Al Dhafrah

Al Dhafra Region was formerly known as Al Gharbia or Western Region until 2017. Al Dhafra, meaning ‘where desert meets sea,’ offers picturesque coastlines adorned with beautiful beaches and islands stretching across hundreds of kilometers. It is one of the three major municipal regions in Abu Dhabi. The area is mainly known for its gas, petroleum and oil reserves. It is also home to the Al Dhafrah Air Base.

• Known as the Western Region
• One of the three major municipal regions in Abu Dhabi
• Smaller communities in Al Dhafra make up 71% of the entire emirate
• A key area packed with natural resources and fuel reserves
• Home to Al Dhafrah Air Base
• The largest region in the emirate

A rather remote development in Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra city forms the western region of the UAE. It is counted as the largest area covering 71% of the total area of the emirate. However, it has the lowest population and population density.

The residential side is not yet fully developed and Al Dhafra Abu Dhabi is mainly known for its natural resources, mainly gas and petroleum. More importantly, Al Dhafra city has almost 90% of the country’s entire hydrocarbon reserves.

There aren’t a lot of residential properties in Al Dhafrah. Mostly, the area has leisure or tourist attractions and you can also find areas dedicated to commercial activities. While one can find a mix of apartment buildings, the majority is made up by independent villas in Al Dhafra Abu Dhabi. Properties in the Western Region, Al Gharbia are mainly owned by corporations, investors and are dedicated to staff accommodation.

The area has limited residential properties, so there aren’t a lot of options on offer. But one can find a few rental properties in Madinat Zayed, a town that’s most developed in Al Dhafrah so far. Here, you can find studio apartments ranging from 400 sq. ft. to 500 sq. ft. to the much bigger 3-bedroom apartments with covered areas exceeding 2,000 sq. ft.

The annual prices for apartments for rent in Madinat Zayed start from AED 18k. This would include a studio apartment spanning around 400 sq. ft. For bigger apartments like 1-bed and 2-bed units, the rents may increase up to AED 50k. A 3-bedroom flat for rent in Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafrah is available for AED 130k.

There are seven townships in Al Dhafrah Abu Dhabi:

• Madinat Zayed (Bida Zayed)
• Ruwais 
• Liwa 
• Ghayathi
• Al Mirfa
• Sila 
• Dalma
• Habshan
• Ghuwaifat

Madinat Zayed is the capital of the Western Region. It is the largest town and the administrative centre of the community. Al Ruwais is more of industrial development and Liwa is a massive oasis with plenty of leisure attractions. Al Gharbia also includes an island, Dalma featuring around 20 archaeological sites. Moreover, Al Dhafra 1 is a developing, low-density residential area in Al Dhafra Abu Dhabi.

Al Dhafrah is bound by many arterial roads including Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan International Road (E11) to the north, Abu Dhabi – Liwa Road (E65) to the west and by Abu Dhabi – Al Ain Truck Road to the northeast. Other small highways can be spotted towards the south of the district. It is recommended that residents own private transportation in Al Dhafrah. Also, many residential properties have dedicated spaces for parking in Al Dhafrah.

There are a few local stores and supermarkets in Al Dhafra Abu Dhabi. Residents can shop for basic items from Green Peace Supermarket.

There is a mosque in Al Dhafra known as the Mojumaat Jumma Masjid. No temples have been developed in this part of the emirate. The American Church of Abu Dhabi is located in Madinat Zayed.

Al Dhafrah Private School follows the American curriculum from KG to Grade 12. There are branches in Abu Dhabi as well as Al Ain. As the community develops, there will be more schooling options for children. Schools in Madinat Zayed include Abu Dhabi International Private School and The Cambridge High School.

There are a few speciality clinics and general hospitals in Al Dhafrah – mainly in developed communities like Madinat Zayed. Those living in proximity can access Al Bustan Specialty Hospital and NMC Royal Family Medical Centre.

Al Dhafra location makes it closer to Al Aryam Island and the surrounding coastline. Other neighbouring communities include Mussaffah and Al Wathbah.

Since the community is developing, there aren’t a lot of shopping malls in Al Dhafra area. A few shops and shopping centres are present in Madinat Zayed, including one of the oldest malls in Abu Dhabi – Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre.

Restaurants in Al Dhafrah include Shake Shack, Al Dhafra Workers Village and Hardees. Shake Shack is a burger joint with a special menu for fruit shakes and smoothies, Al Dhafra Village is a cafeteria for the staff working in close proximity and Hardees is an international fast-food chain.

Al Dhafrah is in proximity to Hameem Beach which is a camping site and a popular tourist spot in the vicinity. With relaxing views and cool wind, campers spend a night or two here. Also, Al Mirfa Beach is located in Al Mirfa, another region in Al Dhafrah Abu Dhabi.

Al Dhafra area is no less than a landmark location covering almost two-thirds of the emirate. It is accessible in around 15 to 17 minutes from the centre of Abu Dhabi. Along its coastline are some scenic beaches set amidst scenic landscapes. The area is most popular for ancient forts. Back in the early 20th century, there used to be only sandy dunes which are now utilised for safari rides. Moreover, Al Dhafra is home to the Emirates National Auto Museum where many tourists gather all throughout the year. There is a large stadium in addition to sports facilities in the surrounding residential areas.

Out of the various things to do in Al Dhafra, outdoor activities are most popular. Besides housing the world’s largest deserts, Liwa is home to a date palm plantation that features more than 100,000 trees. This oasis is an attractive site, especially for its genetic resources and biodiversity. There is also a 5-star resort in Liwa called Mirage Palace or Qasr Al Sarab offering a range of thrilling outdoor activities including dune bashing, camel trekking, dune walks in the dawn, falconry shows and campfire barbecue.

Al Dhafrah Festival organises the biggest camel beauty contest. Another grand event called Al Gharbia Watersports Festival is most popular for adrenaline seekers. It is a 10-day event full of surfing, dhow racing and swimming activities. Liwa Date Festival is organised in July while January is usually dedicated to the Tel Moreeb Festival, a hill-climbing event.

If you are interested in moving to Al Dhafra area, you can choose the more developed area of Madinat Zayed. It is also a short drive away from Liwa.

Al Dhafra is the largest development in the capital city – Abu Dhabi.

Al Dhafra location is in Abu Dhabi and lies toward the western part of the United Arab Emirates.

Al Dhafra is one of three municipal regions of Abu Dhabi. It is the largest region and occupies around 71% of Abu Dhabi.

The literal meaning of Al Dhafra is ‘where desert meets sea’ in Arabic.

Al Dhafra is majorly known for rich natural resources, Al Dhafra Air Base and staff accommodation.

The road distance between Al Dhafra and Dubai is around 147km. If you drive, it will take around 1 hour and 40 minutes to reach the Dubai International Airport.

• A 26-minute drive away from the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival site
• Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan International Road E11 is accessible in 13 minutes