| Short Answer: “Damac Hills 1 suits buyers who want location and prestige; Damac Hills 2 suits buyers who want affordability and yield.” |
The primary difference between Damac Hills 1 and 2 lies in the single factor of age. Damac Hills 1 is the more mature community established on golf courses, and with higher entry prices, while the more family-oriented community,y now branded as Damac Hills 2 (previously Akoya Oxygen), is all about eco-living and resort-style amenities, with lower entry prices. Damac Hills 1 villas are towards the low end of the trading range of 2026 of AED 1,085 – 2,785 per square foot, based on Property Finder transaction data, and Damac Hills 2 villas are in the lower band of AED 600 – AED 950 per square foot as referenced in the 2026 Damac investor guide, Oliva. From location to pricing, to yields, to amenities, to phase what fits which type of buyer, this guide simply unpacks it all.
Quick Facts: Damac Hills 1 vs Damac Hills 2
| Factor | Damac Hills 1 | Damac Hills 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Formerly known as | Damac Hills | Akoya Oxygen |
| Launched | 2013 | 2014 |
| Location | Dubailand, central | South Dubailand, near Al Maktoum |
| Signature feature | Trump International Golf Club | Malibu Beach lagoon, water park |
| Property types | Villas, townhouses, apartments | Villas, townhouses |
| Villa price range (AED/sqft, 2026) | 1,085 – 2,785 | 600 – 950 |
| Median sale price | Higher, established premium | ~AED 1,650,000 |
| Gross rental yield (villas) | ~5.0% – 7% | ~6.0% – 7.5% |
| Commute to Downtown Dubai | ~20–25 minutes | ~35–40 minutes |
| Best suited for | Premium lifestyle, capital value | Affordability, high rental yield |
Damac Hills 1 is suitable for buyers looking for a community where they will own in an established place, close to everything, with a good capital value in the long run, and Damac Hills 2 is suitable for buyers looking for good affordability and higher rental yield percentages. Currently, both are freehold communities by Damac Properties in 2026.
What Is Damac Hills 1?
The first community in the Damac Hills Complex around the Trump International Golf Club is a master community comprised of 42,000sf of residential developments known as Damac Hills 1. In the development, according to Propsearch.ae, there are 3,008 villas and townhouses, 4,335 apartments, a separate and exclusive retail area, schools, clinics, and a private park with an area of approximately 400,000 square metres.
The community is structured in different clusters. On or on the edge of the links, like Belair and Cavalli Estates, as well as the sub-communities Silver Springs and The Drive, these homes are at the high end of the range and provide a blend of 3-6 bedrooms. Property Finder 2026 listing data suggests villa prices in these clusters vary from AED 1,085 to AED 2,785 per square foot, depending on the amount of golf course frontage and finish.
Q: What makes Damac Hills 1 different from other Dubailand communities?
In most communities competing for the Dubailand brand, you cannot expect to find both a championship golf course and a fully-fledged self-contained community of schools, a shopping mall, clinics, and parkland in the same development at the same level of care hat most Dubailand communities don’t offer is a championship golf course and a full self-sufficient community with schools, a mall, clinics, and parkland all in the same development and cared for at the same level.
As of 2026, Damac Hills 1 is one of Damac’s most established and complete addresses, featuring an array of apartments, villas, and even ultra-luxury residences, all supported by a dedicated mall and golf course living.
What Is Damac Hills 2?
Further south in Dubailand on Jebel Ali–Lehbab Road, further to Al Maktoum International Airport, is Damac Hills 2, previously known as Akoya Oxygen. Widely regarded as a community featuring approximately 55 million square feet of land, this is an area that has been designed with eco-friendly elements, from the water heating system using solar energy, the addition of organic farms, to the high level of green space, to the resort-style amenities, including the Malibu Beach lagoon and water park in the community.
The inventory here is very biased towards 3 Bedroomtownhouses and villas. According to Oxala’s 2026 investor update referencing the transaction data at DXBinteract, the community median price at which 3-bed villas are selling is approximately AED 1,650,00, which is around 35 to 45 percent off each square foot in comparison to Damac Hills 1 acc,,ording to Oxala investor briefing.
Q: Is Damac Hills 2 the same developer as Damac Hills 1?
Yes. While both are developed and managed by Damac Properties, Damac Hills 2 is conceived as a separate masterplan, a more affordable development, and caters to the family who would prefer a separate identity, a separate bra,, nd and a uniform set of amenities.
While Damac Hills 1 is based on Dubai’s high-end price tail, the premise of Damac Hills 2 is that it represents value at Dubai’s centre, with its lower entry price and larger plot-to-price ratios, albeit at a longer distance to central Dubai.
Location and Connectivity
Damac Hills 1 lies nearer to the heart of the city along Al Qudra Road (D63), which links to Hessa Street and Emirates Road (E611). Posted by damachills2akoya.ae, the area guides estimated drive times were around 20-25 minutes to Downtown Dubai or Dubai Marina, respectively. The community does not have a metro station; however, ver the closest one is the Dubai Internet City metro station, approximatel21 minutesns away.
Damac Hills 2 is located further south than Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA). The community is around 35 to 40 mins by car from Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina (which will take about 40 to 45 mins, depending on the traffic) — the main factor the home-buyers give up for the lower prices.
Q: Which community has a shorter commute to Downtown Dubai?
The shorter (around 20-25 minutes) commute to Downtown Dubai is from Damac Hills, whereas Damac Hills 2 is 35-40 minutes.
Damac Hills 1 benefits those commuters who come into central Dubai, and therefore offers a much shorter drive,e whilst Damac Hills 2 offers a more economical option with a more southern location but a quieter pace.
Property Types and Prices
| Property Type | Damac Hills 1 (AED/sqft, 2026) | Damac Hills 2 (AED/sqft, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Apartments | Median under AED 1M total price | Limited apartment stock |
| Townhouses | Mid-range, family clusters | AED 600 – 950 (dominant stock) |
| Villas (standard) | 1,085 – 1,600 | 600 – 780 |
| Villas (golf-facing/premium) | 1,600 – 2,785 | N/A (no golf-course frontage) |
Apartments, Townhouses, and Villas from mid-market to Ultra-luxury (Cavalli Estates mansions average AED 26,270,000) are the biggest mix of property types one can find throughout the wider Damac Hills area, with Damac Hills 1 as a property. In contrast, Damac Hills 2 is primarily focused on 3-bedroom villas and townhouses, which, according to VIBGYOR, are priced between AED 1.2M – 2.5M for 3 bedrooms and AED 1.6M – 3M for 4 bedrooms in 2026.
Damac Hills 1 offers developerstoh wider price bands with ultra luxury buyers as well, while Damac Hills 2 is essentially a mid to lower level of villas and townhouses at a slightly lower range of prices.
Villa rentals at Damac Hills 1 averaged around AED 117,559 last year, with the villa market in general having an average yield of 5.48% as of Q4 2025, an indication of a mature and stable rental market, according to the investor guide, which was released by ritukant.com. Damac Hills 2 registered 1,484 new rents and 1,218 renewals in 2026 YTD, with villa yields hitting up to 7% and apartment-style is at 9–11% year-on-year in some markets, though at a 38% decrease year-on-year in transaction quantity, the market accelerated from a period of swift price increases to a stronger performance of steady income.
Q: Which community offers better rental yields, Damac Hills 1 or Damac Hills 2?
The villages’ gross rental yields in Damac Hills 2 can reach 7.5%, which is generally compared to smaller acquisition costs, while the rentals in Damac Hills 1 are somewhat less expensive, but strong and stable.
The lower entry price makes Damac Hills 2 an appealing option for investors looking for yield percentage, while the maturity status of Damac Hills 1 is where it presents its potential appeal for investors more interested in capital stability and a potential greater resale market.
Amenities and Lifestyle
Damac Hills 1 Home to such facilities as the Trump Residential International Golf Club, a full-fledged Damac mall, schools, clinics, skate park, petting zoo, nd horse stalls, the complex has developed from bases since it was constructed for use over a decade ago, propsearch.ae said.
- Golf and clubhouse access with restaurants, pool, and gym
- On-site retail mall and daily-needs shopping
- Family infrastructure: schools, nurseries, parks, play areas
Damac Hills 2
- Malibu Beach lagoon and water park facilities
- Eco-conscious design: solar water heating, green landscaping
- Sports village and community-wide recreational facilities
Under one single developer, Damac Hills 1 is a lifestyle built around golf, and therefore offers retail comfort, while Damac Hills 2 adopts the eco-living and resort-style family entertainment approach – also set in a unique lifestyle context.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Damac Hills 1 if you
- If you are looking for an alternative to the long ride to Dubai cities, then you should look for a Dubai city hotel that is closer to Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina.
- If you have the skills and talents to sell or rent, look for an established community that offers a strong resale and rental market.
- Range thinking, thinking to buy super luxury villas
- Appreciate the golf course living and the thquid feeder system.
Choose Damac Hills 2 if you
- The Damac Hills area is one such area that offers you the lowest entry price per square foot.
- Focus on the quality of top-line income rather than top-line capital gains.
- Savor a serene and sustainable environment, family-friendly and quieter.
- 35–40 minutes to central Dubai by car.• Car ride time to central Dubai is 35–40 minutes,e,s depending on the traffic.
At present neither community is objectively “better” – Damac Hills 1 offers potential for buyers looking to optimise for location and stability, whilst Damac Hills 2 offers potential for buyers looking to optimise for yield and affordability.
Service Charges and Ongoing Costs
In addition to the purchase price, the service charges are a variable that affects net rental yield in both communities. According to per ritukant.com’s guide 2026, the average price for Damac Hills 1 villa owners is AED 3 to AED 6 per square foot, for an average 2,500 sq. ft villa, which will be approximately AED 10,000 to 15,000 per year. These fees, which are governed by the DLD’s service charge index, include common area maintenance, landscaping, and security on a “24/7” basis.
The service charges of Damac Hills 2, developed by VIBGYOR Real Estate, fit in the bottom half of the range of villa communities, as part of its overall positioning of affordability. TThough propertyymanagement fees (5-8% of rent) should be budgeted for in either community, as will be a municipality housing fee if the landlord incurs it, and a vacancy provision of about 4-6 weeks per year to realistically calculate net yield in either community.
Q: Are service charges higher in Damac Hills 1 or Damac Hills 2?
The shared amenities in Damac Hills 1 are likely to be more extensive (including the golf club and mall), while service charges will generally be higher in Damac Hills 2,2 along with other aspects of its affordability model.
Service charges, management fees, and vacancy provisioshould alwaysuld be subtracted from the net yields, which can impact the gap in effective returns between the two communities by 200–300 basis points as of 2026 estimates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Damac Hills 1 the same as Damac Hills 2?
No. They are distinct but adjoining Master Communities built by Damac Properties and have their own sets of pricing, amenities, and proposed target buyers.
Which is cheaper, Damac Hills 1 or Damac Hills 2?
According to Oliva’s investor guide for 2026, Damac Hills 2 offers better discounts, ranging from 35–45% per square foot, as compared with Damac Hills 1.
Which community has better rental yields in 2026?
Villas in Damac Hills 2 tend to have higher gross rental yields as high as 7.5% compared to the gross rental yield of about 5–7% in Damac Hills 1.
Is Damac Hills 2 far from the Dubai city centre?
Yes, relatively. Damac Hills 2 is located about 35-40 mins from Downtown Dubai, while Damac Hills 1 is located about 20 to 2 minutes from Dubai Downtown.
Does Damac Hills 2 have a golf course?
Unlike Damac Hills 1’s Trump International Golf Club, Damac Hills 2’s main attraction is Malibu Beach and eco-living facilities.
Which community is more family-friendly?
Both are family-friendly, although Damac Hills 2 is built around the concept of eco-living and resort-style family entertainment, Damac Hills 1 has more established schools and retail facilities.
Can foreigners buy property in Damac Hills 1 or Damac Hills 2?
Yes. The two communities are declared “Freehold” zones, which means that foreign nationals and ex-pats have 100% ownership rights.
Which community is better for long-term capital appreciation?
The capital appreciation performance is better for Damac Hills 1, because it is more mature and slightly closer to the centre, but these communities are still sensitive to market cycles of the Dubai real estate sector.
What is the average villa price in Damac Hills 2 in 2026?
According to data provided by DXBinteract 2026 by VIBGYOR Real Estate, the sale price of a property in Damac Hills 2 is around AED 1,650,000.
Is Damac Hills 2 still called Akoya Oxygen?
Damac Hills 2 was originally Akoya Oxygen, and some listings and older references continue to call it by the original name of Akoya Oxygen.
