Apartments by the water at Port de la Mer and La Mer: the low-rise alternative to the Marina
Port de la Mer and La Mer, both by Meraas, offer something Dubai has little of: low- and mid-rise apartments on a Mediterranean-style marina and a beach, close to the old centre and the airport. Units run from one to four bedrooms plus penthouses, and the view decides most of the value.
What are La Mer and Port de la Mer?
La Mer is a fashionable beach district with retail and an urban atmosphere. Port de la Mer is a marina in the Mediterranean manner, with yachts, a promenade and beaches. Both are coastal districts of Dubai by Meraas.
Port de la Mer is built in a Mediterranean style: low- and mid-rise blocks, wide terraces, pale façades. It is that atmosphere, more than any single building, that sets the location apart.
The profile is intimacy, low height and the feel of a Mediterranean port, combined with closeness to the old centre of the city and to the airport. It is a choice for people who value privacy and a resort rhythm without the density of the Marina.
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What kinds of apartments are there?
The range on sale, as I saw it in January 2023, ran from compact one-bedroom apartments to spacious four-bedroom residences, with penthouses on the upper levels. The layouts differ noticeably from the standard Dubai high-rise.
There are more deep balconies turned towards the marina and fewer corridor-style plans. Wide terraces are part of the product here, not an afterthought.
Which unit carries the premium?
The one with the right orientation. Apartments with a view of the marina and the open sea are consistently dearer both to buy and to rent; units facing the inner courtyard are cheaper on entry but give a smaller premium at resale.
Check the floor separately. In a low-rise format the difference in view between the second floor and the fifth can be radical, while the difference in price is small.
A cheap unit without a view in a resort location loses the main advantage of the place. Choosing by price per square foot alone is therefore one of the standard mistakes here.
Renders and floor plans do not convey the real picture from the balcony. In a completed block, always see the unit in person or on a fresh video before committing.
Why are apartments by the water in demand?
For three reasons: views of the sea and the marina, beach access with a resort way of life, and proximity to the centre of Dubai. A resort location by the sea produces high rental demand, short-term especially.
The views and the marina atmosphere are a strong marketing argument and a premium on the rate. For an investor the sea and the marina add a premium to the price as well, and the Meraas name supports liquidity.
Can you live here all year, or is it only a holiday address?
You can live here all year. The district is quiet, with a beach, a promenade and restaurants, and the business centre and the airport are a short drive away. Families should assess the logistics to schools in advance.
That gives an owner two possible tenants. Short letting brings a higher gross income with a heavier operational load; long letting brings stability and the minimum of trouble.
The decision depends on how involved you intend to be and whether you are willing to pay an operator. It is better made before the purchase than after it.
How does short letting work by the beach?
A seaside location with resort infrastructure in place is a natural site for short lets. The visitor gets a beach, a promenade and restaurants within walking distance; the owner gets a rate above the long-term one.
The short-term model demands operational discipline, though: licensing the activity, regular cleaning, managing bookings and living with seasonal swings in occupancy.
Peak demand falls in the cooler months, and in summer occupancy and rates as a rule sag. An annual calculation has to include both periods; working from high-season rates inflates expectations, so use the average for the year.
A short-let operator takes a noticeable commission but removes all the operations from the owner, which for a non-resident is usually justified. The apartment is let fully equipped, so budget for furniture and appliances at the moment of purchase.
How does it compare with other waterfront addresses?
A buyer of an apartment by the water in Dubai always has alternatives. Dubai Marina gives more urban energy and the largest rental flow, but it is dense high-rise development.
The Palm is more prestigious and more expensive, with a premium for the name of the island itself. Emaar Beachfront was, when I made this comparison in January 2023, the new beach cluster, in a high-rise format.
For an investor the distinctiveness of Port de la Mer is the argument. There is little similar product in the city, which means competition among landlords inside the format is limited.
What does it cost to own by the sea?
More than an ordinary city building. Waterfront communities with beaches, pools and a guarded perimeter are dearer to maintain, and service charges are calculated on the area of the apartment, so spacious units cost appreciably more each year.
Before buying, ask for the current tariff for the specific block and put it in the yield model, along with insurance, utilities and, for short lets, depreciation of the furniture. Without premium-level charges the model is unrealistic.
A separate item is maintenance once the warranty period of the developer has ended. Proximity to the sea speeds up wear on façades, terraces and external equipment, so the quality of the management company matters more here than deep in the city.
The condition of the common areas feeds directly into the rent and the resale price. And decide before buying who you will sell to in a few years — an end resident or the next investor.
Frequently asked
Is the location suitable for living in permanently?
Yes. The district is quiet, with a beach, a promenade and restaurants, and the business centre and the airport are a short drive away. Families should assess the logistics to schools in advance.
Short-term or long-term letting — which to choose?
Short-term gives a higher gross income with a heavier operational load; long-term gives stability and the minimum of trouble. The decision depends on how involved you want to be and whether you are willing to pay an operator.
How liquid is a resale at Port de la Mer?
The limited volume of comparable supply works in favour of the seller: there are few intimate waterfront communities in the city, and demand for them is steady.
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