It is mostly inhabited by Chinese, Filipino's, etc. It is seen as a last resort for western expats, every day you read in the local paper (7days)
[won't let input URLs, so search 7days dubai the one article is called apartment left flooded with sewage and the other is in the letters section "more complaints about international city" ]
These are just two that were in todays paper.

As you can see there are a lot of issues. I want to buy a place to live in till I leave here and then sell it and International city is the only one in my budget... My other option is to rent for another year, save as much as I can so I can put down a large deposit to live somewhere else, or start speculating with that money. I know of some people who are making GREAT returns. Just burns a little hole in your pocket when you have to fork out Dhs100,000 + for a one bedroomed apartment, thats why if I go for the second option (to save money) i'll look at renting a place in international city, but would prefer not to...

I'm really liking Discovery gardens! Wow that would have been an investment... (My girly dreams of an apartment are of those) but they are now renting at 90,000 for a one bed and don't think people paid much for those in the beginning...
I have also been told (One of my bosses owns a real estate co. Orange-property com) that Jumeriah Lake towers will be a good investment - but its out of my budget and really sad about that.

I'd be interested to here if anyone knows of any 1 bedrooms for sale under 1 mill (decent sqft) and with 90% financing... oh, it has to be available for occupation in August.