Dubai Sports City and Motor City: living between stadium and racetrack

In short: Dubai Sports City and Motor City lie side by side inland, near JVC and Arabian Ranches. Sports City is built around a cricket stadium and a golf course, Motor City around the Dubai Autodrome racetrack. Both offer apartments and townhouses at comparatively low prices – with a relaxed suburban feel.

Location and access

The two districts lie on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, between JVC, JVT and Arabian Ranches. The Marina is about 20 minutes away, Downtown about 25 to 30 minutes. There is no metro. To the south lie Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai South.

Two districts with sport in the name

Dubai Sports City

Sports City was created in the 2000s as a district around sports facilities: there’s a large international cricket stadium, a cricket academy and a golf course with clubhouse. On top of that come numerous apartment buildings and villa communities such as Victory Heights.

Motor City

Motor City was built around the Dubai Autodrome racetrack, which hosts races, track days and driving courses. The residential offer includes low-rise apartment buildings in Uptown Motor City and villas and townhouses in the district’s green residential community.

Living in Sports City and Motor City

• Sport: Golf, cricket, motorsport and fitness right on the doorstep.
• Families: Schools in the surrounding area, parks and pools in the communities.
• Shopping: Supermarkets and restaurants in the district, larger malls nearby.
• Atmosphere: Relaxed, suburban, less dense than JVC.

Buying property

On offer are mainly ready apartments from the 2000s and 2010s, plus townhouses and villas. New projects are added occasionally.

What matters

• Building: The quality of the apartment buildings varies; check management and condition.
• View: A golf or stadium view is a plus.
• House or apartment: Townhouses appeal to families, apartments to professionals and couples.

How buying in Sports City and Motor City works

In Sports City and Motor City 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 Sports City and Motor City

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 Sports City and Motor 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

Tenants are professionals and families looking for affordable homes with greenery and sport. Long-term letting is the focus. Check the numbers with our rental yield calculator.

Compared

Pros and cons

Who the districts suit

Sports City and Motor City suit the tactician and the portfolio investor with a smaller budget, and the relocator looking for an affordable townhouse.

Our verdict

Sports City and Motor City are solid suburban districts with low entry prices and lots of leisure on the doorstep. If you choose a well-managed building or a well-kept house, you’ll find a down-to-earth investment here.

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.