Spreading over an area of 800 hectares (8 million square meters), the arrangement of the city is inspired by the traditional carpets of the Middle East.

regulations implemented by the Municipality of Dubai will greatly address the prevalence of Shisha [Arabic Tobacco] parlors housed in many buildings.

[citation needed] While Nakheel's intentions were to make low and medium-cost housing available to the masses (who were suffering due to the real-estate boom until mid-2008 and before the GFC) by providing medium and low-income earners with legal and decent housing instead of resorting to illegitimate villa sharing, Dubai was badly affected by the Great Recession.

While Dubai International City was not immune to these effects, the extent of the impact varied across different communities and types of properties.

Generally, rental values and property prices decreased during this period, but the market gradually stabilized and started recovering in the following years.

Nakheel, the real estate developer associated with many iconic projects in Dubai,[citation needed] These articles claim International City has struggled with a poor reputation and negative press reports stemming from various issues including problems with its own sewage systems and the nearby sewage facility, access to the site, and a perceived lack of amenities.