Is property in Dubai expensive compared to other global cities?

Relative to cities like London, New York, Singapore or Hong Kong, Dubai is generally cheaper on a price-per-square-foot basis for comparable quality — which is a big part of why yields are higher here. Within Dubai, prices vary enormously by community: prime waterfront and villa districts command a large premium, while mid-market apartment communities are far more affordable and often yield better. So "expensive" depends entirely on the area. The useful comparison isn't Dubai versus London — it's this specific unit's price-per-sqft versus recent recorded sales of similar units in the same community.