La Mer and Port de La Mer: freehold on the beach in Jumeirah

In short: La Mer is a beach district by Meraas in the old coastal area of Jumeirah, with a promenade, restaurants and a water park. Right next to it is Port de La Mer, a Mediterranean-style residential project with its own marina. It is one of the few addresses in Jumeirah where foreigners can buy apartments freehold.

Location and access

La Mer lies in Jumeirah 1, not far from Jumeirah Mosque and City Walk. Downtown and DIFC are about 15 minutes by car, DXB airport around 20 minutes. Off the coast lies the island of Pearl Jumeirah, to the north old Dubai with Mina Rashid. The area is easy to reach by car; there is no metro here.

What makes La Mer and Port de La Mer special

Meraas opened La Mer in the late 2010s as a beach district with a wellness and leisure feel: wide beaches, wooden boardwalks, street art, restaurants with your feet in the sand and a water park. Right next to it, Port de La Mer was built – a neighbourhood that recalls a Mediterranean harbour town, with pastel buildings, narrow lanes, squares and a marina.

What matters for buyers: most of Jumeirah is not a freehold area, and the classic villas usually belong to Emiratis. Port de La Mer was one of the first projects where foreigners could buy freely in this part of the city.

Living in Port de La Mer

• Beach: The La Mer beach is right on your doorstep.
• Atmosphere: Mediterranean flair, mostly car-free lanes, restaurants and cafés.
• Water: A private marina for boat owners.
• Surroundings: Established Jumeirah with schools, clinics and shops; City Walk is minutes away.
• Peace and quiet: Calm during the week; at weekends La Mer draws many visitors.

Buying an apartment in Port de La Mer

Port de La Mer offers apartments with one to four bedrooms, plus townhouses and penthouses, many with views of the sea, the harbour or the Downtown skyline. The buildings are low-rise and arranged in clusters. Ready second-hand apartments are available.

What to look for

• View: Sea and harbour views are the main value drivers.
• Position in the neighbourhood: Apartments on the busy squares are livelier than those in quieter lanes.
• Service charges: For the marina, promenade and common areas; check them in the Service Charge Index of the Dubai Land Department.

How buying in Port de La Mer works

In Port de La Mer you mostly buy ready, second-hand homes. The process is clearly regulated and often takes only a few weeks once you agree:

1. Check: viewing on site or by video, plus a look at service charges, condition and any existing tenancy.
2. Sale agreement: buyer and seller sign the standard contract of the regulator RERA (Form F); a 10 percent deposit is usual.
3. No objection certificate: the developer confirms with an NOC that no service charges are outstanding.
4. Transfer: payment and transfer of ownership take place at a Registration Trustee of the Dubai Land Department; you receive the title deed.

You’ll find every step in detail in our guide Buying a ready property in Dubai. On top of the price come buying costs of around 6.5 percent – see buying costs. If you can’t be there, the trustee appointment can be handled with a power of attorney.

Running costs as an owner in Port de La Mer

After buying an apartment, these are the main ongoing costs:

• Service charges: for maintenance, security, pools and common areas, calculated by the size of your unit. The approved rates for each building are listed in the Service Charge Index of the Dubai Land Department.
• Electricity and water: via the utility DEWA; many buildings add a separate charge for district cooling.
• Housing fee: 5 percent of the annual rental value, billed through the DEWA account. It is paid by whoever lives in the home – so by your tenant if you let it.
• Ejari: every tenancy contract is registered; via the Dubai REST app this costs AED 177.75.
• Management: if you aren’t on site, a property manager handles letting and upkeep for a fee.

Unlike in many countries, there is no annual property tax in Dubai. All items are explained in our guide Buying costs in Dubai.

A visa through your property

With a property in Port de La Mer you may also be able to get a residence visa:

• Golden Visa: ten years of residence if your properties in Dubai are worth at least AED 2 million in total – also with a mortgage or, under certain conditions, off-plan.
• Investor visa: a shorter visa for owners who don’t reach the Golden Visa threshold.

The detailed requirements are explained in our guide Golden Visa with property.

Renting out

Tenants are mainly couples and families who want to live centrally by the sea, plus holidaymakers who prefer Jumeirah to tower living. For holiday lets you need a holiday home permit. Use our rental yield calculator to check the numbers.

Port de La Mer compared

Pros and cons

Who Port de La Mer suits

Port de La Mer suits the lifestyle investor looking for a special address by the sea, and the Plan B investor who prefers calm to the bustle of the Marina.

Our verdict

Port de La Mer offers something rare in Dubai: freehold by the sea in established Jumeirah, without towers. If this is exactly the atmosphere you are looking for, you will find an apartment here with steady demand.

Frequently asked questions

Updated: October 2026. This article describes the district in general terms. Prices, rents and service charges change all the time; for a specific property we check the current figures with you.