Retail Construction Cost Planning: Dubai Marina, United Arab Emirates

Dubai Marina retail cost planning using the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index of 67.1, plus a GeoNames-based local comparable-search shortlist.

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Last updated September 15, 2026 · National screening observation from the [World Bank ICP 2021 API](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/ARE/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) and [ICP data documentation](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data); locality and population from the [GeoNames AE dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/AE.zip) (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 8469788). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate.

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For early retail construction cost planning in Dubai Marina, the World Bank ICP reports a 2021 United Arab Emirates construction price-level index of 67.1, with the world equal to 100. This is a national comparison—not a Dubai Marina AED/m² rate or tender estimate—so replace it with current local evidence before budgeting or procurement. The observation covers construction across United Arab Emirates in 2021; it does not measure a Dubai Marina market basket or current retail tenders. GeoNames 8469788 records the locality at 25.0852, 55.1465, with snapshot population 120,000. That ranks Dubai Marina 12 of 50 listed places, while Dubai Internet City is the nearest listed peer at about 2 km. Use these facts only to plan the comparable search. Obtain current local rates on a consistent area basis, then reconcile scope, taxes, fees, contingency and escalation. Retain the source, base date and reviewer when local evidence replaces the screening ratio.

Content and cited inputs reviewed by Scott Barrington, Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-15.

What does the 67.1 construction index mean?

The World Bank ICP 2021 construction PLI for United Arab Emirates is 67.1, compared with a world benchmark of 100. It is a national spatial price comparison assembled for the 2021 reference year. It does not say that retail work in Dubai Marina costs 0.671 times a current world rate.

Which Dubai Marina inputs are known?

The reproducible locality point is 25.0852, 55.1465 (GeoNames 8469788). Its snapshot population is 120,000, ranked 12 of 50 listed places; GeoNames classifies it as a section of a populated place in administrative area 03. These facts shape the local comparable search, not the price.

What must a project estimate add?

For a Dubai Marina retail project, reconcile shell condition, tenant fit-out, servicing, trading constraints and landlord works. Use a consistent gross-floor-area basis and record the following before reliance.

Estimate field	Screening record	Project requirement
National context	ICP 2021 PLI 67.1	Retain only as dated cross-country context
Local AED/m² rate	Not supplied	Current comparable with named source and base date
Area and scope	Gross floor area; scope unresolved	Measurement standard, specification and procurement route
Additions	Not supplied	Taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation
Review	Automated source and arithmetic QA	Qualified local cost review

Dubai Marina comparable-location search screen

This shortlist is computed from the checked GeoNames snapshot. Distance and population help prioritize where to request comparables; neither is used as a cost multiplier.

Listed place	Great-circle km from Dubai Marina	Snapshot population	Admin area
Dubai Internet City	2	24,000	03
The Palm Jumeirah	4	25,500	03
Al Furjan	7	26,000	03
Dubai Investments Park	9	160,000	03
Jebel Ali	10	210,000	03
International City	28	120,000	03
Fujairah	120	118,933	04
Al Majaz	36	116,503	06

Price-level normalization worksheet

For a validated reference rate R from a country with construction PLI P, the transparent screening calculation is R × (67.1 ÷ P). At P = 100 the dimensionless ratio is 0.671; no world cost rate is asserted. Keep the reference rate's currency, base date, area basis and scope attached.

Input	Recorded value	Release condition
Target national PLI	67.1 (World = 100, 2021)	Screening context only
Reference construction PLI P	User-supplied from the same ICP classification/year	Must match reference rate country
Validated reference rate R	User-supplied	Named source, currency, date, area and scope
Local Dubai Marina adjustment	Not asserted	Replace with current local comparable evidence
Result status	Screening normalization	Not a budget, quote or tender estimate

Sources and method

National screening observation from the World Bank ICP 2021 API and ICP data documentation; locality and population from the GeoNames AE dump (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 8469788). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate.

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 67.1 index give a retail cost per m² for Dubai Marina?

No. 67.1 is the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index for United Arab Emirates, with the world equal to 100. It is a cross-country screening statistic, not a Dubai Marina AED/m² rate, escalation index, quote or tender estimate.

How should a Dubai Marina retail estimate replace this screening benchmark?

Collect current Dubai Marina comparables on a consistent gross-floor-area basis, reconcile shell condition, tenant fit-out, servicing, trading constraints and landlord works, and state base date, currency, taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation. A qualified local cost professional should review the resulting project estimate.

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