Districts
Where to live in Dubai
Each district is a different way of living. Here is what is there, who it suits, how long it takes to reach the rest of the city, and which residences in our collection stand in it.
How to read this page
Five districts, chosen for the kind of home they offer
Dubai is not one market but many small ones. A beachfront apartment on the Palm and a canal-side tower in Business Bay answer different questions, and the right choice depends on whether you want to live there, let it, or both.
Drive times are those given in each project’s own guide and are approximate: traffic changes them. For prices and what is currently available, open the residence itself.
Waterfront, lively
01
Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is the most recognisable waterfront district in the city: a 3.5 km canal lined with more than 200 residential towers, the Marina Walk promenade, JBR beach and a harbour full of yachts. It is consistently among the three most-searched areas in the UAE for both sales and rentals.
The Marina has a metro station at its centre, restaurants and shops at the foot of the towers, and the beach within a short walk. It is a district of apartments rather than villas, and it rewards buyers who like to be where things happen.
Who it suits
Buyers who want a lively waterfront with good transport, and investors who value a district with deep, constant demand from renters and buyers alike.
Getting around, by car
- DXB Airport
- 30 min
- Downtown Dubai / DIFC
- 20 min
- Al Maktoum Airport (DWC)
- 30 min
- Palm Jumeirah
- 10 min
In the collection
Beachfront, iconic
02
Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah is Dubai’s palm-shaped island, developed by Nakheel. It is fully freehold and home to around 80,000 residents, with luxury apartments along the Trunk, in the Shoreline, Golden Mile and Marina Residences buildings, and exclusive villas across its sixteen fronds.
Life here is organised around the sea: private beaches, beach clubs, and apartments with terraces facing the water. Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina and the malls of Al Sufouh are all around ten to fifteen minutes away.
Who it suits
Buyers for whom the beach comes first, and those who want the address that international buyers recognise immediately.
Getting around, by car
- Dubai Marina / JBR
- 10 min
- Burj Al Arab
- 10 min
- Mall of the Emirates
- 15 min
- Downtown / Burj Khalifa
- 25 min
- DXB Airport
- 30 min
In the collection
Low-density, new
03
Dubai Islands
Dubai Islands is Nakheel’s maritime project: an archipelago of five islands covering 17 square kilometres off the coast of Deira, known until 2022 as Deira Islands. Each island has its own purpose: retail and entertainment, marinas and boating, beaches and leisure, golf, and ultra-luxury living.
It is the district for buyers who want space and a quieter setting without leaving the city: private beaches, sea views from most homes and low-density plots, with Downtown and the airport about twenty minutes away. It is a young master plan, so buildings here are mostly still to come.
Who it suits
Buyers who prefer calm, beaches and newer design, and who are comfortable buying early in a district’s life.
Getting around, by car
- Downtown / Burj Khalifa
- 20 min
- DXB Airport
- 20 min
- Deira, via the Infinity Bridge
- 5 min
- Palm Jumeirah
- 30 min
- Dubai Marina
- 35 min
In the collection
Central, canal-side
04
Business Bay
Business Bay is Dubai’s primary central business district: a mixed-use quarter of office towers, residences and hotels along the Dubai Water Canal. Its position beside Downtown Dubai, DIFC and Sheikh Zayed Road makes it a natural choice for professionals and high-income tenants.
Residences here look onto the Burj Khalifa, the canal and, from the upper floors, the sea. Everything central is five to fifteen minutes away, which is exactly why it appeals to those who plan to let.
Who it suits
Investors who want proximity to the city’s business life, and professionals who would rather walk to the canal than commute to the coast.
Getting around, by car
- Downtown Dubai / Burj Khalifa
- 5 min
- DIFC
- 5 min
- Dubai Mall
- 12 min
- DXB Airport
- 15 min
- Dubai Marina
- 20 min
- Palm Jumeirah
- 20 min
In the collection
Established, coastal
05
Al Sufouh
Al Sufouh is an established district between Dubai Marina and Al Barsha, on the coastal corridor that links Palm Jumeirah to the Marina. It takes in Madinat Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, Knowledge Park and Media City.
It is a quieter, more settled alternative to the Marina: hospitals, international schools and a metro station sit within a kilometre or so of the boutique buildings, and Mall of the Emirates and the Marina are each about five minutes away.
Who it suits
Families and long-term owners who want an established neighbourhood, and buyers drawn to boutique, low-density buildings.
Getting around, by car
- Dubai Marina
- 5 min
- Mall of the Emirates
- 5 min
In the collection
Beyond the five
More districts in the collection
The collection reaches further than the coast. If your budget or your goal points elsewhere, these are worth a conversation.
Meydan
Rabdan Avenue and Rabdan Square, in the district around the city’s racecourse.
View the residenceJumeirah Lakes Towers
Eltiera Views, among the lakes and towers beside the Marina.
View the residenceMaritime City
IL Vento Tower, on the waterfront of Dubai Maritime City.
View the residenceJumeirah Village Circle
Several residences in the collection, from studios to larger family homes.
Not sure which district fits?
Tell us whether the home is to live in or to let, and roughly what you would like to spend. We will compare two or three districts against your answer.
Private enquiry
Tell us which district draws you
A few lines are enough: the district you like, a rough budget, whether the home is to live in or to let. We come back with residences that fit, and say plainly where one falls short.
- 01We read your enquiry and match it to residences in the collection.
- 02You receive a short, reasoned list, not a catalogue.
- 03If you would like to go further, we arrange a call or a viewing, in person or on video.