Dubailand

Dubailand is a massive residential development and hotspot by Dubai Properties. It was initially proposed as a 2 billion sq. ft. plan featuring residential, commercial and entertainment properties. Today, Dubai land location sprawls across 3 million sq. ft., divided into several districts including Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, Dubailand Oasis, Layan, Majan, Falcon City of Wonders, Living Legends, Villanova, Rukan, Tiger Woods and Al Waha. It is a city within Dubai, home to a theme park, polo club, hotels and a wide range of accommodation plans.

The Dubailand project was launched by Tatweer in October 2003. It was planned to feature six themed worlds within the residential communities and attractions. The project was then taken over by Dubai Properties Group and has since been divided into individual projects, some of which are not considered part of Dubailand and are more popular by their own names. A few of these projects which were supposed to be part of the original plan include Dubai Sports City, Dubai Motor City, Mudon and Arabian Ranches.

This expansive community is located just off Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), and many sub-communities are in different stages of completion and maturity. This leads to Dubai land becoming one of Dubai’s most popular areas, as seen in the Bayut’s H1 2023 Dubai Rental Market Report. Also, as a freehold district, Dubailand emerged as the most popular area with affordable villas on offer. Interested investors can consider Living Legends, one of the top communities to buy properties in Dubailand.

• Features a mix of apartments, villas and townhouses
• Sprawls across multiple residential communities
• The area features over 50 visitor attractions
• Growing investment hub as seen in Bayut’s market reports
• One of the freehold areas in Dubai
• Home to Al Habtoor Polo & Resort Club and IMG Worlds of Adventure

Dubailand Dubai is one of the most successful projects by master developer Dubai Properties. This development includes many different facilities, from theme parks, shopping malls and eco-tourism projects to residential communities. Apart from it being a tourist destination, it is popular among residents and investors mainly due to the affordable rents and the range of freehold properties available in comparison to other parts of the city.

Dubailand properties span from affordable to luxurious units, each residence comes with distinctive lifestyle amenities that appeal to a family-friendly environment. Here, one can find a range of:

• Apartments ranging from studios to 3-bed configurations
• 2 to 6-bedroom independent villas
• 1 to 4-bedroom townhouses

Individuals, couples and expats can find studios and 1-bed flats with covered areas ranging from 400 sq. ft. to 600 sq. ft and 750 sq. ft. to 850 sq. ft. respectively. Other options include 2-bed and 3-bedroom luxurious apartments spanning around 1,600 sq. ft. If you choose to move to a villa or townhouse, you can expect a standard size of 2,000 sq. ft. or more luxurious properties covering up to 9,000 sq. ft. Further, one can choose between a range of furnished and unfurnished units, villas on monthly rent and affordable small villas. Dubailand also offers a series of luxury homes built according to contemporary architecture complementing the avant-garde interiors mainly found in Al Habtoor Polo Resort – The Residences.

Since there are different property types within the enormous district, rents also do vary based on the location, unit-type and configuration.

Bayut has worked on creating separate floor plans for each property type. Those searching can easily browse through Dubai land floor plans separated by communities and available in simple 2D and 3D formats.

It would be best for those residing in the area to have private conveyance, especially since parking is not a problem. Most apartment buildings feature dedicated covered basement parking spaces and there is street parking available for visitors. Those living in villas can park their vehicles at the covered porches within the property, while some luxury units have a dedicated garage.

Dubai land area might not be the best place for public transport users, there is no metro stations area. However, the feeder bus 30 shuttles from several points at Skycourts Towers, Windsor Residence and from Liwan. Other bus stations close by would be the designated stop for Global Village connecting to the Union metro station in Deira and bus stops in Silicon Oasis. Those living in Dubailand rely on taxis (booked through the RTA app) or online taxi services such as Uber and Careem.

There are many mini-marts and shops near Skycourts Towers. You can access Lifco Supermarket, West Zone Supermarket, Shua Al Madina Supermarket, Thomsun Supermarket and many more within the vicinity. Residents in The Villa community will find that they have access to an outlet of Spinneys Supermarket servicing the neighbourhood. This is also in closer proximity to those living in the apartment buildings in Dubailand.

Each Dubailand sub-district has a community mosque such as the areas of Al Waha, Living Legends, The Villa, Falcon City of Wonders and more.

The nearest church is St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oud Mehta, about 20 minutes away from Dubailand. The Dubai City Church is also nearby. Hindu worshippers can head to the Shiva Temple in Bur Dubai or the Guru Nanak Darbar in Jebel Ali, both of which are a 30-minute drive away.

Nurseries in the area are a bit hard to find, there is the Kids Zone Nursery in The Villa community and a Chubby Cheeks Nursery in Skycourts Tower C. For Al Waha and Layan residents there is the Step by Step Nursery as well. However, for more options, residents will have to turn to the nurseries in the nearby Dubai Silicon Oasis community.

For older children, there are many new schools in the area, especially as the district keeps growing and developing into a fully fledged community. One of the new schools is The Aquila School, opened in September 2018 located near the SkyCourts Towers. It follows the UK curriculum from primary (FS1) till middle school (Year 6). In the Layan community, there is the Fairgreen International School, it offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) system from pre-primary to Year 8. This option is also close to those residing in the Al Waha area. Moreover, there is a new school opening for the Al Waha community residents in September 2019. The GEMS School of Digital Futures will be a fully inclusive option, it offers the UK curriculum for the full 13 years of schooling.

Onto established schools in the area, you have GEMS Heritage School offering the National Curriculum of India until Year 9 and the prestigious Gems FirstPoint School which follows the National Curriculum of England until the final Year 13. Both these options are close to those living in The Villa.

University students will also find that living in Dubailand makes the options in Dubai International Academic City easily accessible. Many world-renowned colleges and universities have their campuses here, such as Zayed University, Emirates Aviation University, Herriot Watt University and many more. These institutes are located just opposite Skycourts Towers and the Winsdor Residences.

Residents of Dubai land are covered by the Ace Medical Centre in Skycourt Tower D. For residents in Majan, there is the Dr Kamkar Medical & Physiotherapy Center, a considerable option for all ailments. Those looking for access to the bigger hospitals would have to head to the neighbouring Silicon Oasis. Moreover, there is Aster Clinic and Sulaiman Faqeeh Hospital in the area, alongside the Symbiosis Medical Center and the Medicure Polyclinic.

Most of the developments are close to the major highways, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road (E311), Emirates Road (E611) and Al Qudra Road (D63). All of these highways provide easy access to reach central Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates. Other residential areas such as Mudon, Silicon Oasis and Arabian Ranches that were once part of the plan for Dubailand are now independent communities neighbouring the development.

Sports City and Dubai Motor City are also close neighbours of the communities in Dubailand.

If you are wondering what it’s like living in Dubai land, consider that the area has rapidly evolved into a residential, commercial and entertainment hub. While there might not be as much options for public transport unlike the mainland, the community has a plethora of modern lifestyle amenities within. So, residents hardly need to go anywhere else.

As the project keeps developing, many residential, commercial and entertainment projects are added to the plan and made available to the market. Likewise, many shopping retreats are already operating in Dubailand Dubai and a number of new ones are yet to come. Residents also have access to a number of popular malls in the neighbourhood such as Dragon Mart and the evergreen, most favourite Dubai Mall.

Outlet Mall

Located on the outskirts of Dubai – Al Ain Road, Dubai Outlet Mall is 10 to 12 minutes away from Skycourts Towers and The Villa. Home to 240 retail stores, it is a popuar option for discounted shopping. Additionally, the mall has a food court and an arcade for kids to enjoy.

Dragon Mart is on Al Awir Road, 26 minutes away if you live in the City of Arabia or the Falcon City of Wonders. Dragon Mart and Dragon Mart 2 have been developed by Nakheel Malls as the ultimate shopping destination. It is the world’s largest Chinese trading hub outside of mainland China. Both the complexes combined are home to over 5,000 retail shops, cafes, restaurants, entertainment outlets and Novo Cinemas. The Dragon Marts are resident-favourite for bargain shopping in Dubai and for finding unique items.

Also, tourist and resident-favourite, The Dubai Mall is also just 30-minute drive away from Dubailand Dubai.

Apart from many casual and fast food options in Dubai Outlet Mall and Dragon Mart, there are many standalone restaurants in Dubailand. There is the Italian bistro Oregano in The Villa and Indian eateries such as Green Hills Restaurant and Pudumadam Restaurant in Skycourts Towers. A few more casual dining restaurants are part of the small Remal Mall in Majan district, such as Chin Chin, Doner Deli, Cafe Lambretta and more.

Those looking for licensed bars and lounges to kick back and relax will have to take a bit of a drive. There is the Mr Tods Pub and Kitchen which serves British bar food, located in Dubai Silicon Oasis. There are a few bars in The Els Club Golf Course in Sports City, about a 15-minute drive from Dubailand. You could also visit Kickers Sports Bar to catch a show of the latest sports match paired with your regular bar food or head to Big Easy Bar and Grill which offers large portions of meat cooked to your liking alongside their house beverages.

Dubai residents do love visiting the beach, sadly there is no beach within Dubailand. The closest to Dubailand residents is the famous Jumeirah Beach, a 30-minute drive away. It offers tons of activities for both adults and kids to enjoy. There are walking tracks, playgrounds and outdoor gym equipment to use.

IMG Worlds of Adventure

As Dubailand is a leisure destination it is home to many different attractions. There is the world’s largest indoor theme park IMG Worlds of Adventure, located in the City of Arabia. Its rides feature characters from Marvel Entertainment and Cartoon Network.

Global Village

Global Village is also a popular leisure attraction in the vicinity. This leisure hub in Dubailand is an annual attraction open in Dubai’s winter time. It is an outdoor arena of different worldwide pavillions, restaurants and rides. It also hosts concerts as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival.

Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club

Located within the community is the Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club, a luxury equestrian development. It features a polo club, state-of-the-art polo academy, riding school and exceptional equestrian facilities, including 520 stables.

Al Marmoom Heritage Village

For a different experience focusing on Emirati culture, you can visit the Al Marmoom Heritage Village. It showcases a heritage market in the months of March – April, it showcases over 100 shops and kiosks as well as traditional dance shows from Oman, India, and Africa. Al Marmoom Heritage Village is also one place to watch legal camel racing as it is home to the Dubai Camel Racing Club and the Camel Hospital. It is just 15 minutes from the Dubailand district.

Only a few public parks can be found in Dubai land, mainly in The Villa community in the Aldea and Hacienda sub-communities. If you’re looking for green spaces you can head to the nearby Arabian Ranches community which has many parks, playgrounds and walking trails.

In terms of keeping fit, the area has a lot of unique amenities on offer. There is the Dubai Cycling Track in Al Qudra close to Dubailand. Al Qudra Cycle Course stretches into the desert and allows the rider access to an uninterrupted 85km loop with views of serene sunrises and sunsets. Riders will also see various wildlife and animal species such as oryxes and camels who often roam past the cycle path.

The Hamdam Sports Complex is also great for fitness enthusiasts as it features fun activities like badminton, basketball, karate, swimming, tennis, volleyball and water polo. Alongside a world-class gym and health club. There is also the UAE Sports Academy in The Villa, it offers Tennis lessons, Swimming lessons, Zumba and personal training.

For a day of pampering, residents can choose from The Iridium Spa, Tips and Toes The Villa and Las Mininas Beauty Salon. Residents in Al Waha and Layan can opt for The Haven Spa, Sea Salt Spa, Nstyle Beauty Lounge and Belle Femme Salon.

The Dragon Marts always have ongoing events for visitors of all ages. There are often concerts held here featuring well-known artists who perform usually during weekdays and on holidays. They also hold seasonal markets which offer visitors huge deals and discounts. There have also been concerts held at the 117 Live Arena near Dubai Outlet Mall, previous performers include Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, Guns N’ Roses, Jennifer Lopez and more.

As the area is filled with many different sub-communities there are many Facebook groups for respective residents to join. There is “Skycourts Towers Dubai – Owners & Residents” for those looking at high-rise living. Residents in The Villa can join The Villa Dubailand” it is the official group for residents created by Dubai land and Dubai Properties.

Out of the numerous upcoming malls in Dubai, a new one is opening in Dubailand called Cityland Mall next to Global Village. It will be the world’s first nature-themed shopping mall featuring Carrefour hypermarket, Vox Cinemas, Fabyland (family entertainment destination) and 350 retail stores.

If you’d like to be a tourist in your own neighbourhood you can do just that at the Falcon City of Wonders when it is open. It will have recreations of the 7 Wonders of the World for residents or tourists to view, marvel and take photos. When complete, you won’t need to travel to France to take a picture of the Eiffel Tower, or to Italy for the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Some of the landmarks will also feature residential and commercial spaces, such as the Pyramids of Giza, Taj Arabia, The Great Wall of China and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. These massive structures will be a marvel of construction, engineering and design.

As interest in the golf industry has been growing in Dubai, the Dubai land area is also going to be getting a golf course of its own. The Living Legends 9-hole golf course is currently being developed. Residents looking to tee off can in the meanwhile visit The Els Golf Club in Dubai Sports City, just 24 minutes away. The 18-hole golf course has been designed by Ernie Els, former US Open and Open Championship winner. It features a driving range, Butch Harmon’s School of Golf and a few fine-dining and retail outlets.

Living in Dubai land does have its perks but like any area in Dubai, there are a few things to consider. Dubailand is not accessible by public transport which might be a drawback for some. The affordable rents and many amenities are a plus for any resident but the area is still not fully developed with many new facilities and communities under construction.

IMG World’s of Adventure is the world’s largest indoor theme park.

The choice depends on preferences. If you like to experience 4D cinema, Legoland is the place. It is also a kid-favourite destination in Dubai land. Otherwise, those who want to experience thrill on the rides can try out new adventures in Motiongate.

• Mena Plaza Hotel
• Al Ghurair Rayhaan
• Occidental IMPZ Dubai Conference and Events Centre

• Ramada Chelsea Al Barsha
• Auris Fakhruddin Hotel Apartments
• Treppan Hotel and Suites

Around 27 km road distance between Bur Dubai and Dubai land.

• IMG Worlds of Adventure
• The Fresh Market
• Global Village

• Traffic is fairly less, making it easy for those commuting to New Dubai hotspots
• You can reach the Dubai International Airport in 30 minutes
• Central landmarks such as Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall are 25 minutes away
• The new Al Maktoum Airport is just 15 minutes away.
• The highly anticipated EXPO 2020 site is reachable in 15 minutes