DAMAC Zada Tower: Prices, Rents, Sizes & Service Charges
A one-bedroom in DAMAC Zada Tower launched at AED 699,999 and now sells for AED 940,000 to AED 1.3 million, depending on floor, furnishing and the seller’s ask. The same apartment rents for AED 60,000 to AED 80,000 a year, and about AED 11,000 a year of that goes to service charges.
The tower stands on Marasi Drive in Business Bay, roughly ten minutes by car from Downtown Dubai. DAMAC handed it over in 2023, so every apartment is ready to move in and units change hands as resales.
DAMAC Zada Tower facts
| Detail | Zada Tower |
|---|---|
| Developer | DAMAC Properties |
| Handover | 2023 |
| Height | 26 storeys above ground, 4 basement levels |
| Apartments | 699, all one-bedroom |
| Unit size | 410 to 570 sq ft |
| Address | Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai |
| Ownership | Freehold, open to all nationalities |
| Service charge | AED 23.48 per sq ft a year |
| Nearest metro | Business Bay Metro Station, about 12 minutes on foot |
Apartment sizes & layouts
Every apartment is a one-bedroom with one bathroom, and most measure between 466 and 481 sq ft. Corner layouts reach 566 sq ft. A standard unit is about half the size of the average one-bedroom in Business Bay, which is the main trade-off for the lower price.
Inside, the layout is the same across the building:
- Open-plan kitchen with integrated living and dining space
- Balcony
- Built-in wardrobes in the bedroom
- Floor-to-ceiling windows
- One covered parking space
A 566 sq ft corner unit listed at AED 1.125 million works out to about AED 1,990 per sq ft, in line with what standard units register at. The extra 90 sq ft therefore costs close to nothing extra per square foot, which makes corner units the better buy for anyone planning to live in the apartment.
High floors on the canal side get partial canal views. Lower floors look over the pool and the surrounding community.
Sale prices & buying costs
Recent registered sales sit at AED 2,000 to 2,100 per sq ft, which is AED 940,000 to AED 1 million for a standard 470 sq ft unit. Asking prices run higher, especially for furnished and high-floor units.
| Unit | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, registered sales | 470 sq ft | AED 940,000 to AED 1,000,000 |
| Standard, lower floor, asking | 466 to 475 sq ft | From AED 850,000 |
| Standard, high floor, furnished, asking | 470 to 475 sq ft | AED 1.07 million to AED 1.3 million |
| Corner, furnished, asking | 566 sq ft | About AED 1.125 million |
Costs on top of the price
Buying a unit adds about 6.6% to the price. On a AED 1,000,000 apartment the bill looks like this:
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dubai Land Department transfer fee (4%) | AED 40,000 |
| Title deed fee for apartments | AED 580 |
| Registration trustee office fee | AED 4,000 + 5% VAT |
| Agency fee (2%) | AED 20,000 + 5% VAT |
| Total | About AED 65,800 |
The developer’s no-objection certificate costs AED 500 to AED 5,000, and the price negotiation decides who pays it. After purchase, service charges run about AED 11,000 a year for a 470 sq ft unit.
Rents & net yield
A standard one-bedroom rents for AED 60,000 to AED 80,000 a year on registered contracts. Furnished and canal-view units are advertised at AED 85,000 to AED 110,000, and monthly lets are listed at AED 8,500 to AED 8,800.
Landlords price the cheque count into the rent. A common pattern is AED 80,000 in 2 cheques or AED 85,000 in 4. The security deposit is 5% of annual rent for unfurnished units and 10% for furnished ones.
For an owner, what matters is the rent left after service charges. At a AED 1,000,000 purchase price and AED 11,000 in annual service charges:
| Annual rent | Gross yield | Net yield |
|---|---|---|
| AED 60,000 | 6.0% | 4.9% |
| AED 70,000 | 7.0% | 5.9% |
| AED 75,000 | 7.5% | 6.4% |
| AED 80,000 | 8.0% | 6.9% |
Each AED 10,000 of rent moves the net yield by one point, so a unit that can’t rent for AED 60,000 returns under 5%. These figures come before the 6.6% purchase costs and before any vacant months. All 699 apartments are one-bedrooms, which means every listing competes with identical units in the same building.
Location & getting around
The metro is a 12-minute walk away and Downtown Dubai is a 10-minute drive. Travel times from the tower:
- Business Bay Metro Station: about 12 minutes on foot
- Sheikh Zayed Road: about 5 minutes by car
- Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall: about 10 minutes by car
- Al Khail Road: about 10 minutes by car
- DIFC: about 15 minutes by car
- Dubai International Airport: about 20 minutes by car
The Dubai Water Canal promenade and Bay Avenue retail are nearby.
Amenities & building features
Residents get:
- Temperature-controlled swimming pool
- Children’s pool and play area
- Fitness centre
- Steam room & sauna
- Open-air cinema
- Landscaped gardens
- Lobby with 24-hour reception, concierge & security
- Covered parking
- Retail outlets on the ground floor
How to buy a unit
Zada Tower is complete, so there is no construction payment plan and no Oqood pre-registration. Every purchase is a resale between owners, and it runs in five steps:
- Agree a price through a RERA-registered broker after viewing the unit and checking the seller’s title deed.
- Sign Form F, the resale memorandum of understanding, and pay a 10% deposit. On a AED 1,000,000 unit that is AED 100,000, held until transfer.
- The seller applies for the developer’s no-objection certificate, which confirms the unit has no unpaid service charges. It takes 3 to 10 business days.
- Book an appointment at a Dubai Land Department registration trustee office and bring manager’s cheques for the 4% transfer fee, title deed fee, trustee fee and agency fee.
- The title deed is issued in your name at the appointment. The full process from Form F takes 2 to 4 weeks.
A mortgage adds bank approval and stretches the timeline to 4 to 6 weeks. Mortgage registration costs 0.25% of the loan plus AED 290.
How to rent a unit
Renting is faster than buying and runs in five steps:
- View units and agree the rent, the number of cheques and the security deposit.
- Pay a holding deposit and hand over your passport, visa copy and Emirates ID.
- Sign the unified tenancy contract and pay the deposit and first cheques.
- Register the contract through Ejari registration, which costs AED 177.75 online through the Dubai REST app or AED 220 at a trustee centre.
- Open a DEWA account in your name, then collect your access cards from building security.
Ejari registration is mandatory for long-term leases. A registered contract is also what you need to file a case at the Rental Disputes Center if a deposit or renewal disagreement comes up.
Ownership rules, short stays & visas
Freehold ownership
Business Bay is a freehold area, so foreign nationals, GCC nationals and companies can all own a unit outright. The Dubai Land Department issues the title deed once the transfer and fees are paid.
Short-term rentals
Short stays need a holiday home permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism for each unit. For a one-bedroom the permit costs AED 370, and the title deed must classify the apartment as residential. Listing a unit before the permit is issued risks fines and forced removal of the listing.
Residency through ownership
A single Zada Tower apartment at around AED 1 million falls short of the AED 2 million property value the 10-year Golden Visa requires. It does qualify the owner for the 2-year property investor visa, which has had no minimum property value for sole owners since April 2026. Joint owners need AED 400,000 of equity each.
Who Zada Tower suits
Strengths
- Entry price well below the Business Bay average for a one-bedroom
- Ten minutes by car to Downtown Dubai and Dubai Mall
- Full amenity deck, including a pool, gym, sauna and cinema
- Net yields of 4.9% to 6.9% on registered rents
Trade-offs
- Units are about half the size of the average Business Bay one-bedroom
- No larger layouts, so families outgrow the building quickly
- Service charges of AED 23.48 per sq ft take about AED 11,000 a year
- The metro is a 12-minute walk, which is a long one in summer
The building suits single professionals and couples who want a central address on a smaller budget, and investors who accept a narrow tenant pool in exchange for a lower entry price.
FAQ
Is DAMAC Zada Tower completed?
Yes. DAMAC handed the tower over in 2023, so all 699 apartments are ready to move in and no construction payment plan applies.
How many floors does Zada Tower have?
Zada Tower has 26 storeys above ground and 4 basement levels.
Is Zada Tower freehold?
Yes. Business Bay is a freehold area, so foreign nationals, GCC nationals and companies can own a unit outright, with the title deed issued by the Dubai Land Department.
What are the service charges at Zada Tower?
Service charges are AED 23.48 per sq ft a year, which is about AED 11,000 for a 470 sq ft one-bedroom.
How far is Zada Tower from the metro?
Business Bay Metro Station is about 12 minutes on foot from the tower.
Can I rent out a Zada Tower apartment short term?
Yes, with a holiday home permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism. Each unit needs its own permit before it is listed, and a one-bedroom permit costs AED 370.
Does a Zada Tower apartment qualify for a Golden Visa?
Not on its own. The Golden Visa requires AED 2 million of property, and a one-bedroom here costs about AED 1 million. It does qualify for the 2-year property investor visa.
Next steps
- Decide whether you are buying to live in the unit or to rent it out, and use the net yield table to test the rent you expect.
- Set your budget at the price plus 6.6% for transfer costs.
- Ask the broker for the unit’s service charge status and whether it is tenanted, because a tenanted unit comes with an existing Ejari contract.
- Book viewings at different floors, since the view and the walk to the lifts change more than the price does.
- If you are renting, agree the cheque count before the rent, and register Ejari the day you sign.
