Dubai is a city that has become a magnet for wealth from across the world. A tax free environment and buoyant economy have allowed investors to make a lot of money over the years and as such 65% of home buyers in Dubai are investors as of 2025. They buy properties, rent them out or sell them after they appreciate and therefore we have curated some of the best places you can see positive rental yields to your property investments as of 2025.

Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) – 8.5%

Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) spans about 8.6 square kilometers and is laid out in ten districts around Central Park. The community has over 2,000 residential buildings and villas, including 350+ completed towers/town-house rows, and features 30-plus landscaped parks, schools, and retail promenades.

Entry prices sit well below the AED 1,601 / sq ft city average, and tenant demand is strong—JVC was the number 1 location for ready sales (9.6 % of all Q1 deals in 2025), keeping vacancy low and rents sticky. 

It is a fairly established community, still has some teething problems, but this keeps it affordable for many families that want to live in new Dubai.

Insider tip: focus on units coming up near the upcoming Circle Mall expansion. Short-let licences can push gross yield above 10% but keep in mind you have to ensure the unit has an average occupancy of over 90% throughout the year. With almost 27,000 holiday home units in Dubai as of 2025, there is a lot of competition in this space.

Here are some Viewit listings in JVC:
https://viewit.ae/listing/Apartment-for-sale-Jumeirah-Village-Circle-2254
https://viewit.ae/listing/Apartment-for-sale-Jumeirah-Village-Circle-2225
https://viewit.ae/listing/Apartment-for-sale-Jumeirah-Village-Circle-2314

International City – Studios 9.2%

International City is a large-scale residential development in Dubai spanning approximately 800 hectares 8 square kilometers. International City is divided into the following themed clusters;

1. China
2. England
3. France
4. Greece
5. Spain
6. Italy
7. Russia
8. Iran
9. Emirates
10. Morocco

It features over 500 low-rise apartment buildings across 10 residential zones, a central business district with taller buildings and 2 Dragon Mart complexes. Designed for affordability, it houses tens of thousands of residents and remains one of Dubai’s most budget-friendly freehold areas, with strong rental demand and high occupancy rates albeit not the most luxurious areas in the city.

Capital values in International City rose only 14.9% YoY and lagging rental growth, so rent-to-price ratios remain unmatched. All this being said, the community is almost 20 years old (handed over in 2006) and has maintenance and normal wear and tear issues that many old buildings go through.

Insider Tip: studio clusters rent in 48 hours on average as there is huge demand from working people and tenants / workers of the dragon mart malls; would be wise to buy multiple units for a diversified, cash-flow-first portfolio.

Here are some listings in Dubai Studio City on Viewit:
https://viewit.ae/listing/Apartment-for-sale-International-City–1533

Dubai South – Studios 8.4%

Dubai South is huge. It will span 145 square kilometers and is a master-planned city built around Al Maktoum International Airport (the largest airport in the world). Designed to host over 1 million residents, it includes eight integrated districts for logistics, aviation, residential, commercial, and exhibition zones. The Residential District features over 1,400 buildings planned across phases, with completed communities like The Pulse and upcoming projects like South Bay. Dubai South is a key hub for Expo City Dubai, logistics companies, and future mega developments tied to airport expansion and will have metro connectivity very soon.

Why buy: Expo City build-out, Al Maktoum Airport expansion, and logistics hiring create constant tenant inflow while prices are still sub-AED 1,000 / sq ft.

Insider Tip: Lock in pre-handover discounts on off-plan towers and post handover payment plan options; expect price increases once metro links are completed in Q4 2026.

Here are some listings in Dubai Studio City on Viewit:
https://viewit.ae/listing/Apartment-for-rent-Dubai-Studio-City-2096
https://viewit.ae/listing/Apartment-for-rent-Dubai-Studio-City-2090

Town Square – 1-Beds 7.6%

Town Square Dubai is a master-planned community by Nshama spanning 2.87 square kilometers. Designed for family living, it includes over 500 buildings and townhouses across sub-communities like Zahra, Hayat, and Noor. With a central park, retail boulevard, schools, and sports facilities, it’s one of Dubai’s most affordable freehold areas with strong rental demand. It is built, maintained and overseen by Nshama and is their flagship community.

Why buy: Family-centric master plan with new school and park openings; capital values already up 24.4% YoY yet remain mid-market.

Insider Tip: Target 2-bed units near Central Park—demand from young families supports low churn and rising rents.

Here are some listings in Dubai Studio City on Viewit:
https://viewit.ae/listing/Apartment-for-sale-Nshama-Town-Square-2339
https://viewit.ae/listing/Apartment-for-sale-Nshama-Town-Square-2354

Discovery Gardens – 1-Beds 7.2%

Discovery Gardens spans 26 million sq ft and features over 290 low-rise residential buildings across six themed clusters, including Zen, Mediterranean, and Contemporary. Developed by Nakheel, it offers around 26,000 apartments, abundant green spaces, proximity to Ibn Batutta Mall and direct access to the Dubai Metro Route 2020, making it a popular, affordable choice for residents near Jebel Ali and Dubai Marina.

Why buy: Direct access to the Metro’s Route 2020 line keeps occupancy above 95%; older stock means lower pricing but renewed rental appetite. Buildings are almost 18 years old so they have similar problems as International City with building maintenance issues.

Insider Tip: Renovate interiors; refreshed units command a 10–12 % rent premium with minimal capex. DG units can be rented as affordable holiday homes for short term stay for budget travellers but keep in mind the stiff competition in the short term market.

Here are some listings in Discovery Gardens on Viewit:
https://viewit.ae/listing/Apartment-for-sale-Discovery-Gardens-2240

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How Investors Benefit Overall

1. Cash-Flow Today, Upside Tomorrow: Investors enjoy +6% net rental yields in a low-risk investment that can later be leveraged or sold.
2. Portfolio Diversification: Mix high-yield apartments (JVC, International City) with growth-oriented villas (Town Square, Damac Hills) to balance income and appreciation.
3. Data-Driven Selection: Track rent-to-price ratios quarterly using Valueit valuation tool or Viewit’s virtual agent and choose whether to leverage to add to your property portfolio.

Use these insights to prioritise communities where rental demand, infrastructure pipelines and relative pricing converge—maximising both immediate returns and long-term value. As always keep checking viewit.ae for the latest in tips and tricks in Dubai real estate, backed by data!