International City Phase 2: Rents, Prices, Transport & How to Rent
A studio in International City Phase 2 rents for about AED 40,000 a year, and a ready one-bedroom sells for roughly AED 700,000. The community sits in Warsan 4, east of the original International City, and most of its apartment buildings are recent.
The trade-offs are just as specific. Building work is still going on across the district, there is no metro station until the Blue Line opens on 9 September 2029, and the Phase 2 name does not match how the Land Department files most of its buildings. This guide covers rent and sale prices by unit type, how to get around, and what renting costs from the first deposit to the DEWA connection.
International City Phase 2
| Detail | International City Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Official district | Warsan Fourth (Warsan 4) |
| Also called | International City 2 |
| Size | About 731 hectares (7.3 km²) |
| Homes | Studios, 1 to 3-bedroom apartments & townhouses |
| Status | Completed buildings & off-plan projects |
| Ownership | Freehold ownership is available |
| Average yearly rent | Studio about AED 40,400, 1-bedroom about AED 56,650, 2-bedroom about AED 73,050 |
| Median asking sale price | Studio about AED 560,000, 1-bedroom about AED 860,000 |
| Metro | None yet; Blue Line stations open 9 September 2029 |
| Drive to Dubai Mall | About 21 minutes |
Where it is & how the Phase 2 name works
International City Phase 2 is in Warsan 4, the district the Land Department records as Warsan Fourth. The original International City lies to the north, Dubai Silicon Oasis to the south and Academic City to the east, with Emirates Road along the western edge. Emirates Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road are the main routes out, and Dragon Mart is a short drive away.
The district covers land that Nakheel masterplanned as Phase 2 and Phase 3, and the Phase 3 plots were built first. Most apartment buildings marketed as Phase 2 appear in Land Department sale records under the master project International City Phase 3. The plots masterplanned as Phase 2 are being developed as Greenwood, a townhouse and villa community that includes Kensington Gardens.
The country-themed clusters people associate with International City belong to the original community. Buildings in Warsan 4 each have their own design, because the land was sold to private developers.
Rent by apartment type
A studio in Phase 2 costs AED 34,000 to 45,000 a year, a one-bedroom AED 50,000 to 65,000 and a two-bedroom AED 70,000 to 85,000 or more.
| Unit | Typical yearly rent | Average registered rent | Monthly equivalent | Size range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | AED 34,000 to 45,000 | About AED 40,400 | About AED 3,370 | 365 to 542 sq ft |
| 1-bedroom | AED 50,000 to 65,000 | About AED 56,650 | About AED 4,720 | 531 to 840 sq ft |
| 2-bedroom | AED 70,000 to 85,000+ | About AED 73,050 | About AED 6,090 | 936 to 1,302 sq ft |
Three-bedroom apartments average about AED 97,700 in registered contracts.
Advertised rents run above agreed ones. Two-bedrooms are advertised near AED 85,000 while registered contracts average about AED 73,000, and one-bedrooms are advertised near AED 60,000 against about AED 56,650 registered. Open your offer near the registered average and let the building’s extras decide how far above it you go.
Within the same unit size, the rent moves with:
- Building age and finish
- Whether a parking space is included
- Furnished or unfurnished
- Floor, view and balcony size
- The number of cheques the landlord accepts
Buying: sale prices & yields
Median asking prices are about AED 560,000 for a studio, AED 860,000 for a one-bedroom, AED 1.39 million for a two-bedroom and AED 1.94 million for a three-bedroom. Registered sales show how far ready and off-plan units differ.
| Unit | Recent registered price | Size | Price per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready studio | AED 435,000 to 460,000 | 457 to 487 sq ft | About AED 945 to 950 |
| Ready 1-bedroom | AED 700,000 to 725,000 | 680 to 719 sq ft | About AED 1,010 to 1,030 |
| Off-plan 1-bedroom | AED 843,000 to 910,000 | 691 to 825 sq ft | About AED 1,020 to 1,320 |
| Off-plan 2-bedroom | AED 1.11 million to 1.28 million | 952 to 1,154 sq ft | About AED 960 to 1,350 |
Ready sales in this range include Olimpico Residences, ROKANE and Al Jawzaa. Off-plan sales include Greenfield by Samana, Coventry 2 and Stellar Axis.
Gross yield depends on which side of that gap you buy. A ready one-bedroom bought at AED 700,000 to 725,000 and rented at the AED 56,650 registered average returns 7.8% to 8.1% a year. The same rent on an off-plan one-bedroom at AED 843,000 to 910,000 returns 6.2% to 6.7%. Service charges and empty months come off both figures.
Off-plan buyers pay in instalments before handover, which keeps the early cash outlay lower. The unit earns no rent until it is finished.
Roads, buses & the Blue Line
Phase 2 has no metro station today, so residents rely on cars, taxis and RTA buses. RTA buses run from the International City area, including a bus station near Dragon Mart, to Rashidiya, Business Bay, Gold Souq and Silicon Oasis.
By car, Dubai International Airport is about 15 minutes away and Dubai Mall about 21.
| Destination | Drive time |
|---|---|
| Dubai International Airport | About 15 minutes |
| Dubai Mall | About 21 minutes |
| Burj Al Arab | About 29 minutes |
| Palm Jumeirah | About 31 minutes |
| The Walk JBR | About 34 minutes |
| Al Maktoum International Airport | About 38 minutes |
The Dubai Metro Blue Line opens on 9 September 2029 with three International City stations. International City 1 is an underground interchange where the line’s two branches meet, and stations 2 and 3 continue toward Dubai Silicon Oasis and Academic City. The RTA projects journeys of about 20 minutes to Dubai International Airport and expects property values around Blue Line stations to rise by up to 25%.
Until then, the commute decides whether Phase 2 suits you. Jobs in Academic City, Silicon Oasis and Ras Al Khor sit close by, while a daily trip to the far side of Dubai adds real time and fuel cost.
Shops, schools & healthcare
The community has around 165 open shops and services, including 11 supermarkets, 7 pharmacies and 18 restaurants. Dragon Mart 1 covers retail and Dragon Mart 2 covers wholesale, both a short drive away. Silicon North Park and Warsan Residential Park are within about 2 km.
For schools, Kings’ School Nad Al Sheba, Repton School Dubai and GEMS Modern Academy are in nearby Nad Al Sheba, and the community itself has three nurseries.
Fakeeh University Hospital in Dubai Silicon Oasis, about 6 km away, is a 350-bed hospital that is open 24 hours. Inside the community there are seven pharmacies, a medical clinic and a dental clinic.
How to rent in Phase 2
Renting here takes eight steps, from shortlisting to collecting keys.
- Shortlist units on a property portal by filtering for Warsan 4 or International City Phase 2, and contact a licensed agent or the landlord.
- View the unit and ask whether parking and cooling are included. Free street parking is limited, so a unit with its own space saves effort.
- Agree the rent, the number of cheques (listings commonly offer four to six) and whether the unit is furnished.
- Share your passport, residence visa and Emirates ID, then pay the security deposit and the agency commission.
- Sign the Unified Tenancy Contract.
- Register the contract through the Ejari service on the Dubai REST app or the Land Department website. You need the signed contract, the landlord’s title deed, your Emirates ID and the DEWA premises number. Registration costs AED 177.75 online or AED 220 at a trustee centre.
- Open your DEWA account with the Ejari number and pay the AED 2,000 refundable deposit for an apartment.
- Hand over the first cheques, collect the keys and photograph the unit’s condition before you move anything in.
Dubai has no postal code for Warsan 4, so give couriers your building’s Makani number.
Move-in costs
For a one-bedroom at the AED 56,650 registered average, expect about AED 7,900 before the first rent cheque.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Security deposit | About AED 2,830 unfurnished, about AED 5,665 furnished |
| Agency commission | About AED 2,830 (commonly 5% of annual rent, or a fixed fee) |
| Ejari registration | AED 177.75 online, AED 220 at a trustee centre |
| DEWA deposit | AED 2,000, refundable |
| Total before the first cheque | About AED 7,900 (unfurnished) |
Dubai Municipality’s housing fee equals 5% of annual rent and is added to the DEWA bill in 12 instalments. On this rent that is roughly AED 236 a month.
Rules that apply to your tenancy
- Deposit: The 5% unfurnished and 10% furnished figures are standard practice, not a legal cap, so the amount can be negotiated. The landlord returns it at the end of the tenancy minus documented damage beyond normal wear.
- Registration: Every tenancy contract must be registered through Ejari, and DEWA will not connect a unit without it.
- Rent changes: Any change to the rent or terms needs written notice at least 90 days before the contract ends. An increase also has to fit the limits set by the Smart Rental Index.
- Maintenance: Major repairs are the landlord’s responsibility unless the contract says otherwise. Minor upkeep, such as replacing bulbs, falls to the tenant.
- Shared housing: Dubai Law No. (4) of 2026 has been in force since 26 August 2026. No flat can be let room by room or by bed space without a Dubai Municipality permit, and tenants cannot sublet part of a shared unit. Owners already running shared units have until 26 August 2027 to comply, and repeat breaches carry fines of up to AED 1 million.
- Disputes: Deposit, rent and eviction disputes are filed with the Rental Disputes Center, which also handles cases under the shared-housing law.
Who Phase 2 suits
Phase 2 suits tenants whose budget starts below AED 45,000 a year and whose work is around Academic City, Silicon Oasis or Ras Al Khor. It also suits buyers who want yield: a ready one-bedroom returns more per dirham than an off-plan one, although the off-plan unit comes with a newer building and an instalment plan.
It suits families less than it suits single professionals and couples. Studios and one-bedrooms dominate the apartment stock, and townhouses sit in the newer Greenwood development.
The drawbacks are plain. There is no metro until 2029, many buildings are still under construction, and free street parking is limited.
FAQ
Is International City Phase 2 the same as Warsan 4?
Yes. International City Phase 2 is the common name for the Warsan 4 district, which the Land Department records as Warsan Fourth. Sale records for most apartments list the master project as International City Phase 3.
How much is rent for a studio in International City Phase 2?
A studio rents for AED 34,000 to 45,000 a year, with registered contracts averaging about AED 40,400. That is roughly AED 3,370 a month.
Is there a metro station in International City Phase 2?
No. The Dubai Metro Blue Line opens on 9 September 2029 with three International City stations. Until then, residents use RTA buses, taxis and cars.
Is International City Phase 2 freehold?
Freehold ownership is available in the community, including in new off-plan projects.
How much security deposit do I pay to rent in International City Phase 2?
The standard deposit is 5% of annual rent for unfurnished units and 10% for furnished units. On a AED 56,650 one-bedroom that is about AED 2,830 or AED 5,665.
Can I rent a room or bed space in International City Phase 2?
Only in a unit that holds a Dubai Municipality shared-housing permit. Under Law No. (4) of 2026, in force since 26 August 2026, letting a flat room by room without a permit is prohibited.
Next steps
Phase 2 offers low entry prices and a growing supply of new buildings, in exchange for a district that is still being built and a metro that is three years away. These steps keep the decision concrete:
- Pull three listings for the unit size you want and compare each against the registered averages above before making an offer.
- Ask whether parking and cooling are included, and get the answer in the contract.
- Register Ejari straight after signing, then open the DEWA account.
- Check the building’s Smart Rental Index range before agreeing to any renewal increase.
- If you are buying, compare price per square foot between ready and off-plan units, and ask for the handover date in writing.
