bedroom apartment cost in Dubai Marina in 2026?
One-bedroom apartments in Dubai Marina currently range from approximately AED 1.4 million to AED 2.75 million in total price as of September 2026, depending on the tower, floor level, view, and finishing quality. At a typical size of 700 to 1,100 square feet and a price-per-square-foot range of AED 2,000 to AED 2,500 for this segment, buyers have a meaningful spread to work with based on their priorities. Units in newer towers such as Marina Gate sit toward the upper end, while older buildings along the promenade offer entry points below AED 1.6 million. Gross rental yields on one-bedrooms in the Marina currently average between 5.5 and 6.5 percent annually, making them popular with investors as well as owner-occupiers.
Are Dubai Marina apartment prices likely to rise further through the rest of 2026?
Based on current supply and demand dynamics in September 2026, the conditions that have driven the Marina's 14 to 15 percent year-on-year price growth remain in place: limited new supply within the community, sustained international buyer demand, and rental yields that attract investor capital. However, broader Dubai market conditions, global interest rate movements, and any shift in expatriate employment levels in the UAE can all affect pricing. No market moves in a straight line, and buyers should assess their own holding period and financial position rather than relying on continued appreciation. Working with a local agent who tracks transaction data in the Marina on a regular basis gives you the most current read on where the market is heading in real time.
