Apartments for sale in Expo City

Apartments for sale in Expo City Dubai are freehold homes on the former Expo 2020 site. There is no single average apartment price here yet, because the community is new and each project prices differently. This guide shows how each project prices, how ready and off-plan buying differ and what to check before you commit.

What is Expo City Dubai?

Expo City Dubai is the district built on the site of Expo 2020. Our community guide places it in Dubai South. Its first phase was strictly for the rental market, and freehold sales of residential homes began with launches in 2023, according to Gulf News (March 2023). Those first sales covered Expo Central, with apartments, and Expo Valley, with villas, duets and townhouses. Our Expo City Dubai community guide describes the district, and our guide to off-plan in Emaar South and Expo City covers the wider south Dubai market.

Our community guide gives rough drive times of 10 minutes to Dubai Marina, 20 minutes to Downtown Dubai and 25 minutes to Dubai International Airport, and says the district connects to the Dubai Metro. Treat the times as off-peak estimates and test them at your own hours.

How much are apartments in Expo City?

We could not find a published average or price per square foot for Expo City apartments that we trust, so we do not quote one. People search for average apartment price in Expo City, and the honest answer is a range that depends on the project. The table lists the current off-plan projects and what to compare. Developers' starting prices change as units sell, so check each project page.

Resale prices depend on the building, floor, view and how much of the payment plan remains. Use the live results above this guide for current asking prices, and the off-plan projects in Expo City for developer terms.

Mangrove Residences and the first apartments

Mangrove Residences was the first apartment cluster in Expo Central. According to Gulf News, it has three towers overlooking Al Wasl Plaza and Jubilee Park, and the first phase had 450 residences from AED 1.2 million at its 2023 launch. The first deliveries were scheduled for early 2026. Read our Mangrove Residences page for the building. Resale homes here are the main way to buy a ready apartment in Expo City today.

Which size should you look at?

Searches name studios, one bedroom, two bedroom and even six bedroom apartments. Here is how to read them.

Ready or off-plan in Expo City?

See how off-plan payment plans work, how to check a developer and snagging and handover.

Who is Expo City for?

Expo City suits buyers who want a planned district with parks and cycle routes, and who are comfortable living south of the main city. Gulf News describes Expo Valley as having car-free lanes and dedicated cycle and e-scooter tracks, and Expo Central as overlooking Al Wasl Plaza and Jubilee Park. Our community guide stresses the sustainability theme carried over from Expo 2020. It is a newer community than Downtown or the Marina, so it has fewer years of resale history. Compare it with similar new districts in our guide to apartments for sale in DAMAC Hills, which also sit in south Dubai.

What should you check on a ready apartment?

• The service charge per square foot and whether any balance is unpaid. See how to check service charges before you buy.
• Whether the unit is still on a developer payment plan, and what remains to pay.
• Whether the unit is let, and to whom. See buying a property with a tenant in it.
• Whether a mortgage sits on the title. See buying a property that has a mortgage on it.

What do you pay on top of the price?

The Dubai Land Department charges a 4% transfer fee on the purchase price. Add agency commission on a resale, trustee and title deed fees, and mortgage registration if you borrow. Our Dubai Land Department fees guide shows worked totals, and the Dubai Land Department publishes the current schedule. If you plan to use a mortgage, read getting a mortgage in Dubai as an expat.

How do you buy an apartment in Expo City?

1. Set a budget and decide between ready and off-plan.
2. Shortlist projects and check each developer's record.
3. Check the title or Oqood, the service charge and any mortgage on the unit.
4. Agree the price in writing and sign the sale agreement.
5. Pay the transfer fee and complete the transfer at the Dubai Land Department.

Our guide to buying property in Dubai as a foreigner covers who can buy, and the time it takes to buy shows what to expect. For every home type, see property for sale in Expo City.

Frequently asked questions