DIFC (trophy, ~AED 380/sqft/yr · ≈ $103 PSF/yr USD) is one of 6 Dubai Class A submarkets we track.

  • DIFC sits at trophy tier.
  • Average rent AED 380/sqft/yr · ≈ $103 PSF/yr USD vs city average 145.
  • Compared submarkets: Downtown / Business Bay (prime), Internet City & Media City (prime), Downtown Dubai (trophy).

DIFC vs other Dubai submarkets

DIFC (trophy, ~AED 380/sqft/yr · ≈ $103 PSF/yr USD) is one of 6 Dubai Class A submarkets we track.

TL;DR

  • DIFC sits at trophy tier.
  • Average rent AED 380/sqft/yr · ≈ $103 PSF/yr USD vs city average 145.
  • Compared submarkets: Downtown / Business Bay (prime), Internet City & Media City (prime), Downtown Dubai (trophy).

Side-by-side with peers

**Downtown / Business Bay** (prime, AED 220/sqft/yr · ≈ $59.8 PSF/yr USD) — Largest contiguous trophy floor plates. **Internet City & Media City** (prime, AED 160/sqft/yr · ≈ $43.5 PSF/yr USD) — Tech and media free zones. **Downtown Dubai** (trophy, AED 75/sqft/yr · ≈ $20.4 PSF/yr USD) — Burj Khalifa-adjacent trophy mixed-use. **Dubai Marina & JLT** (prime, AED 55/sqft/yr · ≈ $15 PSF/yr USD) — Western waterfront alternative cluster. **Business Bay** (prime, AED 60/sqft/yr · ≈ $16.3 PSF/yr USD) — Central mixed-use Class A spine adjacent to Downtown.

Key facts

cityDubai
submarketDIFC
tiertrophy
averageRentLocalAED 380/sqft/yr · ≈ $103 PSF/yr USD
cityClassARentUsd$39/sqft/yr
cityVacancyPct5.8%

Frequently asked questions

What other submarkets compete with DIFC in Dubai?
Downtown / Business Bay, Internet City & Media City, Downtown Dubai

Related

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Samuel Okafor — EMEA contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

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