Dubai Healthcare City, Bur Dubai

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is a free zone district in Bur Dubai set on the eastern side of the parent community. It is a brainchild of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched in 2002. The vision behind the creation of Healthcare City is to provide an internationally recognised location for medical research and education institutes, pharmaceuticals and allied support. Besides healthcare facilities, the neighbourhood also offers residential and hospitality options for those planning to move to the community.

• A healthcare landmark in Bur Dubai
• Offers a mix of residential and commercial properties
• Home to well-known hospitals and clinics in Dubai
• Governed by Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA)

Dubai Healthcare City consists of two phases; the initial one is a hub for medical services, while the latter is a wellness community set in Al Jaddaf.

Phase one features around 168 outstanding clinical facilities, five hospitals and 36 recreational facilities. Due to the enabling ecosystem, it has become an attractive neighbourhood for regional and international healthcare facilities, retail outlets and consultancies. More than 4,425 healthcare professionals in the district provide the latest treatments as per patients’ requirements. Those interested in setting business in DHCC can find these options in the community:

• Clinical
• Commercial and retail spaces
• Business centre
• Land plots

The Clinical Complex has an array of speciality clinics, pharmaceutical companies, day-surgery centres and pharmacies. There are 15 buildings with well-designed office spaces and ample parking spaces. The business centre has fully-furnished offices for companies and open workspace stations for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The district also offers plots for clinical and commercial purposes with an average 100,000 sq. ft.

C37 is a one-of-its-kind private outpatient workspace in DHCC where UAE-based and overseas doctors can set up part-time and independent clinics. It offers cost-effective and customised medical spaces with a dedicated team handling visa processing, licencing and other operational processes.

Dubai Healthcare City is a free zone area where investors can set up the business with tax and customs duty concession. Before setting up a business in the free zone, one must acquire a license. There are different types of licences in Dubai Healthcare City from which investors can choose as per their requirements. These are:

• New Commercial License
• Zawel Commercial License

DHCC has launched an e-service – MASAAR combining commercial and clinical activities to facilitate investors. It is a unique online system offering services for licensing, renewals in commercial set-ups and government services.

Properties in Dubai Healthcare City include apartments, penthouses and commercial spaces. There are studios, 1 to 4-bedroom flats equipped with a range of facilities such as fitted kitchen, en-suite bathroom and balcony. As mentioned above, offices in the neighbourhood are in 15 state-of-the-art buildings offering well-designed fitted office spaces. These properties are available for both rental and sale purposes both.

Bayut has worked on creating a simple format for 2D and 3D floor plans on the website. Interested tenants can look at Dubai Healthcare City floor plans to find the unit type and bed type they are interested in.

There are a few hotels in Dubai Healthcare City, including:

• Novotel Bur Dubai
• Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights

Novotel Bur Dubai is a 4-star hotel located in the heart of Dubai Healthcare City. The hotel features 219 rooms and suites equipped with contemporary décor and state-of-the-art facilities such as smart TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, premium bedding and a walk-in bathroom. It is in the heart of the community close to Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital.

Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights is one of the top Hyatt hotels in Dubai, featuring fully-furnished residential units overlooking the Dubai skyline. There are 463 rooms and suites along with a business centre, dining options, a mart and flower shop and several recreational facilities. Hyatt Regency Creek Heights Residences is a part of the 5-star hotel located next to it. Spread across 34 floors, the tower offers studios, 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments and penthouses. These residential units can be leased for short or long-term stays. Similar to suites in Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights, these apartments and penthouses are also equipped with modern amenities and facilities.

There are ample parking spaces in Dubai Healthcare City for residents and visitors alike. Each residential and commercial building comes with a dedicated parking facility, while the street parking area is also available.

Residents can benefit from the Dubai public transport to get around the city as there are several bus stations and a metro station located in the community. To reach their destination, they can take Bus C7 from the bus stations dotted around the neighbourhood or Dubai Healthcare City Metro Station.

Those with private cars can get around the city using Oud Metha Road and Sheikh Rashid Road, running to the western and southern side respectively. The well-connected street network in the community also provides ease for the commute.

SAKB Convenience Store in Dubai Healthcare City offers fresh grocery items, dairy products, bakery items, frozen food and much more. It is located in Building 24 near Riyadh Street. Other supermarkets nearby are Al Badr Mini Mart and Al Anbar Supermarket.

There is a community mosque in Dubai Healthcare City where residents can offer their prayers. Al Majeed Mosque, Masjid Al Waldean and Latifa Hospital Mosque are other mosques nearby.

Christian fellows can head to City Hill Church Dubai in Dubai Healthcare City, located near Riyadh Street. They can also visit some of the top churches in Dubai in a short drive as Oud Metha Road runs along with the community. These include St Mary’s Catholic Church Dubai, King’s Revival Church International Dubai and The Dubai City Church. It will take a short drive of 5-minutes to visit these churches.

Those who follow Hinduism can drive for 15-minutes to reach Shiva Temple in Al Fahidi. It is one of the few temples in Bur Dubai where Hindus gather and worship, after which Prasad is distributed among devotees.

Dubai Healthcare City Bur Dubai is a family-friendly community with plenty of educational institutes for toddlers and adults. Kinderville Early Learning Centre is one of the popular nursery schools in the neighbourhood, offering a research-backed curriculum addressing the basics of a child’s development.

The Advanced Behavioural Learning Environment is also in the community for children with special education needs. Two therapists in each classroom provide the best learning experience through interactive projects and utilising Applied Behaviour Analysis. The development centre is close to 26th Street, adjacent to the Italian Dental Clinic. GEMS Winchester School and Al Rashid Al Saleh Private School are other schools nearby.

In terms of higher education institutes, the neighbourhood has three reputable institutes located in the heart of the community. Universities in Dubai Healthcare City include:

• Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences
• American University of Beirut Dubai
• European University College

Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences is one of the top medical universities in the UAE, offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees through three colleges. These include the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing and Midwifery and the Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine. It is situated in the centre of the community, next to Dubai Healthcare City Centre.

As the name says, Dubai Healthcare City Bur Dubai is a hub of specialised healthcare facilities and medical education centres. This means plenty of clinics and hospitals in the community offer quality healthcare services. These include:

• Emirates Speciality Hospital
• Mediclinic City Hospital
• Dubai Dental Hospital
• American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital
• Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital

Emirates Speciality Hospital is one of the top hospitals in Dubai Healthcare City, located near Oud Metha Road and 26th Street. It is spread over an area of 205,000 sq. ft., delivering an immense range of much-needed specialities such as Urology, Spine Surgery, Orthopaedics and Rheumatology. The hospital has state-of-the-care facilities for emergency, delivery and operating rooms along with a full-fledged radiology and physiotherapy unit.

Apart from hospitals, several clinics and medical centres in the community also offer specialised services. Some of them are:

• Advanced Laser and Plastic Surgery Clinic
• Ayurved Clinic
• Dr Choi’s Chiropractic Clinic
• Dubai Bone and Joint Centre
• Nisa Well Woman Clinic
• The Diabetes and Endocrine Centre.

To facilitate patients, outlets of some of the top pharmacies in Dubai are also in the community. Aster Pharmacy, LIFE Pharmacy and Bin Sina Pharmacy are a few.

Dubai Healthcare City Bur Dubai sits beside Oud Metha while Umm Hurair 2 is on the northern side of the community. Popular sub-communities of Bur Dubai, such as Al Mankhool and mixed-use development Al Karama are to the western side. Al Jaddaf is a waterfront community nearby featuring mid to high-rise apartment buildings, while Za’abeel is also situated a short drive away.

WAFI Mall is an Egyptian-themed shopping mall near Dubai Healthcare City Bur Dubai, home to around 350 shops set amidst the statues of pharaohs and stained-glass pyramids. Some popular stores in the mall include Matalan, Burberry, Marks and Spencer, Damas and Rolex. The shopping mall also has a traditional souk – Khan Murjan Souk designed in Baghdad. It is home to around 100 shops and dining options. Other malls near the community are The Dubai Mall and Burjuman Mall.

There are plenty of restaurants in Dubai Healthcare City Bur Dubai dotted around the district. These include:

• Peppercrab
• La Tablita Dubai
• The Veranda
• Sumo Shushi & Bento
• Grillo
• Al Madina Restaurant

Peppercrab is one of the best seafood restaurants in Dubai, offering authentic Singaporean flavours to visitors. The sub-district is also home to Grub Shack – a family-owned business now listed among the best restaurants in Bur Dubai. Other dining options in the community are Salvis Café and Go Thai Restaurant.

Beaches near Dubai Healthcare City include La Mer Beach and the secret gem of the emirate – Sufouh Beach. The popular spot for water sports enthusiasts – Kite Beach is also accessible within a 25-minute drive. It has facilities for paddle boarding and jet skiing on the beach.

Creek Park Dubai is one of the popular leisure spots near the community. It spreads over 96 acres of land featuring mini-golf, dedicated trails for cycling, cable car, barbecue areas. Dubai Dolphinarium is the highlight of the Creek Park, home to bottlenose dolphins, seals and different bird species. Other things to do in Dubai Creek Park are riding dhows in the water or watching the theatre.

Zabeel Park is a go-to destination for fitness enthusiasts. Located at a 10-minute drive, the park has jogging tracks and bicycle trails. Other things to do in Zabeel Park include boating, playing cricket and visiting Dubai Frame.

Radiant Beauty Salon is one of the top salons in Bur Dubai, offering facial, makeup and hair care treatments. The salon is known for providing quality services in an affordable price range. Other salons near Dubai Healthcare City are Groomers Gents Salon and Affinity Gents Salon.

Zabeel Stadium is listed among the top stadiums in Dubai, with around 8000 spectators. Those interested in football can attend league matches in the stadium. It also has a football academy where newbies can learn the game. Residents interested in history can visit Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood to take part in religious celebrations, National Day events and experience excellent work at art galleries. Both the destinations are accessible in a 10 to 12-minute drive.

Dubai Healthcare City is a thriving hub for healthcare providers ranging from global health organisations to accredited hospitals and regional multi-speciality clinics. However, the community has limited residential options for those planning to move. It would be suggested to look for rental apartments in other sub-communities of Bur Dubai.

• Dubai International Airport is a 14-minute drive away
• A 12 to 15-minute drive to DIFC and Downtown Dubai
• It will take a 14-minute drive to Deira Clocktower
• Dubai Festival City Mall is accessible in a 10-minute drive