When we think about the United Arab Emirates, the first thing that comes to our mind is Dubai. Dubai is one of the most popular cities in the world due to its extraordinary infrastructure, skyscraper buildings, and vibrant nightlife. Over the years, Dubai has seen tremendous growth. But, do you know that there are not one but two Dubais? Yes, Dubai City is divided into two areas, New Dubai and Old Dubai.
Old Dubai is situated downtown along Dubai Creek and displays the rich culture and heritage of the city. The area is divided into six regions, Yansoon, Reehan, Zafran, Miska, Zanzebeel, and Kamoon. Contrary to New Dubai, this place is filled with low-rise apartments displaying exemplary Arabian architecture. Old Dubai is the home to the traditional souk, Spice souk, and Gold souk. Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi are some famous landmarks in old Dubai.
Contrary to this, New Dubai is an ultra-developed cosmopolitan area and home to several high-rise buildings with the Burj Khalifa being one of them. New Dubai is particularly famous for its high-end shopping malls, glamorous lifestyle, and luxurious apartments and villas. Apart from this, nightclubs, theatres, and restaurants for Emirati cuisine are also some places worth exploring.
In this article, we will explore all the factors that establish a difference between Old Dubai and New Dubai in terms of properties, prices, amenities, etc.
Be it Old Dubai or New Dubai, the property types are the same in both locations. When we talk of old Dubai, the majority of the property is designed as per the rules of traditional architecture. You can find a lot of vintage and historical buildings, apartments, and villas in old Dubai. Additionally, one can also find excellent retail spaces and commercial buildings here. The apartments and commercial buildings have been developed by famous real estate developers namely, Emaar Properties, Nakheel Properties, Meraas Developers, Ithra Dubai, etc.
New Dubai is comparatively more modern and well-structured due to its immense development. The authorities have splurged a lot of money on the development of the infrastructure and locality. The apartments located in New Dubai are equipped with all the modern facilities like 24x7 security, a gated community, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a well-developed landscape, etc. Apart from this, one can also invest in high-end villas located in the posh localities of Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Emirates Hills, MBR City, and Dubai Hills Estate.
If you are new to Dubai then you can check out the following table to know about the amenities offered by both areas:
| Old Dubai | New Dubai |
| If you love to explore the historical culture of Dubai then you should visit Old Dubai. It is home to several historical landmarks namely, the Al Fahidi, Dubai Museum, and Bastakiya Quarter that depict the story of the heritage of UAE. | New Dubai is popular for its high-end Mall. Several luxury stores are located here that provide the best shopping experience. Shopping malls like Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and Ibn Battuta Mall can be explored for several high-end designer brands, entertainment options, and dining experiences. |
| The Dubai Creek waterfront promenade is located in Old Dubai and is perfect for a leisure stroll. One can visit this place to enjoy the traditional dhows and abras (water taxis). | New Dubai is famous for its beautiful beaches. Popular beaches that can be explored here are Jumeirah Beach and Kite Beach. You can undertake water sports like snorkeling, and scuba diving and also enjoy seafood at beachfront restaurants. |
| Old Dubai is home to popular restaurants that offer traditional Emirati cuisine. You can visit the restaurants to explore the fine dining restaurants. | You can tour a lot of theme parks to enjoy the different themes all in one. Famous amongst them are IMG Worlds of Adventure, Ferrari World Theme Park, Legoland Water Park, Ski Dubai, Bollywood Park, Wild Wadi Waterpark, Dubai Global Village, etc. |
| You can range over the history and culture of ancient Dubai through its cultural events. Famous events like Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Food Festival, and the Dubai International Film Festival can be checked to understand the traditions of the place. | New Dubai is home to the world’s most expensive and luxurious hotels. You can check out famous restaurants like Burj Al Arab, the Atlantis, The Palm, and Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. These restaurants offer fine dining, top-notch amenities, and spa treatments. |
| Old Dubai can be explored for its architecture. All the buildings and mosques here are made in a mix of traditional Emirati and Persian styles. Grand Mosque and the Jumeirah Mosque are some places that can be visited by people of any religious background. | You can explore the popular nightlife in New Dubai. Check out the high-end restaurants and pubs etc. Amongst all, Downtown Dubai accounts for the most number of high-end pubs and nightclubs. |
Old Dubai and New Dubai both locations are home to posh localities and apartments. A lot of premium developers have their projects in the old Dubai making it one of the most demanded locations. Same way, new Dubai also has plenty of apartments and villas on the budget that will help one to improve their living standards. Check out a short comparison between both of them in the section below:
| Factors | Old Dubai | New Dubai |
| Apartment |
Apartments can be found easily at various locations in Old Dubai. Bur Dubai, Al Nahda, Deira, and Al Karama are some popular locations to find apartments. These apartments can be easily found in 1 to 3 BHK configurations along with studio type as well. Talking of the amenities, these apartments are well equipped with all modern facilities and amenities. These apartments can be checked to explore the ancient architecture of UAE and Dubai. |
New Dubai is home to several modern and luxurious apartments in high-rise buildings. Dubai Marina, Business Bay, and Dubai Hills Estate are popular apartment buildings. These buildings are equipped with amenities like gyms, swimming pools, 24-hour security, etc. Apart from this, these are also located in close proximity to shopping malls, restaurants, etc. |
| Villa | Traditional villas can be explored in Old Dubai. Popularly these are located in Al Garhoud and depict the old town vibe. One can easily get villas ranging from 2 BHK to 3 BHK configurations. These villas feature the unique and traditional architecture of Dubai. | New Dubai has a plethora of options to explore when it comes to villas. These villas have all facilities that make them world-class. Several villas are equipped with large gardens, private swimming pools, etc that provide the residents with a luxurious life. |
Comparing these two, we can say that if you are low on budget and want to stay in serenity then old Dubai is perfect for you. However, if you do not mind splurging on monthly rentals and want to enjoy the city life then invest in New Dubai
Old Dubai
One can easily find affordable apartments and villas in Old Dubai. These are well-equipped with all the basic amenities and facilities for luxury living. The overall cost of renting or buying apartments will depend on the area that you are choosing to rent or buy a house. Go through the table to understand the overall pricing:
| Area | Studio | 1-Bed | 2-Bed | 3-Bed |
| Bur Dubai | AED 36,000 | AED 56,000 | AED 75,000 | AED 98,000 |
| Al Nahda (Dubai) | AED 27,000 | AED 36,000 | AED 49,000 | AED 68,000 |
| Deira | AED 29,000 | AED 45,000 | AED 65,000 | AED 89,000 |
| Al Karama | AED 38,000 | AED 52,000 | AED 66,000 | AED 90,000 |
| Al Garhoud | AED 46,000 | AED 52,000 | AED 73,000 | AED 102,000 |
Based on this, we can say that Bur Dubai is comparatively smaller than all other areas of Old Dubai.
New Dubai
The pricing of New Dubai is much higher as compared to Old Dubai due to the developed infrastructure and amenities. Also, the development of the neighboring suburbs has led to this increase in pricing. One can easily get villas and apartments but at a slightly high price. On average, the apartments in New Dubai range from AED 86,000 to AED 1,50,000.
Some of the popular areas for renting or buying an apartment or villa in New Dubai are Business Bay, Dubai Hills Estate, and Dubai Marina. Out of this, Dubai Marina is one of the most luxurious localities as it is the world’s largest man-made marina. Check out the detailed table below to know about the pricing in AED
| Area | Villas | 1-Bed | 2-Bed | 3-Bed |
| Downtown Dubai | 18 to 20 M | 1.7 to 2 M | 5 to 8 M | 16 to 20 M |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 22M | 1.1 to 1.4 | 1.5 to 1.9 | 2 to 2.5 M |
| Arabian Ranches 3 | On Request | 1 to 1.2 M | 1.5 to 2 M | 1.8 to 3.7 M |
| Dubai Marina | On Request | 1.5 to 1.7 M | 1.5 to 3.1 M | 2.9 to 3.8 M |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | 0.9 to 1.2 M | 1.2 to 1.5 M | 1.3 to 1.5 M M | On Request |
| Emaar The Valley | On Request | On Request | 1.4 to 1.5 M | 1.6 to 5.1 M |
| Business Bay | On Request | 1.2 to 1.4 M | 1.23 to 1.35 M | On Request |
One can get their hands on affordable yet luxurious properties and villas in popular locations namely, Bur Dubai, Al Nahda, and Deira. Apartments and villas situated in Old Dubai can be rented from a starting price of AED 64,000.
Old Dubai is famous for its traditional architecture and heritage buildings that depict the cultural history of the city. Whereas, New Dubai is famous for its vibrant nightlife, luxury malls, and beach life.
The apartments of New Dubai are equipped with amenities like gyms, swimming pools, 24-hour security etc.
Al Fahidi, Dubai Museum, Dubai Creek and Jumeirah Mosque, etc are some famous places to visit in Old Dubai.
The facilities and amenities offered by both Old Dubai and New Dubai are top-notch. It is due to this that the living standard for both areas is almost the same.
The starting price of a 1 BHK apartment in Old Dubai is AED 64,000. Whereas, the same for New Dubai range between AED 86,000 to AED 1,50,000.
