DT1 by Ellington: Boutique Residence Prices in Downtown Dubai

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Hello everyone. A boutique tower on Burj Khalifa Boulevard with a sanat galerisi concept inside it. Today, DT1 by Ellington is what we are looking at today!

For prices, taxes and the whole buying process, see our guide: Dubai Property Guide

Apartment types, current price range and location: see the project page

A residential scheme of roughly 20 storeys, boutique sited in the very heart of Downtown Dubai, on Burj Khalifa Boulevard. Ellington PropertiesDT1, developed with’s art led approach to architecture, stands out for its large glazed facades and its high ceilinged living spaces. There are options from studios to three bedrooms, plus a limited number of lofts and penthouses. Yes, you read that correctly: Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall are a few minutes away.

Prices

• Residences: AED 1,300,000and up
• Studio, one, two and three bedroom; a limited number of loft and penthouse
• Size: 40 m²and up
• Approximately 20 storeys, boutique rezidans
• Address: Burj Khalifa Boulevard, Downtown Dubai

Downtown Dubai’de AED 1,3 milyon entry price is striking. Mercedes-Benz Places in the same district starts at AED 8.8 million. With its boutique scale and more compact layouts, DT1 brings a Downtown address down to a far more reachable budget.

Why DT1?

A Downtown address at boutique scale

Most schemes in Downtown Dubai are giant towers of hundreds of apartments. DT1 is around 20 storeys and boutique. That brings two concrete advantages: the shared areas are shared with fewer people, and dozens of apartments do not compete with one another on the rental market at the same time.

• Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall a few minutes away
• Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall metro station (Red Line) nearby
• Dubai Opera and the Dubai Fountain within walking distance
• DIFC and Business Bay a few minutes away
• Dubai International Airport about 15 minutes

Sanat galerisi konsepti

Ellington’s signature is plain here: the scheme is designed with an art led approach to architecture and a gallery concept runs through the shared areas. Hundreds of towers are handed over in Dubai every year and most resemble one another. Schemes with an identity like this stand apart both to let and on resale.

Daily life: Burj Khalifa at your door

A morning swim in the infinity pool, then a walk or a few minutes’ journey to your office in the DIFC. Lunchtime at the Dubai Mall or in Downtown’s restaurants. The Dubai Fountain show, Dubai Opera or Souk Al Bahar in the evening. Living in Downtown means being within walking distance of the most visited points in Dubai. That is a direct advantage for anyone thinking about short lets, too.

DT1 rental yield

Tenant demand in Downtown Dubai is very strong and is fed from two sources: corporate staff renting long term, and short term demand from tourism. In this segment the gross rental yield is typically 6% to 7% band.

Compact layouts (studios and one bedroom apartments from 40 m²) are the most liquid segment of the rental market. Because it is a Downtown address you are also in a strong position on short lets. And to say it again: from that income no tax is withheld. In London you would pay income tax on the same income.

The shared areas and the details that set DT1 apart

• Infinity pool: An infinity pool looking out over the Downtown skyline.
• Art gallery concept: An art led design approach carried through the shared areas.
• Fitness facilities: A fully equipped sports studio for residents only.
• Concierge service: Parcels, security and day to day support.
• High ceilings: A design that creates a sense of space even in compact floor areas.
• Large glazed facades: Plenty of natural light and city views.
• Loft and penthouse options: a limited number, for buyers who do not want a standard apartment.
• Boutique scale: Around 20 storeys; none of the crowd of the giant towers.

Who is buying?

This project of those who want a Downtown address on a sensible budget choice. The compact layouts for investors, the lofts and penthouses for buyers looking for an apartment with character. Investors thinking of working on a short let model also turn to this scheme because of the Downtown location. Professionals working in Dubai choose it for their own use as well.

Frequently asked questions

Is 40 m² not very small? In Downtown Dubai studios and compact apartments are the most liquid segment of the rental market, particularly on short lets. If you are buying for your own use we would suggest looking at the two and three bedroom layouts or the loft options.

Do short lets make sense in Downtown? Yes, the district is the centre of tourism. But you need to check the management cost, the cleaning, the swings in occupancy and the building management’s rules at the outset. We compare the net yield of the two models for you.

What is the tenure? Downtown Dubai is a freehold area; foreign nationals can hold full title.

Are service charges high in Downtown? Downtown is one of the districts with the highest service charge band in Dubai. The pool, the concierge and the maintenance of the shared areas feed into that cost. Do ask for the current figure when working out the net yield.

Total cost: what you actually pay when you buy at DT1

This is where Dubai’s biggest advantage shows: no property tax, no capital gains tax, no tax on rental income. Where an investor in the United Kingdom deals with stamp duty, income tax and capital gains tax on sale, an individual investor in the Emirates faces none of them. What there is instead is a one off transfer cost. Let us work it out on an apartment worth AED 1,300,000:

Government fees come to roughly 4.5% of the price; add the agency commission and the total acquisition cost lands in the 6-7% band. With a mortgage there is also a mortgage registration fee of 0.25% of the loan plus bank charges. On resales the developer’s no objection certificate (NOC) can cost between AED 500 and AED 5,000.

The only recurring item after that is the service charge: In the Emirates this charge is calculated per square foot per year and is supervised by the Dubai Land Department. It varies a great deal with the quality of the building and its amenities, and because it feeds straight into the net yield you should always ask for the current figure before buying. We obtain it for every apartment on your behalf.

Golden Visa: ten year residency through property

This is the biggest difference between investing in Dubai and investing in the United Kingdom. Buying property in the UK gives you no right of residence; in the United Arab Emirates, AED 2 million owning residential property worth a ten year Golden Visa. The visa covers your spouse and children as well.

In this project the entry price sits below the threshold. An apartment at the AED 1,300,000 level is not enough on its own; roughly a further AED 700,000 is needed to reach the threshold. The good news is this: the value of several properties can be combined. You can reach the threshold with a larger apartment in the project or with a second property; we work out which combination gets you there.

The rules were relaxed in 2026, and this matters:

• Mortgaged property is accepted as well. A "paid up amount" or a "50% equity" condition used to apply; now the total value reaching AED 2 million is enough.
• Off plan property counts too (provided it was bought from an approved developer). So you can spread the payments across the build and still reach the threshold.
• The value of more than one property can be added together. You do not have to buy a single expensive apartment.

Visa rules are updated from time to time, so we confirm the current conditions with you before an application. If residency is part of your plan, it belongs at the start of the purchase decision, not at the end.

The DT1 buying process, step by step

If you are buying from another country, the process runs like this:

• 1. Choosing the apartment and making an offer. An offer is put to the seller for the apartment you choose.
• 2. Signing Form F (the MOU). A contract is signed between buyer and seller, usually with a 10% deposit.
• 3. NOC (no objection certificate). Obtained from the developer; it confirms there is no service charge arrears.
• 4. Transfer of title. The parties meet at a DLD authorised registration trustee office, where the 4% DLD fee and the other charges are paid.
• 5. Title deed. The title deed is issued in your name the same day.
• 6. Golden Visa application. If the property is worth AED 2 million or more the residency process can be started.

You can run the whole process from your own country; you do not have to travel to Dubai. There is no restriction on foreign nationals owning property in freehold areas.

Risks and what to watch for

We have set out the strengths; in fairness there are points to watch as well. For DT1, these are the ones worth pausing on:

• Service charges are high in Downtown: One of the districts with the highest service charge band in Dubai; it affects the net yield directly, so ask for the figure at the outset.
• 40 m² planlar kompakt: Liquid to let, but it may feel tight for your own use.
• Supply and competition are heavy in Downtown: Many towers chase the same tenant pool; pricing and apartment quality decide it.
• Below the Golden Visa threshold: The AED 1,300,000 entry price does not meet the threshold on its own; more than one property can be combined.

None of this makes the project a bad one, but there is a wide gap between buying with your eyes open and finding out afterwards. We give every client this list up front.

How does DT1 compare with the alternatives?

Before you decide, it is worth looking at the other projects in the same budget band:

• Mercedes-Benz Places: For anyone after an ultra luxury branded residence in the same district.
• SKYHALL by Binghatti: A more affordable entry price and a higher yield in Business Bay.
• Claydon House: The same developer’s family focused scheme in Dubai Hills.

We can work out together which project fits your goal, judged on budget, intended use and exit plan. For an overview, our guide to UK property investment for international buyers is worth reading too.

Answers to the most common questions on this topic: Can You Buy Property in Dubai in Instalments? How Payment Plans Work