A Waterfront District at a Crossroads
This Dubai Creek Harbour case study looks at Emaar's waterfront district using resale transaction data from 2023 to Q3 2026. We examine how apartment prices and rents have changed, how the district compares with Downtown Dubai and other prime areas, and how many new homes are still to come.
Our Creek Gate case study followed one of the area's early projects from launch to handover. Here we widen the view to the whole district. The data shows three years of steady price growth that stalled in Q3 2026, alongside a sharp fall in the number of transactions.
Background: Emaar's Six-Square-Kilometre Master Plan
Dubai Creek Harbour is a residential, retail and business district on the banks of Dubai Creek, planned to cover six square kilometres when complete. It began as a joint venture between Emaar and Dubai Holding. In August 2022, Emaar agreed to buy Dubai Holding's share for AED 7.5 billion and became the district's sole master developer, according to Khaleej Times.
The plan was built around Dubai Creek Tower, whose construction was frozen for several years. In January 2026, Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar said a tender to build the tower to a new design would be issued within three months, according to Gulf News. We found no confirmation that the construction contract has actually been awarded, so no valuation should assume the tower will definitely be built. For the latest on the tender, see our Creek Tower news update.
Transport access is set to improve. The planned Blue Line of the Dubai Metro includes a station in Dubai Creek Harbour, with official opening scheduled for 2029, according to Arabian Business.
For more, see our Dubai Creek Harbour area guide and Emaar company profile.
Apartment Prices: Steady Growth Until 2026
All figures in this section are average resale apartment transactions only. They come from Metropolitan's resale reports, which are based on Property Monitor data for transactions registered with the Dubai Land Department.
The average resale apartment price rose from AED 1,922 per sq ft in 2023 to AED 2,332 in 2025. That is an increase of about 21% in two years, according to Metropolitan's 2025 report.
The rise continued into early 2026. The Q1 average reached AED 2,446 per sq ft, and the H1 average was AED 2,399, up 5.3% year on year, according to the H1 2026 report. In Q3, the average fell to AED 2,300, down 2.7% on Q3 2025, according to the Q3 2026 report.
| Period | Average price per sq ft (AED) | Average price per sq m (AED) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,922 | c. 20,690 | Not stated |
| 2024 | 2,189 | c. 23,560 | Up 13.9% on 2023 |
| 2025 | 2,332 | c. 25,100 | Up 6.5% on 2024 |
| Q1 2026 | 2,446 | c. 26,330 | Up 8.4% on Q1 2025 |
| H1 2026 | 2,399 | c. 25,820 | Up 5.3% on H1 2025 |
| Q3 2026 | 2,300 | c. 24,760 | Down 2.7% on Q3 2025 |
Source: Metropolitan resale reports. The 2024 and Q1 2026 figures were taken from the resale report index. Figures cover resale apartment transactions only. Prices per sq m were calculated from prices per sq ft at 10.764 sq ft per sq m.
By unit size, the average one-bedroom apartment price in Q3 2026 was AED 1,736,320, down 1% year on year. Two-bedroom apartments sold for an average of AED 2,698,647, down 3.1%, and three-bedroom apartments for AED 4,222,476, up 1.9%, according to the Q3 report.
How It Compares With Other Areas in Q3 2026
For a consistent comparison, the table uses the same Metropolitan data series for resale apartment transactions in every area, taken from the company's resale reports.
| Area | Average price per sq ft (AED) | Average price per sq m (AED) | Change on Q3 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dubai | 2,730 | c. 29,390 | Down 0.1% |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | 2,300 | c. 24,760 | Down 2.7% |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 2,247 | c. 24,190 | Down 6.1% |
| Sobha Hartland | 1,975 | c. 21,260 | Down 5.7% |
| Business Bay | 1,961 | c. 21,110 | Down 2.9% |
| Dubai Marina | 1,857 | c. 19,990 | Down 4.2% |
Source: Metropolitan reports, resale apartment transactions only.
The average price in Dubai Creek Harbour is about 16% below Downtown Dubai and fairly close to Dubai Hills Estate. The Q3 decline was milder than in Dubai Hills, Sobha Hartland and Dubai Marina.
For more on the other areas in the comparison, see our case studies on Business Bay, Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah.
Property Monitor data for all transactions, including off-plan purchases, shows an apartment price of AED 2,600 per sq ft in Dubai Creek Harbour between 1 January and 6 June 2026. That is about 32% above the Dubai apartment average of AED 1,969, according to Engel & Völkers. Because this figure includes off-plan sales, it should not be compared directly with the resale averages above.
Citywide, Cavendish Maxwell reported an average price of AED 1,636 per sq ft in August 2026, down 1.7% year on year. It was the first annual decline since February 2021, according to Khaleej Times.
You can follow the latest figures in the Dubai property price index.
Rental Yield: Similar to Downtown, Below the City Average
Property Monitor data for August 2026, published by Engel & Völkers, shows an average gross yield of 5.12% for apartments in Dubai Creek Harbour.
| Area, August 2026 | Average gross apartment yield |
|---|---|
| Business Bay | 5.92% |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 5.82% |
| Dubai Marina | 5.51% |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | 5.12% |
| Downtown Dubai | 5.10% |
| Palm Jumeirah | 4.58% |
Source: Property Monitor, via Engel & Völkers. The average apartment yield across Dubai was 6.66%.
Rents are now falling. In Q3 2026, the average annual rent was AED 92,978 for a one-bedroom apartment and AED 139,611 for a two-bedroom apartment. These are annual declines of 5.1% and 7% respectively, according to Metropolitan's Q3 report. In H1 2026, both unit types were still showing increases.
All yields shown are gross, before service charges, vacancy periods and management fees.
Worked Example: A Resale One-Bedroom Apartment
A one-bedroom apartment bought at the Q3 2026 average price of AED 1,736,320 and let at the average rent of AED 92,978 a year produces a gross yield of about 5.4%.
If rent falls by a further 10%, annual income drops to about AED 83,700 and the gross yield to about 4.8%.
Both figures come from the same Metropolitan report, but they are averages and are for illustration only. Actual prices and rents vary between towers and with the view. Net income will be lower after costs.
New Supply and Handover Track Record
Emaar continues to sell large volumes of new apartments in the district. Metropolitan recorded 2,052 off-plan developer sales in 2025, according to the annual report. In H1 2026 there were 1,413 sales, up 74.7% year on year, according to the H1 report. In Q3 2026 the number fell to 457, according to the quarterly report.
As these apartments are handed over, they will compete with existing resale apartments for buyers and tenants. In Q3 2026, off-plan units made up 21.4% of the district's 294 apartment resale transactions, as early buyers sold them before completion, according to the same Metropolitan quarterly report.
The district has also seen delays to Emaar handovers in the past. Our Creek Gate case study documents a delay of about 14 months before the project was completed. For any off-plan purchase, check construction progress and the escrow account details in the Dubai Land Department's Dubai REST app, and use our handover tracker.
Liquidity: An Active Market That Has Slowed
Dubai Creek Harbour is one of the city's more active resale apartment markets. Metropolitan recorded 1,756 resale transactions there in 2025, up 14.6% on 2024. That is a pace of about 146 transactions a month, according to the 2025 report.
In 2026 the pace slowed. There were 710 resale transactions in H1, down 19.1%, and 294 in Q3, down 28.1%, according to the Q3 report. That works out at about 112 transactions a month on average from the start of 2026 to the end of Q3. For comparison, the same data series recorded 2,464 resale apartment transactions in Downtown Dubai in 2025.
Dubai Creek Harbour Case Study: Investment Scorecard
The scores summarise the analysis based on the data presented.
| Category | Score out of 10 | Basis for the score |
|---|---|---|
| Location | 9 | Waterfront district on Dubai Creek. No operating metro station yet: the Blue Line station is scheduled to open in 2029 |
| Developer | 9 | Emaar has been the sole master developer since buying Dubai Holding's share in 2022. Creek Gate saw a delay of about 14 months, but the project was completed |
| Project concept | 8 | A large, master-planned waterfront district combining homes, retail and offices. There is still no confirmation that the construction contract for Creek Tower, planned as the district's centrepiece, has been awarded |
| Pricing | 5 | About 16% cheaper than Downtown Dubai but about 32% above the Dubai apartment average, according to Property Monitor for 1 January to 6 June 2026. The figure includes off-plan transactions |
| Rental potential | 5 | Average yield of 5.12%, similar to Downtown Dubai and below the citywide apartment average of 6.66%. In Q3 2026 rents fell by about 5% to 7% year on year |
| Value appreciation potential | 6 | Resale prices rose about 21% between 2023 and 2025 and 5.3% in H1 2026, but fell 2.7% year on year in Q3. A large volume of off-plan apartments is still due for handover |
| Liquidity | 7 | 1,756 resale apartment transactions in 2025. Transactions fell 19.1% in H1 2026 and 28.1% in Q3 |
The district suits long-term investors who want an Emaar waterfront property at a lower price per sq ft than Downtown Dubai, in a relatively active resale market. It is less suited to those who need an above-average rental yield, or who are counting on Creek Tower to lift property values.
What Should Israeli Investors Watch?
- Track new supply. Thousands of apartments sold off-plan since 2025 are due for handover in the coming years and will compete with existing towers for tenants.
- Separate resale from developer sales. Compare a new launch price with recent resale transactions in nearby completed towers, not with an average that mixes all transaction types.
- Do not price Creek Tower into the property's value. Until a construction contract is signed, treat the tower as an option that may add value in the future.
- Test a falling-rent scenario too. Use our calculators and check, among other things, what happens if rent is 10% lower than today.
- Compare with Downtown. The Downtown Dubai case study shows a similar yield, a higher price per sq ft and a larger resale market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dubai Creek Harbour a good investment in 2026?
The data shows three years of steady resale price growth, a waterfront location and an established master developer. On the other hand, prices fell in Q3 2026, rents are falling, and a large volume of off-plan apartments is still due to reach the market. The area is therefore better suited to long-term holding than to quick gains.
What is the average price per sq ft in Dubai Creek Harbour?
According to Metropolitan, the average resale apartment price in Q3 2026 was AED 2,300 per sq ft, or about AED 24,760 per sq m. Property Monitor's average for all transactions between 1 January and 6 June 2026, including off-plan purchases, was AED 2,600 per sq ft.
What rental yield can I expect?
According to Property Monitor data published by Engel & Völkers, the average gross apartment yield in August 2026 was 5.12%, compared with 6.66% for all apartments in Dubai.
Has Dubai Creek Tower been built yet?
No. Construction was frozen for several years. In January 2026, Emaar announced it would issue a tender within three months to build the tower to a new design, but we found no confirmation that the construction contract has been awarded.
Deciding Between a Resale Apartment in Creek Harbour and a New Project?
Our market analysis service looks at real DLD transaction data, price trends and yields in the area, so you can compare resale apartments, current rents and Emaar's new launches before you make an offer.
