I’ve known Motor City for a long time. It was originally built around the Dubai Autodrome race track, and today it’s a calm residential area with townhouses, low-rise buildings and its own malls. Around 3,700 apartment deals went through here in the last twelve months, and most of them were new off-plan projects. So let’s go through it: what apartments cost, what they earn, where the schools are and what residents say about the area.
In shortMotor City is a freehold community in Dubailand, master-developed by Union Properties. A ready studio costs about AED 650K and a one-bedroom about AED 940K. Annual rent is AED 53K for a studio and AED 75K for a one-bedroom. The net yield on a one-bedroom after all costs is about 5.6% a year. Prices in the same buildings rose 8.3% over the year. There is no metro, and 81% of deals are off-plan.
Where Motor City is
Motor City is part of Dubailand. Its neighbours are Dubai Sports City, Dubai Studio City and Arjan. From here it’s easy to get onto Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311), Hessa Street and Al Qudra Road. Sheikh Zayed Road is about 15 minutes by car, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina and Downtown about 20, DXB airport about 25 and Al Maktoum airport about 30. At rush hour it takes longer, of course.
The master developer is Union Properties. At the centre of the area are the Dubai Autodrome track with its karting circuit, with the residential neighbourhoods around them. It’s freehold, so a foreigner buys property outright.
There is no metro in Motor City. Mall of the Emirates station on the Red Line is about 20 minutes away by car. There’s the F37 bus, but residents are honest that life here is hard without a car.
Motor City prices and rental yields in 2026
I don’t take these numbers from listings. They come from Dubai Land Department (DLD) open data, the same data we use in DXB Radar.
| Apartment deals over 12 months | about 3,730, 81% of them off-plan |
| Ready: studio / 1 bed / 2 beds | about AED 0.65M / 0.94M / 1.47M |
| Off-plan: studio / 1 bed / 2 beds | about AED 0.81M / 1.22M / 1.95M |
| Annual rent: studio / 1 bed / 2 beds | AED 53K / 75K / 120K |
| Price change over the year, same buildings | +8.3% |
| Rent over the year | −4% |
| Service charge | about AED 16 per sq ft a year |
Let’s do the maths. A ready one-bedroom costs about AED 940K and rents for about AED 75K a year. That’s 8% gross. Take off the service charge, allow 5% for vacancy and small repairs, add 6% purchase costs, and you’re left with about 5.6% a year net. For Dubai that’s a good yield.
Prices in the area went up over the year: plus 8.3% in the same buildings. Over the last three months they’ve been flat. Rents eased a little over the year, minus 4%, and that’s already in the calculation above.
Keep in mind that an off-plan apartment in Motor City costs 25–35% more than a ready one, and most deals right now are in new projects. If you want rental income straight away, I’d look at ready property: it’s cheaper to get into and earns from the first month.
Infrastructure
- Shopping: Spinneys, Waitrose, Carrefour. The area has two malls of its own, First Avenue Mall and The Ribbon.
- Healthcare: Emirates Hospital Day Surgery & Medical Centre, Medcare and HealthBay right in the area. Mediclinic Parkview hospital is in neighbouring Arjan.
- Leisure: the Dubai Autodrome and its karting circuit. Dubai Miracle Garden and Dubai Butterfly Garden are nearby.
- Sport: Fitness First, GymNation, running and cycling paths, parks.
- Cafés and restaurants: plenty of them along the main boulevard of Uptown Motor City, from coffee chains to restaurants.
Schools near Motor City
For families the choice is decent: one school in the area itself and several strong ones next door. The ratings are from the latest inspections by KHDA, Dubai’s schools regulator.
- GEMS Metropole School — UK curriculum, from early years to Year 13, “Good”, right in the area.
- Victory Heights Primary School — UK curriculum, primary, “Outstanding”, in neighbouring Sports City.
- Safa Community School — UK curriculum, “Outstanding”, in Al Barsha South on Umm Suqeim Road.
- Dwight School Dubai — IB, “Good”.
Nurseries in the area: Jebel Ali Village Early Childhood Centre, Emirates British Nursery.
Buildings and projects
Ready: the Uptown Motor City neighbourhood with Fox Hill, New Bridge Hills, Dickens Circus, Shakespeare Circus and Oia Residence. For families there’s Green Community Motor City with villas and townhouses, plus Casa Familia and Casa Flores.
Under construction: Sobha Solis by Sobha Realty (four towers, about 2,300 apartments, handover December 2027), Takaya by Union Properties (handover Q4 2027), Mirdad by Union Properties (Q4 2028), Sobha Orbis and others. In summer 2026 Union Properties said Takaya and Mirdad are on schedule and announced another large residential project in Motor City.
You can see the completion percentage of each project, based on Dubai Land Department data, in the Construction progress section of DXB Radar.
Pros and cons of Motor City
I’ve read what residents write on forums and in the Bayut, Property Finder and Driven Properties guides, and added what our clients tell us. Here’s the picture.
What people like:
- A calm, family area with lots of greenery, parks and paths.
- Everything you need is close: supermarkets, two malls, cafés, clinics.
- Apartments are more spacious than in many newer areas.
- Pet-friendly, fine for living with a dog.
- Easy access to the E311, Hessa Street and Al Qudra Road.
What people complain about:
- No metro, so it’s hard without a car.
- Traffic at the exits during rush hour.
- Homes near the track can hear engines on race days.
- Not much nightlife, you have to drive to the Marina or Downtown.
My view
I like Motor City as a place to live. It’s an established area: its own malls, supermarkets, a school, clinics, lots of greenery. Families come here, and so do people who want quiet but still want the Marina and Downtown about 20 minutes away. The numbers are good too: prices rose 8.3% over the year, and ready apartments yield about 5.6% net.
The area will keep growing. By the end of 2028 Sobha Solis, Takaya and Mirdad will be handed over, and Union Properties is preparing another big project. Takaya alone includes about 55,000 sq ft of retail space. The one thing to keep in mind: with the new buildings there will be more apartments for rent, so a good building with a reliable management company matters here.
My team can show you actual deals and rents for specific buildings in Motor City — leave a request.
Frequently asked questions about Motor City
How much does an apartment in Motor City cost?
According to Dubai Land Department deals, a ready studio costs about AED 650K, a one-bedroom about AED 940K and a two-bedroom about AED 1.47M. Off-plan is roughly 25–35% more.
What is the rental yield in Motor City?
A one-bedroom rents for about AED 75K a year. That’s about 8% gross and about 5.6% net, once you take off the service charge, vacancy and purchase costs.
Is there a metro in Motor City?
No. Mall of the Emirates station on the Red Line is about 20 minutes by car. The F37 bus runs through the area.
Which schools are in and near Motor City?
GEMS Metropole School in the area is rated “Good” by KHDA. Nearby, Victory Heights Primary School and Safa Community School are rated “Outstanding”.
Motor City or Arjan — which to choose?
The two areas have about the same number of deals. Motor City is established, with its own malls and greenery; prices rose 8.3% over the year and the yield on a ready one-bedroom is a bit higher. Arjan is newer and has the Mediclinic hospital nearby. The specific building is what decides it.
All figures for Dubai areas: DXB Radar. This is not investment advice: for details, consult a broker of 2088 Real Estate.
Sources: Dubai Land Department open data (data.dubai), deals up to 28.09.2026; Bayut, August 2026; Bayut area guide; Property Finder; Property Finder, schools; Driven Properties; Propsearch; Propsearch, Sobha Solis; Propsearch, Takaya; Reuters, August 2026; KHDA ratings. Figures as of September 2026.
