DMC is a 249 hectare freehold peninsula beside Port Rashid, planned in 2003 with DP World as master developer. About 86 percent of its Phase 1 plots are sold, 14 projects are in development, and 10 new off-plan launches cover homes from studios to 5 bedrooms. Founder, transport, schools, builders and buyer fit are all covered below. Read this before you sign.
Dubai Maritime City Area Guide (DMC) is a master planned maritime and residential district on a reclaimed 249 hectare peninsula facing the Arabian Gulf, set between Port Rashid and Dubai Drydocks. It was conceived in 2003, with DP World as master developer. The waterfront commercial district, where the new towers are rising, is freehold and open to buyers of every nationality.
The district mixes shipyards, offices, an academic zone and a fast growing residential waterfront. Construction is active along the sea front, and new homes range from compact studios up to 5 bedroom units.
This guide covers why the district was created, its sub-communities, the developers active here, 10 current off-plan projects, roads and public transport, schools and daily facilities, ownership costs and a clear view of which buyers the address suits and which it does not.
About Dubai Maritime City: Founder, Launch Year and Purpose
The plan for DMC was drawn up in 2003 by DP World in line with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, and work on the site started in 2004. Day to day management is handled by Dubai Maritime City L.L.C., which is responsible for roads, utilities and shared infrastructure across the peninsula.
Its founding purpose was a single base for the global maritime industry. Ship repair, marine engineering, logistics offices, training and housing were placed within one planned zone so that companies could run operations, meet clients and house staff in the same location.
The project grew in phases. The Marine Industrial District opened first, and in December 2012 the 121 hectare Business District was launched at an estimated cost of AED 2.5 billion, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. That business and waterfront zone is where today’s residential towers are being built.
The peninsula also supports Dubai Maritime Vision 2030, the emirate’s long term plan to grow its standing as a global maritime hub through better port capacity, marine technology and training.
Dubai Maritime City Location: Where the Peninsula Is
DMC Dubai is a man-made peninsula on the coast of old Dubai, with Port Rashid on one side and Dubai Drydocks on the other. A dedicated causeway connects it to the mainland, and Bur Dubai and Al Mina are its closest neighbours.
The location puts the older core of the city and its main business areas within easy driving range. Jumeirah Beach Road is 5 minutes away, the Gold Souk and Jumeirah Beach take 8 minutes, and Burj Khalifa is a 10 minute drive. DIFC is also 10 minutes by road, La Mer takes 12 minutes and Dubai International Airport is 15 minutes from the district.
Dubai Maritime City Master Plan: Sub-Communities and Districts
The 249 hectares are organised into separate districts, each with a defined role. The industrial side is already complete, while Phase 1 of the business district holds 28 mixed-use plots for homes, offices, hotels and retail.
- Maritime Centre: the business core, planned for the Creek Towers, the Landmark Tower and corporate headquarters.
- Harbour Residences: the main residential zone, home to towers such as Oceanz and Coral Reef.
- Harbour Offices: 19 plots set aside for commercial offices with direct sea access.
- Marina District: a waterfront zone planned around marina use.
- Academic Quarter: an education zone for marine engineering and naval science programmes, with student housing and a 2 storey library.
- Industrial Precinct: the working end of DMC, with ship repair yards, yacht manufacturing, warehouses and marine workshops.
Linking these districts, a 3.5 km promenade has been completed along the waterfront of the commercial zone, giving residents a walking and cycling route beside the sea.
Dubai Maritime City Economy: The Business Base Behind the Homes
Unlike purely residential areas, the peninsula is an active workplace. Hundreds of companies operate here, from ship managers to marine service firms.
The industrial zone has 19 ship repair plots and 2 ship lifts for vessel maintenance, plus around 133,000 square metres of leasable workshop space alongside showrooms, small retail units and warehouses. As a result, the district has a large daytime working population right beside its new homes.
Dubai Maritime City Properties: Types, Sizes and Starting Prices
Dubai Maritime City properties are mainly high-rise apartments, with a smaller number of villas, townhouses, duplexes and penthouses inside the larger projects. Unit types run from studios to 5 bedroom homes.
Across the 10 off-plan launches on our listings, sizes start at 372 sq ft for the most compact studio and reach 10,319 sq ft for the largest home. Starting prices range from AED 1 million at the entry level to AED 3.36 million at the top of the market today.
Many towers here are branded or sold furnished, so buyers should compare what is included in the price, such as furniture and fit-out, before comparing headline figures.
Dubai Maritime City Developers: Who Is Building Here
Dubai Maritime City developers buy plots from DP World, then design and sell the towers. The master developer’s partner list includes both large Dubai names and smaller specialist builders.
- Danube Properties: Oceanz, Oceanz Tower 3, Breez and Shahrukhz Residences by Danube; known for furnished homes and a 1 percent monthly payment plan.
- DAMAC Properties: Chelsea Residences, Seacrest, Coral Reef and Harbour Lights de GRISOGONO.
- Omniyat: Anwa Aria, a tower with homes from studios up to townhouses and penthouses.
- Beyond: Saria, offering studios, apartments and larger duplex units.
- Deyaar Development: a partner developer on the peninsula.
- Select Group: the developer behind Nautica.
- Vakson Group: a partner developer on the peninsula.
- Hemen Red: a partner with a project listed as coming soon.
Dubai Maritime City Off-Plan Projects: Latest Launches
These are the latest Dubai Maritime City off-plan projects on our listings, with each project’s developer, starting price, unit types and sizes.
- Shahrukhz Residences by Danube: Danube | Price and sizes: coming soon
- Breez by Danube: Danube | From AED 1.4 million | Studio to 5 bedrooms | 394 to 10,319 sq ft
- DAMAC Chelsea Residences: DAMAC | From AED 2.38 million | 1 to 3 bedrooms | 811 to 2,132 sq ft
- DAMAC Seacrest: DAMAC | From AED 2.17 million | 1 to 3 bedrooms | 775 to 2,842 sq ft
- Saria by Beyond: Beyond | From AED 1.7 million | 1 to 5 bedrooms | 758 to 4,612 sq ft
- Danube Oceanz Tower 3: Danube | From AED 1.20 million | Studio to 3 bedrooms | 429 to 1,893 sq ft
- Danube Oceanz: Danube | From AED 1.1 million | Studio to 4 bedrooms | 400 to 4,255 sq ft
- Omniyat Anwa Aria: Omniyat | From AED 1 million | Studio to 4 bedrooms | 372 to 5,096 sq ft
- DAMAC Coral Reef: DAMAC | From AED 3.36 million | 1 to 3 bedrooms | 776 to 1,815 sq ft
- DAMAC Harbour Lights de GRISOGONO: DAMAC | From AED 1.5 million | 1 to 3 bedrooms | 801 to 2,541 sq ft
Dubai Maritime City Metro Station and Public Transport
The peninsula has no metro station of its own. The closest stations are Al Ghubaiba and ADCB, both on the Green Line, which residents reach by car, taxi or bus.
For buses, the Caltex Reservoir and Al Mina Road stops are within 8 minutes of the district, and the Caltex Reservoir 1 stop is served by route C09. Al Ghubaiba Metro Bus Stop adds routes 7, 21, 29, 83, 91, E306 and X13 for wider city trips.
Road links are the strongest part of the network. The peninsula connects to Sheikh Zayed Road, Sheikh Rashid Road and Oud Metha Road. On the water side, Port Rashid Boat Station is 2 minutes away and Dubai Cruise Terminal 2 is a 3 minute drive.
Upcoming Developments in Dubai Maritime City
The waterfront zone is still being built out, and its master plan adds more public services as towers complete. Planned community facilities include RTA bus stations, RTA marine stations, mosques, community parks, police operational centres and ambulance services.
The plan also includes the city’s first maritime museum. Today, 14 projects are in development and about 86 percent of Phase 1 land has already been sold to developers.
Living in Dubai Maritime City: Schools, Healthcare and Daily Life
Living in Dubai Maritime City means daily needs are partly met inside the district, with larger facilities a short drive away in Al Mankhool, Bur Dubai and Al Raffa.
- Schools: Ambassador School and New Academy School in Al Mankhool are 10 minutes away. Ambassador School follows the CISCE curriculum and holds a Very Good KHDA rating. Dubai Gem Private School in Oud Metha, a British curriculum school, is 15 minutes away.
- Groceries: Zahrat Al Bahar Mini Mart covers essentials locally, and Viva, Royal and West Zone supermarkets are a 10 minute drive.
- Healthcare: Aster Hospital Mankhool and International Modern Hospital in Al Raffa both offer 24 hour emergency care, each 15 minutes by road.
- Shopping: BurJuman Mall and City Centre Al Shindagha are 15 minutes by car.
- Dining: Al Khadhar, Alddana Al Zarqaa and New Maritime serve meals on site, with more choice in Bur Dubai.
- Fitness and wellness: AB Fitness gym inside DMC is open 24 hours, and Soul Senses Spa is within 10 minutes.
- Heritage: Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, with Dubai Museum, the Coffee Museum and the Textile Souk, is a 15 minute trip.
Dubai Maritime City Service Charges and Ownership Rules
Service charges in waterfront towers here are expected at AED 18 to AED 22 per sq ft each year, because sea facing facades, glass and cooling systems cost more to maintain. Buyers should add this to their yearly running cost when working out net rental income.
Ownership rules are simple. The commercial district is freehold, so overseas buyers can hold property in their own name, rent it out or sell it. A home valued at AED 2 million or more also qualifies the owner for the 10 year UAE Golden Visa, which can cover close family members.
Dubai Maritime City Investment: Who Should Buy and Who Should Not
The peninsula suits buyers with a clear purpose and a medium to long horizon, and it is a poor match for some common buyer needs.
Who should buy
- Maritime and logistics professionals: offices, docks and ship repair yards are inside the same district.
- Central Dubai commuters: DIFC and Burj Khalifa are both a short drive from the causeway.
- Off-plan investors: who can wait for construction to finish and want furnished or branded stock.
- Golden Visa applicants: several current launches start above the AED 2 million visa threshold.
- Sea view seekers: the peninsula faces open water on the Arabian Gulf side.
Who should not buy
- Families wanting schools inside the community: the nearest schools are outside the peninsula.
- Buyers who depend on the metro: there is no station within DMC.
- Investors needing rent from day 1: every launch covered in this guide is off-plan and still under construction.
- Buyers wanting a finished, quiet neighbourhood: building work on new towers will continue for several years.
Disclosures
Figures in this guide, including project starting prices, unit sizes and service charge estimates, reflect information available in September 2026 and will change with the market. Off-plan prices, unit mixes and delivery timelines are set by each developer and may be revised at any time.
This guide is for general information and is not financial, legal or investment advice. Buyers should confirm the final price, payment plan, DLD project registration and escrow account details directly with the developer before paying any amount.
Dubai Housing operates under Honey Money Real Estates L.L.C, a RERA registered brokerage with ORN 28658. We may earn a commission when buyers purchase through us, and this does not change the facts presented here.
Read more blogs: https://blog.shahrukhzresidencesdanube.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed Dubai Maritime City?
DP World is the master developer of Dubai Maritime City. The project was conceived in 2003, and sub-developers such as Danube, DAMAC and Omniyat build the residential towers on plots bought from DP World.
Is Dubai Maritime City freehold?
Yes. The commercial district, where the residential towers are going up, is freehold. Buyers of any nationality can own homes outright there, register them in their own name, and rent or resell them.
Is there a metro station in Dubai Maritime City?
No. The closest metro stations are Al Ghubaiba and ADCB on the Green Line. Residents reach them by car, taxi or bus, with route C09 serving the nearby Caltex Reservoir 1 stop.
What are the service charges in Dubai Maritime City?
Service charges in the waterfront towers are expected at AED 18 to AED 22 per sq ft a year. Sea facing buildings cost more to maintain, because salt air affects facades, glass and cooling systems.
What is the starting price for off-plan homes in Dubai Maritime City?
The newest launches start from AED 1 million at Omniyat Anwa Aria. Other entry points include AED 1.1 million at Danube Oceanz and AED 1.20 million at Danube Oceanz Tower 3.
How many businesses operate in Dubai Maritime City?
More than 280 businesses are registered and operating in the district. They include ship managers, marine service firms and logistics companies that use its repair yards, workshops and waterfront offices.
When was the Dubai Maritime City Business District launched?
The 121 hectare Business District was launched in December 2012 at an estimated cost of AED 2.5 billion. It followed the opening of the Marine Industrial District earlier that year.
Who manages Dubai Maritime City today?
Dubai Maritime City L.L.C. manages the peninsula and maintains its roads, amenities and recreational areas, while KEO International Consultants has served as the project’s primary consultant since 2017 across its infrastructure work.
Are there nurseries near Dubai Maritime City?
Yes. Families can choose from Cambridgeshire Nursery Al Mankhool, New Dubai Nursery Early Learning Center and Chubby Cheeks Mankhool, all close to the peninsula for early years care and daily drop offs.
What happened to the Dubai Maritime City Authority?
Under a law issued by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai Maritime City Authority was renamed the Dubai Maritime Authority and affiliated to the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation.
