Why International City Deserves a Closer Look from Dubai Property Investors

By Imran Khan, Founder & Chairman, Black Arrow Real Estate24 October 2026

A good property investment starts with the relationship between what you pay, what you earn and what it costs to own.

That is why International City deserves serious attention. For investors focused on rental income, a sensibly priced studio can offer an attractive combination: an accessible purchase price, manageable service charges and accommodation aimed at tenants who value affordability.

Add the Dubai Metro Blue Line now under construction, and there is another reason to look closely at the area’s long-term prospects.

At Black Arrow Real Estate, our connection with International City goes back to opening our office there in 2006. Our investment case today starts with the numbers.

What can an AED 330,000 studio generate?

Using the figures we are seeing for selected studios, consider this example:

• Studio purchase price: AED 330,000

• Annual rental income: AED 30,000

• Annual service charges: AED 5,000

• Rent remaining after service charges: AED 25,000 per year

• Gross rental yield on purchase price: 9.09%

• Yield after service charges only, on purchase price: 7.58%

The gross yield is AED 30,000 divided by AED 330,000. Deducting AED 5,000 in service charges leaves AED 25,000, equivalent to approximately 7.58% of the purchase price.

These are illustrative figures based on Black Arrow’s local market observations for selected properties, rather than averages for every studio or cluster. Actual prices, achievable rents and charges depend on the particular apartment, building, condition and tenancy.

The 7.58% figure is not a fully net return. Buyers must also allow for acquisition costs, maintenance, vacancy, letting or management fees, insurance and finance costs where applicable. Including purchase costs in the investment total will reduce the calculated yield.

Even with those distinctions, the starting arithmetic makes International City worth investigating.

Why modest service charges matter

Rental income attracts attention. Recurring costs determine how much of it an owner keeps.

At AED 5,000 a year, service charges in our example absorb around one-sixth of the annual rent. Every additional AED 1,000 of annual expenditure would reduce the return on a purchase price of AED 330,000 by approximately 0.30 percentage points.

This is why we encourage investors to examine the actual service-charge statement before comparing properties.

Many traditional cluster apartments appeal through straightforward, practical accommodation rather than extensive leisure facilities. For tenants whose priorities are an affordable home, everyday conveniences and access to work, that can be a good fit.

A simpler building can also have fewer leisure facilities to maintain. However, fewer amenities do not eliminate repair costs: lifts, air-conditioning, plumbing, common areas and the building fabric still need proper care.

The aim is a well-maintained property with sensible running costs—not simply the lowest advertised charge.

The Blue Line gives International City a new investment dimension

RTA has confirmed that the Dubai Metro Blue Line is under construction, with opening scheduled for 9 September 2029.

International City 1 is planned as the largest underground interchange station in the Dubai Metro network, spanning more than 44,000 square metres. RTA has also confirmed the launch of tunnelling works from the International City 1 station site.

This gives International City an important role in the new network. The Blue Line’s two branches connect through International City 1, providing links towards Creek on the Green Line and Centrepoint on the Red Line, as well as onward service towards Dubai Silicon Oasis and Academic City.

For an affordable residential community, improved access to the wider city could materially strengthen its appeal to commuters.

Why Greece and Persia deserve close attention

Greece and Persia are among the clusters we believe investors should examine carefully as transport infrastructure develops.

However, the investment decision needs to be made building by building. Being in a particular cluster does not automatically mean an apartment will have a short, convenient walk to a station entrance.

Buyers should check confirmed entrance locations, pedestrian routes, road crossings and the practical journey from the building. A route that looks close on a map may be less convenient on foot.

RTA’s published Blue Line plans also include public bus bays and integration with other transport modes. That supports the wider connectivity case, although it should not be presented as confirmation of a separate major bus terminal between Greece and Persia without a specific published plan.

Could the Metro support higher rents and property values?

Our view is that better transport access could strengthen rental demand and support property values in well-positioned buildings.

The reasoning is straightforward. An affordable apartment with a more convenient commute can appeal to a wider pool of tenants. Stronger demand may improve occupancy and achievable rents, which can make the property more attractive to income-focused buyers.

But an increase is not automatic. Some expectations may already be reflected in asking prices, while new supply, building condition, wider market movements and construction disruption can affect performance.

We would therefore buy on today’s rental economics and treat future Metro-related growth as potential upside. An investment should still make sense if rents remain unchanged for a period.

What we would check before buying

Before recommending a studio, we would examine:

• Recent comparable sales and rental evidence for the building.

• The actual service charges and any outstanding liabilities.

• Apartment condition and likely immediate repair costs.

• Existing tenancy terms, rent collection and occupancy status.

• Building maintenance, access and parking.

• The practical route to proposed Metro entrances.

• Total acquisition costs and a realistic vacancy and maintenance allowance.

These checks help distinguish a genuinely attractive purchase from an apartment that merely looks inexpensive.

Our view: income today, potential for tomorrow

International City’s appeal is the combination of a relatively modest entry price, practical rental accommodation and a significant transport improvement under way.

A studio purchased at AED 330,000 and rented at AED 30,000, with AED 5,000 in annual service charges, presents a credible starting point for an income-focused investor. The Blue Line adds a longer-term opportunity, particularly where access is genuinely convenient.

The strongest purchase will be the right apartment, in the right building, at a price supported by realistic rental income.

Considering an investment in International City? Contact Black Arrow Real Estate to discuss available studios, building-level costs and rental potential. Call +971 4 284 7922 or visit blackarrowrealestate.com.

Figures are illustrative and subject to property-specific verification. Rental income, capital growth and infrastructure delivery dates are not guaranteed.