Dubai Internet City

Dubai Internet City (DIC) is a free zone best known as an information technology park developed by the Government of Dubai in partnership with TECOM Investments. DIC was launched in October 2000.

The region’s leading technology and business zone was designed to facilitate and promote Information Technology (IT) systems and services throughout the UAE. Within two decades, it has become a hub of technological innovation and business activity.

Currently, there are more than 1600 companies in Dubai Internet City flourishing in a developing ecosystem. DIC is home to leading global ICT giants such as Oracle, Dell, Microsoft, IBM, HP, Sony Ericsson, Cisco, Canon, Siemens, Logica and Schlumberger, along with many SMEs and business ventures.

The vicinity mostly has high-rise buildings that offer commercial as well as residential properties. It is popular among professionals working in DIC and the nearby areas.

• Launched in 2000
• 24,000 professionals employed by big enterprises in DIC
• More than 1600 companies in DIC
• List of companies includes Fortune 500 companies
• Best known as the IT zone of the UAE
• Also known as Dubai Internet City free zone
• Home to several internationally renowned IT giants
• Offers a decent mix of residential and commercial properties
• Features high-rise residential and commercial buildings
• Allows easy access to Sheikh Zayed Road (E11)
• Developed by TECOM Investments

Dubai Internet City is a busy community that caters to thousands of professionals and has over 1.5 million sq. ft. space dedicated to commercial offices. The residential area of DIC is perfect for people who work in the district. Most properties in DIC Dubai are rental properties and the configurations include apartments and hotel apartments.

Living in Dubai Internet City means living in a buzzing commercial district which is a business-friendly neighbourhood. Residents can find a range of facilities such as innovation centres, retail, dining, hotels, fitness and health care in proximity to the residential buildings.

Properties for rent in Dubai Internet City include apartments and hotel apartments. Apartments in DIC come in various sizes and configurations with each having a different number of bedrooms. They range from 1 to 3-bedroom units.

Most apartments are part of Dubai Jewel Tower which is a high-rise tower with 41 floors. The buildings in DIC Dubai offer amenities such as high-speed elevators, 24-hour concierge services and intercom facilities. Residents can also access a gymnasium, spa, steam room and swimming pool. Some buildings have special facilities for the physically challenged as well.

The penthouses in Dubai Internet City mainly come in 3 and 4-bedroom configurations. The penthouses offer large living areas as most of them are full floor or half-floor units. They offer floor-to-ceiling glass windows which offer sea views. There are also few hotel apartments for rent available in studio and 1-bedroom configurations.

Some of the top real estate agencies in Dubai Internet City include Provident Real Estate, CRC, CORE Real Estate Brokers L.L.C., Next Level Real Estate and GFA Real Estate to name a few.

Considering commercial properties, there are plenty of options for renting office space in DIC Dubai. One can find offices in buildings such as Business Central Towers, Al Thuraya Tower 1, Office Park, Star Holding (BT Building), Sands Abir, Aurora Tower, DIC 1 and Al Shatha Tower.

Those looking for setting up retail space can find few shops in this neighbourhood.

Dubai Internet City is less than 1 km away from the coast and is near several luxurious hotels. These include:

• Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City
• Al Salam Grand Hotel Apartments
• Holiday Inn Express Dubai – Internet City

Located in the heart of DIC, Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City is a 5-star hotel suitable for business guests and tourists.  It offers 235 spacious rooms and suites, inspired by the Middle Eastern culture. This hotel facility also features a state-of-the-art convention centre with a ballroom. It can accommodate up to 800 guests and is ideal for hosting meetings, weddings and conventions. There are nine meeting rooms equipped with high-tech audiovisuals, free Wi-Fi and lighting equipment. It is accessible at a 3-minute drive by car.

Located on Sheikh Zayed Road within the district of Dubai Media City and a 9-minute drive from Dubai Internet City is Al Salam Grand Hotel Apartments. This facility has 15 floors with 225 studios, 1 and 2-bedroom apartments with spacious layouts. Many of these units have private balconies providing spectacular sea views. Each unit boasts a fully-equipped kitchen and connecting rooms.

Holiday Inn Express Dubai Internet City is a 244-room hotel. It offers complimentary buffet breakfast, a 24-hour fitness centre, a business centre and complimentary Wi-Fi. There are three meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 120 guests.

Buildings offer parking spaces for residents. Penthouse residents get multiple covered car parking spaces. The area also has plenty of paid parking spaces that are mostly availed by visitors or those who work in the area.

People who rely on the metro to travel can reach the community using the Dubai Internet City Metro Station.

Dubai Internet City Metro Station is one of the busiest metro stations in the emirate. It makes it convenient for those working in DIC to commute easily. Barsha Heights and Al Barsha 1 are some of the best residential areas to rent near the Dubai Internet City Metro Station.

Other nearby options include Nakheel Metro Station, DAMAC Properties Metro Station, DMCC Metro Station are accessible within 11 to 12-minute driving distance. The DIC community has many bus stops in the neighbourhood, buses 83, 84 and 85 shuttle through the area.

There are many supermarkets near Dubai Internet City. Most supermarkets are found in the neighbouring communities of The Greens, Al Sufouh and Barsha Heights. You will find Choitrams in The Greens, Aswaaq Supermarket in Al Sufouh and BlueMart Supermarket, F Mart, Park N Shop and more in Barsha Heights. If you are looking for a small mini-mart for daily essentials then the ZOOM in DIC is a good option. ZOOM is located in Dubai Jewel Tower, which is right next to the metro station.

Residents of this area can visit Fellowship: A Christian Church in Dubai and Coza Church, accessible at a 10 to 11-minute drive by car. Old Apostolic Church (MENA) is located in Barsha Heights and Seventh Day Adventist Church in Al Sufouh 2 are both 11-minute drive by car.

Other churches located in Jebel Ali Village are just a 15-minute drive by car. Here you will find St Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Covenant Hope Church, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and more.

You will also find the Sikh gurudwara, Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara located in Jebel Ali Village. Hindu residents can visit the Shiva Temple, Shree Krishna Haveli and ShrinathJi Temple in Bur Dubai, roughly 30 minutes away.

There is an array of mosques near Dubai Internet City. Tecom Masjid is the nearest, at a 5-minute drive. Other mosques nearby are Greens Mosque and Hamel Al Gaith Mosque, reachable in under 10 minutes.

Blossom Palm Jumeirah, Redwood Montessori Nursery and Asya’s Nursery are all located on Palm Jumeirah, 12 minutes away. British Orchard Nursery in Dubai Media City is closer, just 6 minutes away by car.

There are several schools near Dubai Internet City. The International School of Choueifat Al Sufouh can be reached in 11 minutes by car. It follows the SABIS (UK/US) curriculum from KG1 to Grade 12. Regent International School follows the National Curriculum of England and is an 11-minute drive away.

Other nearby schools are GEMS Wellington International School, GEMS Dubai American Academy and American School of Dubai. These are accessible at a 13 to 17-minute drive by car.

There are a few educational institutes and universities near Dubai Internet City as the area is the neighbour of Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP). Middlesex University Dubai, University of Manchester, the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) and the University of Bradford Dubai are located in DKP. The reputed American University in Dubai (AUD) is also in the vicinity.

Hospitals near Dubai Internet City include Al Zahra Hospital and Saudi German Hospital. These are some of the renowned hospitals in Al Barsha, 14 minutes away. These are tertiary care hospitals with all the basic healthcare facilities.

Clinics near DIC include Mediclinic Meadows, Mediclinic Al Sufouh and American Hospital Clinic Media City. These options can be reached in 6 to 12 minutes.

The area is close to the Arabian Gulf and the waterfront Palm Jumeirah development. The nearby popular residential areas are Al Sufouh, The Greens and Barsha Heights.

Commercial areas such as Dubai Media City and Dubai Knowledge Park lie towards the northwest while Emirates Hills, right across Sheikh Zayed Road lies to the south of Dubai Internet City.

It is predominantly a commercial area with a few restaurants and bars. Residents have to drive for a few minutes to reach the nearby malls, restaurants and other recreational spots.

The Greens Souk is a mall near Dubai Internet City. It was recently expanded and it quite a large shopping destination. It is home to several retail shops, multiple dining outlets, a bookstore, a beauty salon and a grocery store. It also has a variety of cafes and restaurant and visitors enjoy sitting in the outdoor area in the cooler months. This mall is 10 minutes away from Dubai Internet City. At the same driving distance, you can find Mazaya Shopping Centre.

Golden Mile Galleria Mall is at a distance of 8 minutes from the area located adjacent to Al Ittihad Park in Palm Jumeirah. The mall has around 70 outlets including many retail stores, healthcare facilities, supermarkets and a fitness club. It has many casual dining restaurants as well.

Other large malls near DIC Dubai include Mall Of The Emirates and Ibn Battuta Mall are 10 minutes away.

There are a variety of restaurants near Dubai Internet City. Fast food outlets in DIC Dubai include Popeyes, Subway and Burger King. Indian eateries consist of Paratha King, The Rupee Room and Kamat. Al Safeer, Mantoushe and Diwan Layalina are Arabian restaurants in DIC.

Other restaurants nearby include Puranmal Restaurant which is an Indian restaurant that serves sweets and other Indian dishes. Taqado Mexican Kitchen is 8 minutes away and it is among the top 8 Mexican restaurants in Dubai. The Noodle House and Qutoof Restaurant are at a 9-minute distance.

Nightlife options include ICON Bar & Lounge in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City and The Rooftop Terrace in the One&Only Royal Mirage hotel.

As the area is near the Arabian Gulf, there are some popular beaches near Dubai Internet City including Al Sufouh Beach and JBR Beach. Al Sufouh Beach is tucked between Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah. Al Sufouh Beach is often referred to as a hidden gem and is one of Dubai’s best beaches. Al Sufouh Beach or Black Palace Beach as it is sometimes called is located 13 minutes away.

JBR Beach is listed among the top tourist destinations in Dubai. It has an outdoor mall called The Beach, many waterfront restaurants and lounging areas. JBR Beach also has a jogging/walking track and lots of outdoor exercise equipment for visitors to use.

The closest landmark is Emirates Golf Club which is 11 minutes away. It is a 36-hole golf course built in 1988 and it was the first grass golf course in the Middle East. Jebel Ali Racecourse is also a 13-minute drive by car.

There are plenty of leisure places near Dubai Internet City, perfect for a family holiday. Dubai Marina Walk is a 7 km tree-lined promenade located at a 12-minute drive away. It is an upscale lifestyle and retail destination where you can eat, shop, stroll or cycle. There are several kids’ play areas throughout the promenade. You can also enjoy the sights of Dubai Marina with spectacular dhow cruises.

Skydive Dubai is a prime destination for scenic parachute jumps. It is a go-to place for thrill seekers, launched in 2010 by H.E. Nasser Al Neyadi. It offers its customers two skydiving experiences. The first one is the Tandem Skydive and the other is the solo skydiving course. This place is just a 16-minute drive away.

Fitness enthusiasts can find many gyms near the vicinity. Fitness First, Snap Fitness and Body Time Tecom are all 10 minutes away.

Ladies can drive for 8 minutes to reach beauty salons in the nearby area that include The Work Salon + Spa, Tulip Ladies Salon and The Cure. For men, there is Handsome Men Salon and Cutting Line Gent’s Salon both 9 minutes away.

Numerous events are scheduled in Internet City Dubai, annually such as many technical conferences and events held in DIC. STEP Conference is held every year in DIC, it is the largest tech festival in the Middle East. STEP helps startups get some much-needed exposure while also discussing the latest trends in the digital world.

Dubai Media City Amphitheatre is a premier destination that hosts many events. It has hosted sports events, exhibitions such as Taste of Dubai and multiple concerts.

Dubai Internet City features residential and hotel apartments that enjoy many benefits. It is, however, a commercial district and will face quite a bit of traffic at peak hours.

Dubai Internet City is situated about 25 km south of Downtown Dubai. It is located adjacent to Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah and JBR.

Currently, there are more than 1600 companies in DIC Dubai.

• Palm Jumeirah can be reached in 13 minutes
• Downtown Dubai is at a 24-minute drive
• Dubai International Airport is 31 minutes away