Khalifa City

Khalifa City was divided into three areas, originally known as Khalifa City A (now known as Khalifa City), Khalifa City B (now known as Shakhbout City) and New Khalifa City (now known as Zayed City). Khalifa City is one of the popular areas for renting affordable apartments in Abu Dhabi.

It’s easy to see that living in Khalifa City is a popular option, considering that it is ideally located along the highway to Dubai. This suburb is known for housing the prominent head offices of Etihad Airways, which can be seen from both sides of the highway when driving into Abu Dhabi from Dubai.

Moreover, Khalifa City is famous for housing the Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Al Forsan International Sports Resort, both huge attractions to investors and renters alike.

• Close to Dubai, ideal for those commuting regularly
• Spacious villas and affordable apartments
• Home to the head office of Etihad Airways
• Near Al Raha Beach and Saadiyat Island
• A serene community with schools, shops and a golf course

Khalifa City A is the central region of the larger Khalifa City development which includes Shakhbout City (previously known as Khalifa City B) and Zayed City (previously known as New Khalifa City).

What started as a small community by master-developer ALDAR has blossomed into an in-demand residential location with a golf course, reputable schools and multiple retail and dining options in proximity.

The large, luxurious villas and reasonably priced apartments in Khalifa City Abu Dhabi make it a popular spot for renting in the capital. ALDAR has also worked on improving the infrastructure of the area. Developments like Al Rayyana, Al Forsan Village and Al Raha Golf Gardens are firm favourites among both, expats and locals, for the upscale lifestyle on offer.

When it comes to residential properties for rent in Khalifa City Abu Dhabi, there are many options to choose from. Apartments range from cosy studios to 3-bedroom configurations. While, villas in Khalifa City are more spacious, ranging from 3 to 6-bedroom homes. Sometimes you can even find 11-bedroom mansions in the area.

Properties range from 5 to 6-bed configurations covering around 5,000 sq. ft. to 7,500 sq. ft. of land. If you are searching for villas for rent that offer complete privacy, Villa Compounds in Khalifa City can be an ideal location for you.

Those looking for Khalifa City floor plans can browse through the floor plans available for popular communities/buildings in Khalifa City.

There are a few hotels in Khalifa City adding to the wide range of accommodation options in the neighbourhood. Some notable ones include:

• Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi
• The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa

Marriott Hotel Al Forsan is located within Al Forsan International Sports Resort. This 5-star hotel features an outdoor pool, children’s swimming pool, a spa centre, a miniature Splash waterpark and water sports facilities. The guest rooms feature a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a seating area, a private bathroom equipped with a walk-in shower. Rooms also offer a hairdryer, slippers and free toiletries. It offers six restaurants, including a steakhouse The Grill.

The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa is a part of Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Sas Al Nakhl. The hotel has 153 rooms and 19 suites.

The easiest way to access Khalifa City is through the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway and using Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road.

Since it is a well-planned suburb, finding parking spaces is not a challenge. The residential buildings and villas come with dedicated parking areas and visitors can easily find a spot on the street.

Options for public transport in Khalifa City, however, is limited to buses and taxis. There are three bus stops located in the Mussafah community that take you to the main city. If you are relying on public transportation to get to Dubai you will either need to hail a cab or go to the main island and take a bus from there. The lack of connectivity is being looked into and the situation is expected to improve in the future.

Finding basic amenities is easy for those living in Khalifa City with several supermarket chains operating across the suburb, including Spar, Geant and Spinneys.

Besides, there are local groceries and mini-marts to get most of your household goods. One place to find stores like that are the ‘pink shops’, which are a row of shops, groceries, salons, launderettes and more (that have acquired the moniker thanks to their bright pink exteriors). Granite Express Hypermarket, Safeer Hypermarket and Zee Mart Supermarket.

All these options are firm favourites among those looking for supermarkets in Khalifa City.

There are quite a few mosques in Khalifa City, including Abdulla Bin Omar Masjid and Albasset Masjid, known for their beautiful architecture and elaborate decor.

The Mar Thoma Church in Abu Dhabi is the closest spiritual centre for the Christian community, accessible in around 15 minutes by car. Moreover, a temple is set to open its doors to Abu Dhabi residents, but at the moment the closest temples in Bur Dubai, Dubai, over an hour drive away.

Dibber Nurseries is an excellent nursery in Khalifa City. It is the largest branch of Dibber Nurseries spread across two floors and boasts 14 spacious classrooms, an outdoor play area and several open spaces designed for children.

The robust educational infrastructure in the area is a big reason why it is a hit with families. The popular schools in Khalifa City include the International School of Choueifat which follows the SABIS curriculum, GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi which has both the American and IB system.

There is also Al Raha International School which is one of Abu Dhabi’s best schools, it follows the IB module of education from pre-primary to Year 13.

Some of the top universities in Abu Dhabi include Zayed University, Khalifa University and Abu Dhabi University.

The proximity to these options is one of the biggest benefits for parents considering moving to the community.

When it comes to your medical requirements, you are well taken care of in Khalifa City. Besides the many pharmacies and clinics in the area, you also have NMC Royal Hospital and Mediclinic Khalifa City for any incidents which might require a specialist’s attention.

Geographically, Khalifa City Abu Dhabi is situated north-east of Musaffah. It’s well connected to Abu Dhabi by two bridges and is a short drive away from the entertainment hub of Yas Island. Abu Dhabi International Airport is 15 minutes away.

Khalifa City is also ideally located between the two highways to Dubai and Al Ain, adjacent to the upscale Al Raha Beach area, and close to the new cultural capital of the country, Saadiyat Island.

Khalifa City has a reputation for being a quiet and friendly neighbourhood. For a great night out, Yas Island is just around the corner. To soak in some culture, the Louvre Museum is located nearby. Furthermore, Al Forsan International Sports Resort and Abu Dhabi Golf Club are popular hangouts offering a mix of sports and leisure activities.

Khalifa City is home to Forsan Central Mall. Besides retail stores, the mall features many entertainment and dining options. Residents can also get a shopping fix at the Gardens Plaza, a community retail centre located adjacent Hada Aiq Al Raha Street. Some gated communities in Khalifa City feature retail centres such as the BOUTIK mall in Al Rayyana. For more extensive shopping, there’s Etihad Plaza, located in sector 45 of Khalifa City. Most residents also appear to swear by the ‘pink shops‘ (the row of shops with a bright pink exterior), that stock many items.

For most shopping requirements, Al Raha Mall is the go-to destination. Popular malls in the capital, like Marina Mall Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Mall, are a 30-minute drive away.

There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in Khalifa City, including La Brioche, Fresh & Light Restaurant Khalifa City, Khayal Restaurant, The Grill and Jones the Grocer which attracts a loyal fan base. The Al Forsan International Sports Resort and the Abu Dhabi Golf Club also have several dining outlets catering to the residents of Khalifa City.

A hop, skip and jump away from Khalifa City is Al Raha Beach where you can enjoy relaxing weekends with the family. If you are looking for variety, Corniche Beach is less than half an hour away and the pristine white beaches of Saadiyat Island are even closer.

One of the biggest benefits of living in Khalifa City is that you can enjoy teeing off at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, conveniently located at the entrance of the suburb. If you are looking for more sporty challenges, the Al Forsan International Sports Resort has a host of activities including archery, horse-riding and shooting. To really push your boundaries, you can even take up lessons with trained specialists in the resort.

Besides the many community events that happen in the suburb, residents have easy access to the music festivals taking place at Yas Island, the art exhibitions in Saadiyat Island and cultural events in Emirates Palace.

The most famous Khalifa Park has to be the ‘park behind the pink shops’. This landscaped beauty has a large play area for children, lovely benches to sit and read and lots of serenity. Several other parks are found in the area, there are many neighbourhood parks in the area. There is a jogging track in Masdar City Abu Dhabi, and the nearby Al Raha Beach has a running track.

Most apartments buildings in Khalifa City have a gym in the building. Some villa communities also offer communal gyms and swimming pools.

In the UAE, you will be hard-pressed to find a neighbourhood that does not have a salon. Khalifa City predictably has many salons and spas, so you won’t need to be concerned about trimming beards or getting your nails done! Some of these include Top Ladies Beauty Centre, Sas Salon, Body Art Khalifa City Abu Dhabi, Pelle E Capelli Beauty Salon, Kensington Beauty Bar and Tara Rose Hair and Beauty Salon.

Khalifa City is a great place to live if you like a quiet environment. One of the things to consider for those looking at moving to Khalifa City is that it can be a little disconnected from all the hustle and bustle of the city. There are currently no large malls or cinemas in the locality. But this could change in the near future as more and more developments are taking place in and around the city.

You can take a bus from different parts of Abu Dhabi to get to Khalifa City. It will take around 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Around 22 km from Abu Dhabi City making the road distance of around 29.8 km.

The Khalifa City Market is actually a community market which is under development. It is planned to have outdoor gardens, food and beverage outlets, retail stores, a library, a sports hall, a lecture hall, a community pool, a health-club, a nursery, a children’s play area and more.

• Al Raha Beach is 24 minutes away via Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street/E10
• Yas Island is 19 minutes away via Al Mireef Street
• Saadiyat Island is 32 minutes away via Al Shahama – Abu Dhabi Road/Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street/E10
• Abu Dhabi International Airport is 20 minutes drive away
• Dubai is an hour away, Sharjah and Ajman are less than 2 hours away and Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain can be reached in close to 3 hours.