MBR City, Meydan and District One: new living near Downtown

In short: MBR City – Mohammed bin Rashid City – is a large development area between Downtown and the Meydan racecourse. It includes District One with a huge man-made lagoon and waterfront villas, communities such as Sobha Hartland and many new residential projects. The area is central, but still taking shape.

Location and access

MBR City lies south-east of Downtown Dubai, between Al Khail Road and the Ras Al Khor wetland. Dubai Mall is about ten minutes by car, DXB airport about a quarter of an hour. That makes MBR City one of the most central new-build areas in the city. No metro runs through the area, but road links are good.

What MBR City is

The name honours the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. MBR City is not a single district but a large area with several sub-projects. The most important for buyers:

• District One: A villa community around a very large man-made lagoon with a beach, developed by Meydan and Sobha. The villas face the water or green spaces.
• Sobha Hartland: A green community by developer Sobha with apartments, villas and schools.
• Meydan: Around the racecourse that hosts the Dubai World Cup every spring, with a hotel and new residential projects.
• Dubai Hills Estate: Formally also part of MBR City, but usually seen as a district in its own right.

Living in MBR City

• Water: The District One lagoon with beach and water sports – a rarity inland.
• Greenery: Parks, cycling and running paths in the communities.
• Schools: International schools in Sobha Hartland and the surrounding area.
• Centre: Downtown with Dubai Mall and restaurants is minutes away.
• Construction: Many projects are still being built – parts of the area are not yet finished.

Property in MBR City

The offer ranges from apartments in new towers and townhouses to large waterfront villas in District One. A large share is sold off-plan, but there are also ready properties from the first construction phases.

What matters

• Sub-project: District One, Sobha Hartland and the projects around Meydan appeal to different buyers.
• Position relative to the lagoon or greenery: A waterfront position is the strongest value driver in District One.
• Developer and timeline: Check the developer’s completed projects and the realistic handover date.
• Surroundings: How finished will the neighbourhood be at handover?

How buying in MBR City works

In MBR City there are ready properties as well as projects under construction. The process differs:

• Ready property: sale agreement in line with RERA (Form F) with a deposit of usually 10 percent, a no objection certificate (NOC) from the developer, then payment and transfer at a Registration Trustee of the Dubai Land Department. Details in our guide Buying a ready property.
• Off-plan: reservation, purchase agreement with the developer (Sale and Purchase Agreement), registration in the interim register Oqood and payments according to construction progress into an escrow account. On handover you receive the title deed. Details in our guide Buying off-plan in Dubai.

For ready properties, budget around 6.5 percent in buying costs; for off-plan mainly the 4 percent registration fee. Both can be done from abroad – with video viewings and a power of attorney.

Running costs as an owner in MBR City

With a house, some typical costs come on top of the usual items:

• Service charges: for roads, green spaces, security and community facilities. The approved rates are listed in the Service Charge Index of the Dubai Land Department.
• Electricity and water: via DEWA; noticeably higher for large houses with pool and garden than for apartments, especially in summer.
• Garden, pool and air conditioning: regular care and servicing are a must if the house is to keep its value.
• Housing fee: 5 percent of the annual rental value via the DEWA bill – paid by the tenant if you let.
• Ejari: registration of every tenancy contract, AED 177.75 via Dubai REST.

There is no annual property tax. All buying costs are explained in our guide Buying costs in Dubai.

A visa through your property

With a property in MBR City 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

The villas in District One mainly appeal to families and executives who want to live centrally but among greenery and by the water. Apartments let to couples and professionals who want to reach Downtown quickly. Use our rental yield calculator to check how a property works out.

MBR City compared

Pros and cons

Who MBR City suits

District One suits the lifestyle investor looking for a waterfront villa near Downtown, and the relocator with a family. For the portfolio investor, apartments in the new projects are interesting.

Our verdict

MBR City offers something you hardly find elsewhere: waterfront villas ten minutes from Downtown. The area isn’t finished yet, and that is exactly where both opportunity and risk lie. With careful selection of sub-project and developer, buying here can be very attractive.

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.