Dubai International City

Dubai International City is an area located within Dubai.

Dubai International City at a glance

Area

Dubai

Developer

Nakheel

Also known as

Warsan First

Homes, design and facilities

International City is situated between interchanges 5 and 6 of Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) opposite to the Dubai Central Fruit and Vegetable Market.

The district is laid out in repeating patterns of so-called clusters, each of which is named after a different country and is designed using architectural styles from that country: England, Emirates, Russia, Italy, Spain, France, Persia, Greece, Morocco and China. These clusters surround The Central Business District and a site destined to become a ‘replica’ of Beijing’s Forbidden City.

There are 485 apartment buildings in the nine residential districts and Central Business District. Rents here are relatively low for Dubai as the apartments are aimed at low to middle incomes.

Like many new developments in Dubai the access roads cannot cope with the number of vehicles trying to enter and exit the place at peak times, so expect delays.

The Central Business District has larger apartments than the other clusters, and they come with more amenities such as swimming pools and gyms.

The vast 1.2 kilometre-long Chinese Dragon Mart with its 3,950 shops is a big draw for locals and tourists alike. Shaped like a dragon, the 150,000 sq m retail complex opened in 2004 before International City was built. It is said to be the largest trading centre for Chinese products outside mainland China, selling everything from home essentials and furnishings to office equipment, electronics, building materials, machinery and fashion.

Residents commonly complain about the smell of sewage from the neighbouring Al Aweer Sewage Treatment Plant. The smell is particularly bad and night and in the early hours and is especially noticed towards the eastern side of the community, in particular, the Emarati cluster which is merely 200 metres away from the plant. The sewage treatment plant has been in operation since 1988, almost two decades before International City was handed over.

In 2016 a new 93,000 sq m extension, Dragon Mart 2, opened with nearly 1,000 shops, restaurants and entertainment outlets. The anchor store is a 100,000 sq ft Géant Hypermarket, and the anchor entertainment a 12-screen Novo Cinema complex. The 251-room Ibis Styles hotel is connected directly to the mall.

Getting around

Dubai Mall

21 min

Palm Jumeirah

33 min

Burj Al Arab

32 min

The Walk JBR

37 min

Travel times are approximate driving estimates reported by the source and vary with route and traffic.

Nearby neighbourhoods

• Warsan Village1.4 km
• Dubai Silicon Oasis5.5 km
• Mirdif6.6 km
• Liwan7.6 km