Al Karama

Al Karama is a residential district in Bur Dubai located on the western banks of the Dubai Creek. It is one of the older areas of Dubai with mixed-use properties and many recreational facilities. The area's name is derived from the Arabic word "Karama," which means "dignity." The area has a unique vibe and is home to many low-rise residential buildings.

Karama Dubai spans 2 km from the diplomatic quarter of Umm Hurair 1 in the north, which hosts several consulates and official buildings down to Zabeel Park in the south. Zabeel Park separates Al Karama from the Dubai World Trade Centre and Sheikh Zayed Road, along with its iconic skyscrapers. The district's western edge is marked by Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street (D88), where the renowned BurJuman shopping mall can be found.

• A residential district of Bur Dubai
• Located on the western banks of Dubai Creek
• One of the oldest communities in Dubai
• Home to Karama Park and shares a border with Zabeel Park
• Offers convenient access to all the major hotspots and landmarks
• Home to low-rise residential apartments and
• Zaa’beel Street (D84) and Kuwait Street (D77) act as the thoroughfares of the area

Al Karama is a structural change beyond the concrete and glass skyscrapers lined up in Dubai; giving way to wide public boulevards and the steady pace of recurring low-rise buildings pinned on each side of the roads. It has sub-communities which also are quite well-known, such as the Wasl Hub, Sheikh Hamdan Colony and Karama Centre. The community also houses some well-reputed hospitals, shopping centres and entertainment venues.

Karama community is known for its bargain shopping, with many thrift shops and souvenir stores in the vicinity. Since it is primarily a residential community, one of the major entertainment spots next to Al Karama is Zaa’beel Park. It is a landscaped park that features many playgrounds for children along with green spaces and barbecue spots.

The wide range of restaurants in the locale is also what makes the area so well-known. The community is mostly occupied by expatriates who come from different Asian nationalities, including Filipinos, Pakistanis and Indians.

Al Karama is home to many low-rise buildings that offer a diverse range of apartments, from studios to 3-bedroom units. Living in Al Karama is a good choice as there are various affordable apartments for rent.  

There are three popular buildings to rent apartments in Al Karama. These include:

• Al Karama Building
• Al Karama 2 Building
• Al Mabrooka 1

Al Karama Building is a multi-building complex that comprises two elevators, a prayer room and parking spaces. Apartments in the area come in studios to 3-bedroom configurations.

Al Karama 2 Building is a residential building that features a gym, swimming pool, children’s play area, a BBQ area and covered parking spaces. There are several residential units in studio to 3-bedroom configurations.

Al Mabrooka 1 is a residential building that offers amenities such as a swimming pool, children’s play area and more. You can easily access lifestyle amenities like public transportation, restaurants and hospitals.

There are several other residential buildings in Al Karama Dubai. These include:

• Al Sharafi Building
• Al Wasl Hub
• Wasl Opal
• Wasl Ivory
• Al Manzel
• Wasl Aqua

Apart from these, there are several apartment buildings in Al Karama.

The size of an average studio apartment starts at 300 sq. ft. and goes up to 610 sq. ft. and for the 1 and 2-bedroom flats, the size ranges between 700 sq. ft. to 1,800 sq. ft. As for the larger 3 BHK units, the area size goes upward of 2,000 sq. ft.

All these flats come with some of the finest amenities and facilities including swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms and dedicated play areas for kids. Regular amenities such as private car parking, 24-hour security and maintenance are also equipped in most of the residential buildings.

Commercial properties mostly feature shops and offices for rent in Al Karama. Their sizes, however, vary with offices spanning anywhere between 100 sq. ft. to around 7,000 sq. ft. The rents for Al Karama offices cost from AED 900 to AED 902k per annum.

The shops for rent in Al Karama have rental prices that range between AED 45k to AED 2.5M per annum. Warehouses for rent in Al Karama cost AED 30k per annum.

Being in a great spot, where you can enjoy sunsets from the balcony of your spacious suites, several hotels in Al Karama offer greatly discounted family packages from time to time. Offering amazing opportunities for family members of expatriates who come to visit them from faraway lands. The hotels in Karama are:

• Ramee Royal Hotel
• Regent Palace Hotel
• President Hotel
• Fortune Karama Hotel
• Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel

Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel is a 5-star hotel that features 385 deluxe rooms with VIP room facilities along the business centre. The high-end amenities in the hotel include free parking, an outdoor pool, a fitness centre and a nightclub. There is an extravagant banquet that can accommodate up to 220 guests. It is conveniently located on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, opposite the Burjuman Centre and a few minutes of walking distance from Dubai Metro.

Ramee Royal Hotel is a 4-star hotel located on Khalid Bin Waleed Street. Featuring over 100 furnished rooms, 96 standard rooms and 6 luxury suites, the hotel also offers quality guest services. You can get a room according to your preference of smoking rooms, non-smoking rooms or family rooms, each of them equipped with a minibar and a flat-screen TV. Furthermore, the hotel has a rooftop pool, a sports bar equipped with a 55-inch flat-screen TV and a dance floor. You will also find five top-notch themed restaurants here, along with a beauty parlour, a sauna, a gym room, massage centre, a laundry room and free private parking.

Regent Palace Hotel is a 3.5-star hotel, located on the World Trade Centre Road. It is home to non-smoking rooms and luxury suites. The hotel features a business centre, executive suites and conference facilities. Each room has a separate seating area designed to conduct private meetings along with basic room services and a minibar. Other services in the hotel include an outdoor pool and a fitness centre with a gym.

The 3-star hotels in the area include the President Hotel – set in an Italian-style building with spacious 60-serviced rooms and the Fortune Karama Hotel which features 130 suites and deluxe along with a balcony that offers an overview of a swimming pool. Only 10 minutes away from the Dubai International Airport, there is RASA Restaurant in the Fortune Karama Hotel, known for serving authentic dishes from Goa, Kerala and Mangalore.

There is basement parking in Al Karama available in some buildings but the older buildings do not offer this. Residents will then have to find street parking which can be difficult at times, especially since visitors will be using those same spaces.

The area is serviced by many bus routes making commute easier for residents. One can catch a bus from BurJuman Metro Bus Stop 3-1, BurJuman Metro Bus Stop 3-2, Al Wasl University 1 & 2 bus stops, Central Post Office 1 & 2 bus stops, Karama Ent. 2 bus stop, Karama, Dubai Municipality Center 1 & 2 bus stops and Centre Point Shopping Centre 1 & 2 bus stops. 

Those willing to commute by Dubai Metro service can find Burjuman Metro Station at a 4-minute drive. Al Karama can also be easily reached via a 6-minute drive from the Oud Metha Metro Station.

There are many supermarkets in Karama Dubai to cater to the day-to-day necessities of residents. These include Pasons 13 Supermarket, Pakistan Supermarket, Seen Express Supermarket, New West Zone Supermarket, Palengke Supermarket, Star Kadooli Supermarket, Gala Supermarket Karama and Philippine Supermarket LLC (Karama). 

There is a huge network of Lulu Supermarkets in UAE spread across all emirates. The branch is located near the Emirates Post office, right next to Karama Park, and there is a Lulu branch across the road from Zabeel Park in the vicinity of the community. People can also find valuable goods at the Karama Centre, or if you are a seafood lover, you can head over to the Al Karama Fish Market, which is across the road from the massive Spinneys supermarket.

Residents from all over the world call Karama home, this leads to a melting pot of different cultures in one neighbourhood.

For Muslim residents, there is the large Al Karama Grand Mosque right next to the Lulu Supermarket. Other mosques in the area are Al Rahma Mosque, Karama Masjid, Ahmad Al Moosa Mosque, Abdullah Al Zahri Mosque, Essa Saleh Al Gurg Mosque and Burjuman Metro Mosque.

The churches in the area include Apostolic Tamil Church and Miracle Garden International Community. One can also find a lot of other churches in Oud Mehta and Umm Hurair. These include St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, The Dubai City Church, MFGC English Worship, St. Mark & Ava Bishoy Coptic Church and Holy Trinity Church among others.

The nearest temples are Shiva Temple, Sri Krishna Temple and Shiridi Sai Baba Mandir which has a gurudwara attached. These Bur Dubai temples are located towards the north of the Bur Dubai district, near Dubai Museum and the souk area. One can reach them within 10 minutes drive by car.

Al Karama is a family-friendly district with several schools and educational establishments located around town. In the immediate area and along the borders of the community, residents will toddlers find many nursery schools. Some of these are Cambridgeshire Nursery, British Orchard Nursery and Chubby Cheeks Nursery.

Neighbouring Oud Mehta is also known to be a school district, it houses St. Mary’s Catholic High School, Dubai Gem Private School and GEMS Winchester School for those looking for British curriculum options. The Indian High School follows the National Curriculum of India and Lycee Francais International follows the French curriculum.

There are two universities near Al Karama, with the first being the Al Dar University College across Dubai Creek and the Canadian University Dubai at an 11-minute drive near Downtown Dubai, on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Al Karama is fortunate in the sense that there is an array of healthcare establishments in and all around the community. Rashid Hospital and Metropolitan Medical Centre are located near the Oud Metha Metro Station, alongside the American Hospital Dubai nearby next to the Iranian Club Dubai. One can also head over to the Aster Hospital Mankhool near Al Raffa or the International Modern Hospital just 6 minutes away by car.

There are many clinics in Al Karama such as the Aster Clinic Karama (UMC), Al Raas Private Medical Clinic and the New Apollo Polyclinic. Other clinics nearby include Kaul Clinic, Aster Clinic, Star Poly Clinic, Lifeline Medical Centre and the Primacare Clinics are located at a short drive near the Burjuman and Al Fahidi areas.

The community of Al Karama sits next to Oud Metha and near Bur Dubai. Whilst Deira and most of its subsequent areas are to the east of the community, bustling areas like Al Satwa, Jumeirah and Dubai Marina are to the west.

The residential community is known for housing a plethora of recreational facilities. Al Karama Market, Karama Centre and Gift Tent Karama are a few of the popular markets in Al Karama.

As far as the shopping malls are concerned, they are in high numbers in Karama Dubai. In the bounds of the community, residents can head over to any one of the malls in the community. If you are looking for a bargain there is Al Attar Shopping Centre, Al Karama Old Market and Ansar Gallery.

A more conventional shopping mall in Karama would be Burjuman, which is located on the edge of the neighbourhood. Due to its many retail and dining options, it is favoured by both residents and visitors. There is also a Vox Cinemas, Magic Planet and 12 Cinemas as entertainment options in the mall.

Karama offers vast dining options for residents. From casual alfresco eateries to high-end restaurants, the neighbourhood has got you covered. A few of the city’s favourite eateries are Ravi Restaurant, Saravana Bhavan, Rasoi Ghar, Biryani Royale and Swades Vegetarian Restaurant. There are also more options around the community like Aryaas Gourmet, MTR 1924, Blue Ginger and many others. Other restaurants in Al Karama include Chowking, Kebab Bistro, Kerala Kitchen and Canara Restaurant.

One of the top-rated restaurants in the area is China Bistro near Park Regis Hotel. It is a casual restaurant that serves Asian cuisines including Thai, Chinese and Japanese dishes, with popular dishes including Nasi Goreng, Khao Suey, Fish, Sushi, Dumplings and Noodles. The most popular Indian Restaurant in the area is Maharaja Bhong. Some of the must-try dishes of this restaurant suggested by the locals include Amras Puri, Palak Paneer, Farsan, Khichda and Rajasthani and Veg Thali as vegan-friendly dishes.

For those who go looking for a caffeine fix, can visit the brilliant cafés around. For their tea and coffee residents often frequent Filli Cafe, The Bhukkad Cafe, Al Khawater Coffee, FnS Cafe, Shakespeare & Company and Jus T Cafe.

Although the beach is not in proximity to the neighbourhood, residents can check out public spots along Dubai Creek. At a 20-minute drive, one can find Jumeirah Public Beach, Umm Suqeium Beach and Kite Beach.

Karama enjoys easy access to a lot of major landmarks and leisurely activities. Zabeel Park is a beautifully landscaped park located right next to the community. As large as the size of 45 football fields combined, the park is no short of attractions. Besides featuring many green spaces and barbecue spots, it is home to a children's play area. You will also find many wide paved walkways and jogging tracks that run amidst the lush green gardens of the park. Visitors can enjoy a jog amidst nature and can take a break and rest on one of the many benches spotted along the lines. There are several other attractions in Zabeel Park including The Dinosaur Park, Dubai Garden Glow, boat rides, Zabeel Cricket Ground, a flea market and much more.

Next to Zabeel Park, a world of art awaits in Dubai Garden Glow, it houses a mesmerising Dinosaur Park, Glow Park, Art Park and an Ice Park. You will also find Creek Park nearby and Al Karama Park right within the area. There is also the Dubai Dolphinarium in the neighbourhood, at a distance of 10 minutes from the area, which regularly features dolphin shows.

If you want to catch a break from all the fun-filled activities and want to enjoy a rather sporty activity, you can head over to the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, once you can cross over the Dubai Creek.

There are many parks close to Karama, you can find Al Karama Park in the community. Whereas the larger Creek Park and Zabeel Park are a short drive away, these are massive parks with many activities and facilities for visitors to enjoy.

Al Karama is one of the communities in Dubai, which is brimming with state-of-the-art gyms and fitness centres. Right in the enclave of the community, there are many world-class gyms such as Champions UAE, Eagle Gym, Body Fitness, Power Gym and Ichiban Fitness Club to name a few.

For much-needed me-time, one can head over to any one of the spas in Al Karama such as Perfect Match Spa, Magic Spa and Golden Sun Spa.

One could argue that Karama in itself is a community event since the area is constantly buzzing with activity. You will see every holiday celebrated to the max in the community. There are many ongoing events in the Burjuman Mall for both adults and children. Family-friendly events will be found in Karama Park.

Living in Karama has many benefits but since the area mainly features apartments, those looking for houses can check out nearby communities. While the area is well-connected through its road network and public transportation system there still is a parking and traffic problem at peak hours in the morning and evening.

WHICH CITY IS AL KARAMA IN?

Al Karama is a mixed-use district located in Dubai.

WHAT IS AL KARAMA FAMOUS FOR?

Al Karama is known for its bargain shopping, with many thrift shops and souvenir stores in the vicinity. It is a residential community with buildings offering affordable apartments and close to Zaa'beel Park.

IS AL KARAMA A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE?

Al Karama Dubai provides a distinct community experience that stands out from other areas in Dubai. With its affordable housing, excellent location, and vibrant community spirit, it’s an ideal place for anyone seeking a safe and friendly neighbourhood to call home.

WHICH SOUK IS BEST FOR FAKES IN DUBAI?

Karam Market, often referred to as Dubai's fake market, is famous for its numerous shops offering high-quality replicas of top brands. It’s an ideal place to find stylish items at affordable prices in Dubai.

WHICH METRO STATION SERVICES THE AREA?

Residents can commute via Burjuman Metro Station which is located at a 4-minute drive from the area.

• Dubai International Airport is just 9 minutes away
• Dubai Mall is accessible at an 11-minute drive
•  Downtown Dubai is located at a 13-minute drive
• Jumeirah Beach can be reached at a 15-minute drive
• The Mall of Emirates is accessible at an 18-minute drive