Short answer
At the Dubai median for apartments, AED 1M buys about 590 sqft, AED 1.5M about 890 sqft and AED 2M about 1,190 sqft. Area matters more than anything else: the same AED 1M buys about 720 sqft in Dubailand Residence Complex and about 390 sqft in Burj Khalifa (Downtown).
The method
We take each area's median price per sqft from the last 90 days of sales registered with the Dubai Land Department, and divide your budget by it. Rounded to the nearest 10 sqft.
Size = budget ÷ median AED per sqft.
It's a rough guide to what's realistic, not a listing or a valuation.
Apartments: AED 1M, 1.5M and 2M
| Area | Median AED per sqft | AED 1M buys about | AED 1.5M buys about | AED 2M buys about |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubailand Residence Complex | 1,392 | 720 sqft | 1,080 sqft | 1,440 sqft |
| Dubai Production City | 1,394 | 720 sqft | 1,080 sqft | 1,430 sqft |
| Jumeirah Village Circle | 1,413 | 710 sqft | 1,060 sqft | 1,420 sqft |
| Arjan | 1,523 | 660 sqft | 980 sqft | 1,310 sqft |
| Jumeirah Village Triangle | 1,582 | 630 sqft | 950 sqft | 1,260 sqft |
| City Of Arabia | 1,691 | 590 sqft | 890 sqft | 1,180 sqft |
| Dubai Marina | 1,896 | 530 sqft | 790 sqft | 1,050 sqft |
| Business Bay | 2,068 | 480 sqft | 730 sqft | 970 sqft |
| Burj Khalifa (Downtown) | 2,584 | 390 sqft | 580 sqft | 770 sqft |
| Dubai overall | 1,682 | 590 sqft | 890 sqft | 1,190 sqft |
In every area in this table, no single development makes up half of the flat sales, so each median describes the area rather than one tower.
Villas: AED 3M, 4M and 5M
| Area | Median AED per sqft | AED 3M buys about | AED 4M buys about | AED 5M buys about |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wadi Al Safa 5 | 1,460 | 2,050 sqft | 2,740 sqft | 3,420 sqft |
| Al Yufrah 1 | 1,619 | 1,850 sqft | 2,470 sqft | 3,090 sqft |
| Al Yelayiss 1 | 1,846 | 1,630 sqft | 2,170 sqft | 2,710 sqft |
| Dubai overall | 1,603 | 1,870 sqft | 2,500 sqft | 3,120 sqft |
These three villa areas are also spread across several developments, with none above half of sales. Areas where one project dominates are left out on purpose: their median describes that one project.
What the table doesn't tell you
- A median mixes small and large homes, new and old, high floors and low.
- Off-plan and ready homes sit at different prices, and the mix is shifting: off-plan was 68% of Dubai sales over the last 180 days and 58% over the last 30.
- Purchase fees come on top of the price. For the full cost of buying, read your first home in Dubai: steps, costs and checks.
- A starting price on a new launch is for the cheapest unit, not the average.
My view
If space per dirham is the priority, Dubailand Residence Complex, Dubai Production City and Jumeirah Village Circle give you the most room for the money among busy, well-spread apartment markets. If you want to walk to the water or the metro, Dubai Marina and Business Bay cost you a few hundred square feet at the same budget. Neither choice is wrong. Know which one you're making.
Check your own budget
Every community page on binayah.ae has a price check: enter your budget and see the size it buys at that area's median, then ask an agent for a shortlist. Start at Dubai price per sqft by area.