Al Manara

Al Manara, an Arabic word which means “the beacon”, is a sophisticatedly built residential community in western Dubai. Al Manara has a prime location, its neighbours include Al Safa to its east, Umm Suqeim to its north and Umm Al Sheif to its west. The locality also runs along the massive Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) highway which connects to the leading leisure and commercial hubs of Dubai.

Al Manara is a developing community, and it offers various residential and commercial villas for rent and sale. The posh locality is not more than 13 minutes away from Jumeirah Beach. In terms of property, the area does not have any apartments or townhouses and is generally favoured by families.

• A villa only community
• It is famous for its restaurants and cafes
• Al Manara is close to Sheikh Zayed Road (E11)
• Ideal for families due to its environment
• Offers a complete residential experience with all amenities nearby

Al Manara is an ideal residential neighbourhood for those looking for large independent villas. Bounded by Sheikh Zayed Road, it has grown to be one of the most talked-about communities near Jumeirah. The locality also features shops and commercial villas for rent. Al Manara is famous for its award-winning restaurants and cafes. These are located towards the front of the community along Sheikh Zayed Road, while the residences are located behind.

The residential villas come as 4-bedroom to 6-bedroom units with many similar amenities. There are some deluxe villas which include facilities such as an elevator, extra kitchens, staff quarters, split-level living and a separate dining room. The villas regardless of the different number of bedrooms have the same amenities that include a separate maid’s room, study room and laundry room.

Rental prices in Al Manara are quite high when compared to other villa properties in Dubai. This is due to its prime location and the quality of homes. Villas in Al Manara are available for rent to all nationalities but only GCC or UAE Nationals can purchase property in the area.

Commercial properties in Al Manara such as shops are only available for rent. The rents for shops in Al Manara ranges from AED 410k to AED 1.2M. The rental price for shops depends on the size, location and amenities. There are also commercial villas available for rent in Al Manara. These are deluxe units spread over 5,000 sq. ft. with rental prices varying between AED 348k to AED 370k.

A few of the compounds in Al Manara include Utamah Villas, Bahwan Villas and 34 Lake Villa Compound. Bahwan Villas is a compound of eight villas with 4-bedrooms. Each villa has a built-up area of 4,582 sq. ft. and comes with a study room, laundry room, store room and maid’s room. Residents can also use the communal pool and gym, access to these facilities are some of the pros of living in a villa compound.

34 Lake Villa Compound is located on the boundary of Al Manara and Umm Al Sheif. The compound boasts 4-bedroom semi-detached villas each with a maid’s room and private garden. Communal facilities include a swimming pool, gym, party hall, billiards room and a steam/sauna room.

The commercial areas have plenty of parking spaces while the villas have covered parking slots for two vehicles on average, the larger homes offer more parking spaces.

Reaching Al Manara via public transport will be a testing task as there are no buses that directly reach the community. However, Al Wasl bus stop is the nearest. The closest metro station is the First Abu Dhabi Bank station, it is 5 minutes away.

Al Manara is a cosy town and has all the basic amenities within the premises. Schools, supermarkets, hospitals and malls in the residential community are within easy reach.

There is a Choithrams supermarket in the J3 Mall which is in the neighbourhood. Al Manara Star Grocery is a big superstore that lies in the centre of this small residential area. Bab Al Manara Grocery is also a great option for daily essentials.

If residents are looking for a larger supermarket, then another Choithrams supermarket is just 5 minutes away in the neighbouring Umm Suqeim area. The British supermarket chain Waitrose also has a store just 6 minutes away from Al Manara. It exports items from the UK and is one of the premier grocery shopping destinations among the British expat community.

Al Manara is a community with residents of different beliefs, much like the rest of Dubai. There are many different places of worship in and near the neighbourhood. Debi Hammerle is a church right inside the Al Manara community while David’s Place, Josefina Marcelo and The Church for Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are a 10-minute drive away.

For residents that follow Hinduism, Mahamevnawa Buddhist Temple, Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Yaba, Guru Nanak Darbar are all nearby. These require a 15-20 minute commute at the maximum.

There are several mosques within Al Manara. Al Manara Central Mosque is a huge architectural marvel right in the centre of the community. Al Manara Mosque and Masjid Qasim are situated close to each other. Masjid Musabah Bin Rashid Al Fattan Mosque is on one side of the community and is located close to Sheikh Zayed Road.

There are over eight preschools within the premises including Zaya Early Learning Centre, Little Learners, Mon Ecole Bilingual Montessori Nursery, Hopscotch Nursery Dubai and more.

A few schools are close to Al Manara, Emirates International School follows the British and International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum until Year 13. Collegiate American School offers the American curriculum from pre-primary to the final Year 12. Another British curriculum option nearby is Horizon International School.

The many universities park of Knowledge Park near Dubai Media City are just 11 minutes away from Al Manara. Students can choose from many internationally accredited options such as Middlesex University Dubai, The University of Manchester Dubai, Michigan State University Dubai and more.

Apart from HealthBay Polyclinic which is on Al Wasl Road between Al Manara and Umm Suqeim, there is no other medical clinic or hospital in Al Manara. Just opposite the community of Al Manara, is the Burjeel Hospital for Advanced Surgery. It is located on Sheikh Zayed Road and is known for its world-class orthopaedic and joint care services. Medcare Women and Children Hospital is also 10 minutes away in the community of Al Safa 2.

Dubai London Clinic and Speciality Hospital are right next to Umm Suqeim on Jumeirah Street can also be reached within 10 minutes. Medical centres near the area include Wooridul Spine Centre, Blue Tree Clinics, Osteopathic Health Centre Dubai, Cooper Health Clinic, Al Massa Polyclinic and Al Biraa Clinic. The area is also close to the many aesthetic clinics on Al Wasl Road. These include Dubai Cosmetic Surgery, Bloom Aesthetic And Laser Clinic, Dr Kayle Aesthetic Clinic and more. There are quite a few pharmacies in the area such as Shefaa Al Madeena Pharmacy, Medicina Pharmacy and Super Care Pharmacy.

Al Manara is surrounded by four of Dubai’s top communities. Umm Suqeim 2 and Umm Suqeim are towards the North while Al Safa 2 is across the roundabout that connects both Al Manara and Al Safa 2. Umm Al Sheif lies on the Eastern side which is quite similar to Al Manara. Neighbouring from the south across Sheikh Zayed Road is the huge community of Al Quoz.

Al Manara has only one mall within the area which is J3 Mall. Inaugurated in 2012, it is a small community mall that offers a wide range of outlets and shopping experiences for residents. There is a Choithrams supermarket in the mall, as well as Cheeky Monkeys a play area for young children.

Other malls that are near the residential blocks are Al Thanya Mall and Times Square Centre Dubai which are both 10 minutes away. The popular, Mall of the Emirates built by Majid Al Futtaim, lies on Sheikh Zayed Road barely 8 minutes away from Al Manara. The largest mall in Dubai with 1200 shops, The Dubai Mall is 15 minutes away from the area.

Food lovers will not be disappointed as Al Manara is known for its famous restaurants and eateries. Most of the restaurants are located alongside Sheikh Zayed Road in front of the residential areas. You can find the American diner Denny’s, breakfast eatery Raju Omlet and the upscale Bertin Bistro Restaurant. If you travel further down you will find Crumbs Elysee and Reem Al Bawadi, they are famous for their Middle Eastern cuisine. The first branch of Olive Garden in the UAE is also located in Al Manara. Jones The Grocer and Bystro are healthy options in the neighbourhood. All the options are within walking distance from the residential area.

Dubai is known for its beaches, many people love to spend a day out at the beach. Residents of Al Manara can visit a range of beaches. Jumeirah Public Beach, Umm Suqeim Beach and Kite Beach all are within a 10-minute drive.

There are cinemas, gyms, theme parks and many other activities that residents of Al Manara get to enjoy. Cinema Akil, an arthouse cinema is located in Al Serkal Avenue in Al Quoz, which is just 9 minutes away. Mall of the Emirates which is within an 8-minute drive, houses an IMAX Vox Cinemas, Ski Dubai which is an indoor ski park.

For sports lovers, Insportz Club is in Al Quoz and MS Dhoni Cricket Academy and Cover Drive Sports Academy are also not far from Al Manara. The UAE is united for the love for football. For football fans of Al Manara, It’s Just Football Club is less than 5 minutes away while Al Manara Sports Ground is also nearby.

Those looking to have some fun in the water can head to Wild Wadi Waterpark which is just 10 minutes away from the community. Here you can experience exhilarating rides or sit back and relax in one of their sunbeds. The iconic Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah hotels are also close by so there will always be something happening in the area.

While there are private gardens inside every villa, there is no shared park in the residential society. The nearest park is Umm Suqeim 2 Park in the neighbouring residential area. On an 8 minute drive is the Burj Al Arab Public Park and Umm Suqeim Park which is a favourite among both the children and adults of the community.

Al Manara also features some gyms within the premises. The One Fitness and Beauty Center, Inspire Me Yoga and Fitness 360 Jumeirah are located in Al Manara.

Al Manara is a hub of beauty solutions for ladies. Art of Beauty Center, Afrina Beauty Henna and Training Center, Jumeirah and Ocean Waves Ladies Beauty Salon are inside the community.

Throughout years, some events have been held in Al Manara. Startup Sabantuy Dubai, an entrepreneurship programme held in Al Manara in 2015, was one such event which is remembered even today. The participants had a chance to acquire AED 3.5 million for their project as the grand prize.

Current events held in the community can be found in Jones The Grocer, they organize different cooking classes for both kids and adults.

Al Manara is one of the best places if one is looking forward to living in a small town where commercial markets are quiet. The place is far away from the hustle and bustle of the city but still in an ideal location to commute to the rest of the city. Moreover, it is best suited for families as it has large villas and in proximity to many schools.

• Sheikh Zayed Road is just 5 minutes away
• Madinat Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab are just 10 minutes away
• Downtown Dubai is hardly 15 minutes away from Al Manara
• Dubai International Airport is 20 minutes away
• Abu Dhabi is within a 1 hour 18-minute drive