Motor City is a Union Properties community in Dubailand, southwest Dubai, built around the Dubai Autodrome. It is known for its motorsport theme, its low-rise European-style apartment district (Uptown Motor City), the villa and townhouse area called Green Community, and the Autodrome and Kartdrome at its centre.

If you are searching for "Motor City Dubai", you want to know what is there and whether it suits you. The short answer is a self-contained, car-based community with malls, nurseries, a British-curriculum school, parks and a lot of choice between studios, family apartments and villas, next to Dubai Sports City and Dubai Studio City. This guide covers what the area is, where it is, things to do, getting around, prices from Dubai Land Department sales, and the downsides.

What is Motor City?

Union Properties is the master developer. Its own description of the community is a motorsport-themed neighbourhood organised into districts: a low-rise residential district (Uptown Motor City), a family villa and townhouse district (Green Community), a business district (Business Park Motor City), a leisure and sports district around the Dubai Autodrome, and a pedestrian-friendly retail and dining strip (District Avenue). Union Properties describes the Autodrome as the UAE's first fully integrated multipurpose motorsport and entertainment facility.

Motor City is a freehold area. Dubai Motor City is named in the Dubai Land Department's list of designated areas where foreign nationals can own freehold property (DLD "Know Your Rights" guide).

Where Motor City is and how it is laid out

Motor City is in the Al Hebiah area of Dubailand in southwest Dubai, next to Dubai Sports City and Dubai Studio City, with Arjan and Al Barsha a short drive away. It sits near the interchange of Emirates Road (E611) and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311). The community has these parts:

• Uptown Motor City. The main apartment district, a self-contained, motorsport-themed neighbourhood of low-rise buildings in a European village style. Many buildings carry English place names.
• Green Community Motor City. The villa, townhouse and bungalow area for families, among landscaped gardens.
• Business Park Motor City. Offices and commercial space, including the Control Tower, styled after a racing car.
• Dubai Autodrome and Dubai Kartdrome. The motorsport circuit and karting track at the centre, which gave the community its name.

We also have a Laya Heights page in neighbouring Studio City.

Things to do in Motor City

Motorsport and sport

• Dubai Autodrome. The race circuit offers driving experiences, car and bike track days, drift and roll-racing sessions and local and international motorsport events with a family-friendly atmosphere. Check its events calendar before you plan a visit.
• Dubai Kartdrome. A karting destination with a 1.2 km outdoor circuit and a 600 metre indoor circuit, plus a karting academy, laser tag and simulators.
• Next-door Dubai Sports City. The Dubai International Stadium, ICC Academy and The Els Club golf course are a few minutes away. See our Dubai Sports City guide.

Shopping and cafes

• First Avenue Mall. A European-style community mall with shops, cafes and restaurants beside the Autodrome.
• The Ribbon Mall. A shopping centre in Motor City, listed by Union Properties among its retail projects.
• District Avenue. A pedestrian-friendly strip that combines entertainment, dining and retail.
• The Clubhouse. A multi-storey entertainment and commercial building in the community.

Parks and family

Union Properties lists a park, mosque, petrol station, hospital and school among the community's facilities, and Green Community is laid out around gardens and lakes. For larger green spaces across Dubai, see our guide to the best parks in Dubai. For malls, cinemas and a wider choice, residents drive to Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Hills Mall or The Springs Souk.

Property types and buildings

Motor City has studios to larger apartments, with villas and townhouses in Green Community. Sizes vary a lot between buildings, so compare the built-up area on each listing.

Area or building	Type	What stands out
Uptown Motor City	Apartments	The most searched part of the community; many buildings named after English places
Green Community Motor City	Villas and townhouses	The villa and townhouse side of Motor City; check each listing for plot and position
Sherlock Circus, Sherlock House, Dickens Circus	Apartments	Uptown buildings searched by name
Fox Hill, Norton Court, Widcombe House, New Bridge Hill	Apartments	Uptown buildings searched by name
Lootah Avenue and Weston Court	Apartments	Apartment buildings searched by name
Rabdan Building, Control Tower, Regent House, Daytona House	Apartments and offices	High search interest by name; check each building on its listing
OIA Residence, Casa Flores and Eden Apartments	Apartments	The most-traded finished buildings in the 2026 sales data below
Sierra by Iman, Mirdad, Beverly Grande, Takaya, Sobha Solis, 15 Cascade	Off-plan apartments	The most-bought off-plan projects in 2026

Because there are many buildings of different ages, the same size can differ widely in condition, fees and views. Some face the Autodrome or main roads and others face landscaped courtyards.

What homes in Motor City sold for in 2026

These figures come from Dubai Land Department sales registered between 5 January and 27 October 2026, as shown on our Motor City page (as of November 2026). In that period 1,620 homes were sold, at a typical AED 1,651 per sq ft, and 72 per cent of the sales were off-plan. "Typical" is the median.

Home size	Sales in 2026	Typical price	Typical size
Studio	369	AED 814,826	416 sq ft
1 bedroom	674	AED 1,260,206	790 sq ft
2 bedrooms	438	AED 1,851,217	1,176 sq ft
3 bedrooms	90	AED 2,640,000	2,231 sq ft
4 or more bedrooms	49	AED 4,627,556	3,863 sq ft

Prices for finished homes sold on are lower than the off-plan averages, because newer projects are priced higher per square foot. We do not quote area rents, because rents differ widely by building. The table shows what usually decides the price for each size.

Size	Who it suits	What drives the price
Studio	Single tenants and first-time buyers	Building age, pool and gym, parking and the floor
1 bedroom	Couples and professionals	Sq ft, balcony, view and whether it is furnished
2 and 3 bedrooms	Families and sharers	Layout, maid's room, courtyard or track view and parking
Townhouse or villa in Green Community	Families who want a garden	Plot size, lake or park position, upgrades and age of the cooling

To estimate value, see how much your Dubai property is worth. If you are comparing house rentals, our guide to renting a house and best areas to rent a house help.

Service charges and running costs

Service charges vary by building, so ask for the latest invoice and check whether cooling is billed separately, which changes summer costs. See how to check service charges before you buy and DEWA and chiller charges.

How to get around Motor City

There is no metro station in Motor City. RTA bus and feeder services connect the area with the Dubai Metro, and taxis and ride-hailing are available. Check the RTA journey planner for your building, and note which roads you would use at peak time. Ask how far the nearest bus stop is on foot, and whether the route runs often enough for your working hours.

Central Dubai, the beach areas and both airports are all a drive away, and journeys take longer at peak times. Drive your own commute at the hours you will travel before you sign, and try the route to work and to school on a weekday morning. If you rely on taxis or ride-hailing, check the fare to your usual destinations at peak time, because it adds up over a month.

Schools, nurseries and healthcare

GEMS Metropole School, a British-curriculum school, is in Motor City and is listed in the KHDA directory, and Emirates British Nursery is among the nurseries Union Properties lists in the community. School ratings change every year, so check the current inspection result and fees on the KHDA site for the schools in Motor City and neighbouring Dubai Sports City, and ask each school about places, waiting lists and school buses. Nursery places also fill early, so ask about availability before you commit to a lease.

For healthcare, Union Properties lists Prime Medical Center, a network of outpatient clinics, and Emirates Hospital among the community's healthcare providers. The Dubai Health Authority lists licensed facilities, so check which ones are closest to your building and accept your insurance. Families with young children should also note where the nearest emergency department is and how long the drive takes at night and at rush hour.

Daily life in Motor City

The community has a finished core of shops and cafes, so most daily needs are met without leaving. Family activities cluster around the Autodrome and Kartdrome. Motorsport events mean some weekends are louder, so ask about the building's position. Everyday eating is mostly casual, and weekend outings often go to Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Hills Mall or The Springs Souk. Tenants who work from home or do not commute daily tend to get the most out of a community like this. Visit on a weekday evening and a weekend morning to judge how busy the roads and shops are.

Motor City compared with Arjan

People often weigh Motor City against its neighbour Arjan.

Point	Motor City	Arjan
Main home types	Apartments, villas and townhouses	Mostly apartments, with a few townhouse projects
Master developer	Union Properties	Dubai Properties Group
Metro station	None in the community	None in the community
Freehold status	Named in the DLD designated areas list	Confirm on the title deed
Landmarks	Dubai Autodrome, Kartdrome, First Avenue Mall	Mostly residential towers

The practical difference is the mix of homes. Motor City has a larger choice of villas and townhouses, while Arjan is almost all apartments. Both need a car, and both are a short drive from Al Barsha and Dubai Hills. Look at the building, not the area name.

What to check before you rent or buy in Motor City

1. Which side of the building. Some units overlook the track or main roads, others look into landscaped courtyards.
2. Cooling. Ask whether the chiller or air conditioning is billed separately, and see the last 12 months of bills if you can.
3. Parking. Confirm how many bays come with the unit, especially for larger apartments. Our parking checklist explains what to ask.
4. Event days. Ask neighbours how loud track days and race weekends are from that building.
5. Service charges. If you are buying, read the latest invoice and the owners' association accounts.
6. Your daily route. Drive to work and school at the hours you travel.

Renting a villa or townhouse usually means an annual contract with one or more cheques. Read renting a villa in Dubai and how rent increases are calculated before you commit, and use the rent increase calculator at renewal.

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
A self-contained community with malls, supermarkets and nurseries	No metro station; you rely on a car or buses
Wide choice from apartments to villas in Green Community	Building quality and cooling billing differ between blocks
Official freehold area for foreign owners	Event noise near the Autodrome on race and track days
Close to Sports City, Studio City, Arjan and Al Barsha	Central Dubai is a drive, longer at peak hours
Autodrome, Kartdrome and parks on the doorstep	Not all hospitals are in the community

Who Motor City suits

• Families who want a community with schools, nurseries and parks. Compare it with other family areas in our family-friendly communities guide.
• Motorsport and sports fans who like living beside the Autodrome and Sports City.
• Tenants and first-time buyers who want space and a community feel outside the coast. Start with the first-time buyer mistakes guide.
• Townhouse seekers. Read buying a townhouse in Dubai.

It suits daily commuters to DIFC less well, because of the distance and peak-hour traffic.

Off-plan and buying in Motor City

Browse off-plan projects in Motor City and read how to check a developer before buying off plan. Transfer costs are in Dubai Land Department fees 2026, and the DLD property status enquiry checks a unit. Tenants should register their contract, as explained in the Ejari guide.

Frequently asked questions