Living in Dubai

Downtown Dubai

Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall
Downtown has a community feel: children’s play areas, cafes and restaurants, souks and swimming pools. The wide promenades, Arabian passageways and palm-lined streets that link the different residential quarters encourage residents to get around on foot.

The adjacent Sheikh Zayed Road is Dubai’s busiest motorway, but if traffic doesn’t bother try the strip between Trade Centre Roundabout and Interchange One, which is home to some of Dubai’s biggest towers.

Schools
There are nurseries (Old Town Nursery, Kangaroo Kids’ and Cello Kids Club) but no schools in Downtown Dubai, but those in Jumeira and Al Qouz are close.

​Healthcare
Apart from pharmacies dotted round the Old Town, The Dubai Mall and the Residences, there is the large Mediclinic Dubai Mall. The closest hospitals are Medcare Hospital (04 407 9100) in Al Safa and the Iranian Hospital (04 344 0250) on Al Wasl Road in Satwa. On Sheikh Zayed Road is also Al Zahra Medical
Centre (04 331 5000) in Al Safa Tower.

​Shops
Downtown Dubai is a shopper’s dream with both The Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar within walking distance. Dubai Mall has a Waitrose and there are Spinneys stores and Al Maya outlets scattered around. Several banks are on the ground floor of Dubai Mall, along with pharmacies, money exchanges and opticians. Next to the mall, Souk Al Bahar houses boutique shops. Sheikh Zayed Road also has Mazaya Centre and the supermarkets of Jumeira nearby. Both sides of Sheikh Zayed Road have pharmacies and smaller shops.

​Bars & Restaurants
Souk Al Bahar is a nightlife hub with several licensed bars and restaurants. Dubai Mall has a few unlicensed restaurants along with two huge food courts. Also, there’s the two Address hotels, home to Neos sky bar on the 63rd floor of the Downtown hotel, and Cabana, the funky pool bar at The Dubai Mall hotel. Sheikh Zayed Road has plenty of takeaway restaurants and the strip is full of nightlife in the Shangri-La, Fairmont, Crowne Plaza and Towers Rotana.

​Attractions
The Burj Khalifa is on your doorstep, as is Dubai Mall (with its aquarium) and the dancing fountains.

​Downtown Dubai
The massive Downtown Dubai development is made up of high and low-rise residential units, with landmark buildings – The Address (Dubai Mall and Downtown), The Palace Hotel, Emaar Square and the Burj Khalifa – as the cornerstones. At one end, near to the Burj, are the Burj Residence towers, The Lofts and 8 Boulevard Walk, while at the opposite end, on the border with the Business Bay development, are the South Ridge and Burj Views high-rises. In between is the Arabian architecture of Old Town. There is plenty of parking within each of the residential complexes, and the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro stop is walking distance from some apartments and a short feeder bus ride from the others.

Options range from tiny studios to expansive four-bedroom townhouses, and the finishing in most buildings is of a high spec. Most residential towers come with facilities including games rooms, libraries, barbecue areas, gyms, pools and sports courts.
Annual rental prices: One-bedroom from Dhs.90,000 in the Old Town or Dhs.160,000 in the Burj Khalifa.

Neighbouring Community: Sheikh Zayed Road
On the high-rise strip along Sheikh Zayed Road you’ll find a mix of residential and commercial buildings alongside impressive hotels. It’s a popular area.
Annual rental prices: One-bedroom from Dhs.85,000.
Three-bedroom from Dhs.150,000.

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