Al Markaziya

Known as a key area in Abu Dhabi’s busy downtown district, Al Markaziya is home to a selection of malls, offices, schools, hospitals, parks and attractive fountains. It is surrounded by some well-known locations: Union Square to the east and Corniche, Madinat Zayed and Tourist Club Area sharing borders from the north, south and west respectively. Moreover, residential properties in Al Markaziyah include low to high-rise buildings. Apart from this, fascinating heritage sites amp up the community’s vibe.

• Features low rise buildings to high-rise skyscrapers
• Hospitals, schools, and fitness clubs are nearby
• Walking distance to supermarkets and parks
• Ideal for working professionals and small families
• Filled with both residential and commercial spaces
• Reasonable apartments offered on annual rentals

This locality is close to many business centres and has access to the beach, public parks and much more. The fact that tenants have a variety of apartments to choose from makes this community attractive to those looking to settle here as well as those looking for office space.

Residential properties in Markaziya only include apartments for rent, therefore those looking for a villa will have to look at other neighbouring communities such as Al Mushrif. Those moving to Al Markazia will find several complexes with 1 to 3-bedroom units to choose from. The cost and rent depend on the area, type of property and size of each unit.

Offices in Al Markaziya span over 200 sq. ft. featuring all essential facilities and services. These commercial units have water and electricity connection, Wi-Fi internet, a meeting room, reception, pantry, separate washrooms and parking.

Those looking for floor plans can browse through the Al Markaziya floor plans available for popular buildings.

Apart from some luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi, tourists and business travellers can find a few accommodation options in Al Markaziya Abu Dhabi. Some of the nearest ones are:

• Cassells Hotel Apartment, Abu Dhabi
• Al Ain Palace Hotel
• Grand Continental Flamingo Hotel

 Cassells Hotel Apartments is strategically located in the city centre. It offers a total of 150 guest rooms with facilities and free parking at a reasonable price. You can choose from studios to 1-bedroom apartments with kitchenette facilities. The hotel facilities and services include a restaurant, room services, 24-hour front desk, internet, travel desk, babysitting, a business centre, luggage storage, a fitness centre and a sauna.

Al Ain Palace Hotel is a 4-star accommodation facility that truly blends cultural heritage with contemporary experience. There is a variety of guest rooms available such as a standard room, a twin room, deluxe suite and executive suite. The hotel offers world-class facilities such as a spa, an indoor & outdoor swimming pool, a well-equipped gymnasium and a squash court.

Al Ain Palace Hotel has 8 restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines.  For meetings, this hotel has an Al Diyafa conference and function spaces that can accommodate events for 10 to 100 people. There is on-site technical support, flip chart stationary, dedicated specialists, latest technology, outdoor break space and customised culinary menus.

Grand Continental Flamingo Hotel is a 4-star hotel located at Hamdan Street in Al Markaziyah. The hotel amenities include a 24-hour front desk, a business centre, a ballroom, a car rental, laundry services, currency exchange and souvenirs/gift shop.

Residents of Al Markaziya have allocated space for parking around the community. There are a lot of paid parking lots available for guests and visitors. Popular areas in the neighbourhood fill up more quickly on weekends and it can be inconvenient for visitors when they are unable to find a parking spot.

People who depend on public transport will find several bus stations close by. A few include Fatimah Bint Mubarak Street Station which is a 3-minute walk away, Khalifa Bin Zayed Street at a 4-minute walking distance and the Al Mariah Mall Station which is 5 minutes away from the centre of the community.

Easily accessible grocery destinations for residents include Alain Hypermarket, Al Safa Supermarket, Fatimah Supermarket and Grandiose Supermarket. Residents can buy everyday necessities from the supermarkets in Al Markaziya.

There are many mosques in Al Markaziya. Mary the Mother of Jesus Mosque is located near the church district in Al Mushrif. Its name is unique since it is located near the church district of Abu Dhabi, it was renamed as a symbol of religious tolerance.

The nearest church to the community is St Andrew’s Church located in Al Mushrif which is a 15 to 20-minute drive away from the area. It is located next to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Mosque.

There is currently a new temple in Abu Dhabi expected to be completed by 2022. Otherwise, residents will have to visit the Shiva and Krishna temples in Dubai.

For kids, the closest kindergarten is Bright Kids Nursery, whereas the well-known British Orchard Nursery is among the top nurseries in Abu Dhabi. Giggles English Nursery is also nearby at an 8-minute drive. Parents have a number of quality educational institutes to select from.

A few schools in Al Markaziya include the GEMS Winchester School which follows the British curriculum. Located on Al Falah Street, it has a ‘very good’ rating by the Abu Dhabi Department of Knowledge and Education.

International Community School offers the Arabic and Islamic curriculum, while the Summit International School and Emirates National School both follow the American curriculum. Both schools are rated ‘acceptable’ by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and are just a short drive away from Al Markaziyah.

In addition to these, some of the top universities in Abu Dhabi such as Syscoms College, which can be found opposite the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Emirates College of Technology, which is situated on Hamdan Street. Other reputable institutes such as Université Mohammed V, Al Hosn University and Khalifa University are also nearby.

There are several medical centres around the district. Notable healthcare centres in the nearby communities include NMC General Clinic, Prime Medical Centre and Cleveland Clinic located on Al Falah Street.

Other well-known hospitals near Al Markaziya are Burjeel Hospital and Corniche Hospital which is the largest maternity hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is one of the few government hospitals in Abu Dhabi that features an exclusive Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with a 64 cot capacity.

Al Markaziyah is located in the heart of Abu Dhabi and is one of the oldest areas of the downtown district. It is close to Al Falah Street, which runs right through Al Markaziya, making it easily accessible from most parts of the city. The famous Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre is also close by, it is one of the cities oldest malls.

The area is home to the World Trade Centre Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall, which is the largest shopping centre in the city packed with high-street brands, such as Balmain, Diesel, MAC, Michael Kors, Sephora, Kate Spade and more.

Another shopping plaza located nearby is Al Mariah Mall which has various shops as well as a cinema where you can watch all the latest blockbusters.

If you are looking for a traditional shopping experience then head to the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre. It is known mainly for its retail stores and gold souk in Abu Dhabi.

There are quite a few restaurants in Al Markaziya. These offer a variety of cuisines at different price points. Casual dining eateries can be found in the shopping malls or standalone branches along the main road.

Popular options include Squiz Cafe which serves Filipino food. Tamba restaurant, known for its Indian cuisine. It is one of the top tasting menu restaurants in Abu Dhabi. It serves more than 14 courses as a part of its tasting menu, including delicious dishes such as lamb chop, tuna ceviche salad, tuna chur-muri among others. The Italian food lovers can find Jazz@Pizza Express nearby.

In addition, residents of Markaziya, Abu Dhabi can also grab a coffee at the reasonably priced Tim Horton’s on Fatima Bint Mubarak Street before heading to Hot Breads Bakery on Electra Street for a treat to go with it.

Nearby hotels in the vicinity are suitable for those who want to explore the nightlife. There is P J O’Reilly’s Irish Pub in the Le Royal Meridien Hotel, Cristal Bar in the Millenium Corniche Hotel. One of the best rooftop bars in Abu Dhabi, Level Lounge in the Crown Plaza Hotel is also accessible.

There are two beaches near Al Markaziya namely Abu Dhabi Beach and Corniche Beach. Corniche Beach, which is considered one of the best beaches in Abu Dhabi, is an 8 km long stretch filled with restaurants, play areas for children as well as pathways for motorbike riding.

Al Markaziya is a multicultural neighbourhood offering a number of attractions and heritage sites in Abu Dhabi. The most well-known would be the Qasr Al Hosn fort which is a 6-minute drive away from the community. This watchtower is one of the top architectural landmarks in Abu Dhabi. Qasr Al Hosn consists of two buildings, The Inner Fort which was originally built in 1795, and the Outer Castle which is a relatively new addition, having been built between 1939-45. Much like the way old buildings are used in other countries, this one too has served as the home of the royal family and as a government building.

The most visited areas of the locality are the Corniche Beach and the World Trade Centre Mall on weekends. In addition, there are some of the top cinemas in Abu Dhabi such as Al Mariah Cinema, National Cinema as well as Al Wahda cinema.

The vicinity is also ideal for those who love to visit art galleries. The locality is home to several galleries that regularly hold exhibitions of the artwork of local and international artists. These include the Art Hub Gallery in the World Trade Center Mall and Etihad Modern Art Gallery. One of the best art galleries of Abu Dhabi, Etihad Modern Art Gallery features renowned names such as Tala Atrouni, Khulood Al Jabri and Yiannis Roussaki. It also hosts heritage shows and has worked with international institutions.

Water sports enthusiasts can head to The Bay Shore Beach Club and Saadiyat Beach Club, a 15-minute drive from the area. Being one of the top beach clubs in Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Beach Club is known for its exquisite outdoors which also features an infinity pool spanning 650 sq. m.

Al Markaziya offers its inhabitants a lot of outdoor recreational spaces. It’s a trendy area for those who want a lively city atmosphere and those who like jogging, cycling and walking outdoors.

Apart from this, there are public parks in Abu Dhabi for families such as Formal Park, Capital Gardens Park, Heritage Park, Emirates Heritage Club and Abu Dhabi Baladiya Park. These are all equally famous among families as well as individuals who enjoy light workouts or evening walks. These parks also have play areas for children with beautifully landscaped gardens that residents of the locality can enjoy.

For those looking to keep fit, there are a lot of gyms and fitness studios in the area. Rock Gym offers cardio and weight-training along with group classes such as high impact exercise, yoga, body pump, and Pilates. It is one of the cheap gyms in Abu Dhabi featuring a well-maintained studio and hi-tech equipment.

Viva Fit Abu Dhabi, a ladies-only fitness studio in Al Markaziya, is quite popular in the locality. It is one of the top ladies gyms in Abu Dhabi where you can try workouts such as Zumba, Les Mills Tone, HIIT, Pilates, SBarre, Sh’Bam, Body Balance and many more. For a more customised fitness plan, Viva Fit also provide personal trainers.

Al Markazaiya also has many beauty salons such as Valley Rose Hair Beauty, Glamour Hair Salon, and Hermosa Ladies Beauty Salon are just a 3-minute drive away from the centre of the community.

The famous beaches of Abu Dhabi lure tourists all year round. Well-known community events that take place on the beach include City Run by Abu Dhabi Sports Council as well as the massive Mother of the Nation Festival. It is organised every year to pay tribute to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak’s legacy. The Mother of Nation Festival takes place on the Corniche with a number of exhibitions, performances and activities during the event.

Al Markaziya is a hub of commercial activities and it is one of the most well-connected areas of the city. It has access to all kinds of amenities such as malls, restaurants, stores and bus stops. This family-friendly locality’s proximity to Abu Dhabi Corniche makes it a lively community with several happening events throughout the year. Due to this, finding a parking spot might become difficult for visitors and residents relying on street parking, particularly on holidays.

Al Markaziya is located in the busy downtown district

Being one of the older parts of downtown, there are some old residential buildings. However, it is close to the eastern end of the Corniche and has more than just accommodation options.

There are plenty of entertaining things to do at Al Markaziya. You can visit Al Mariah Cinema and National Cinema located on Fatima Bint Mubarak Street and El Dorado Cinema on Zayed The First Street. One can also find some car showrooms such as Nissan, Suzuki and Kia. You can also pay a visit to art galleries located nearby.

The bus transit lines such as 10, 101, 155, 40, 44, 52, 54 and 56 have routes that pass near Al Markaziya Abu Dhabi.

• 27 minutes away from Abu Dhabi International Airport
• Abu Dhabi’s Corniche is 7 minutes away.
• Marina Mall is 12 minutes away
• Emirates Heritage Club Village is 17 minutes away
• About 15 minutes away from Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque