International City is the cheapest large-scale shared-housing area in Dubai, built as themed country clusters of low-rise blocks. There is no metro, which is exactly why the rent is what it is: everyone here is trading commute time for money, and for a lot of people that trade is worth it.
What a bed space costs in International City
Bed space, per personAED 500 – AED 750
Partition roomAED 1,000 – AED 1,600
Private roomAED 1,400 – AED 2,200
A bed in a smaller room of 3–4 people costs AED 100–200 more than a bunk in a 6–8 person room in the same building — usually the best AED 150 you will spend here. At these rents DEWA, 24/7 air conditioning and Wi-Fi should be included, along with a wardrobe or locker per tenant. Kitchens and bathrooms are shared; six to eight tenants per bathroom is normal for International City.
Getting to work from International City
International City has no metro — buses and taxis only.
Who International City suits
- Anyone whose first priority is the lowest possible monthly rent
- People with a car, a lift-share, or company transport
- Workers in Dragon Mart, the warehouses and the nearby industrial zones
What to check before you pay in International City
- Budget for daily transport — the bus adds real time and the taxi fare adds up fast
- Cluster matters more than the ad suggests; China and France clusters are the busiest
- Ground-floor units in the older clusters have persistent damp — view before you pay
Other options in International City
- Partition room in International City — AED 1,000 – AED 1,600 per month
- Private room in International City — AED 1,400 – AED 2,200 per month