Al Rashidiya, Dubai

Situated just south of Dubai International Airport is the community of Al Rashidiya, Dubai. The area is commonly known as just Rashidiya. Here, residents will find several government offices, shopping malls and other places of interest. Al Rashidiya mostly has villas, which makes it suitable for families looking for a home in the heart of old Dubai.

Al Rashidiya, Dubai is also positioned close to many transport links. With a metro station and several bus routes, Rashidiya is undoubtedly one of the best residential areas in Dubai for non-drivers. The area is located along Airport Road (D89) and the highways of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) and Nad Al Hamar Road (D62). Also, bus links shuttling from several points within the community connect residents to key areas including Silicon Oasis and Al Awir.

• Shares its eastern border with Dubai International Airport
• Mainly has rental properties including villas and apartments
• Family-friendly community with parks and schools
• The southern border links with Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311)
• Home to the Centrepoint Metro Station and Bin Sougat Centre
• Located in vicinity of Deira, the eastern region of Dubai

Considered as one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Dubai, the area mostly houses villas which are home to several Emirati and expat families. There are parks, libraries, schools and many shops within the area. Here, Dubai Public Library Al Rashidiya is one of the top public libraries in Dubai on 31st Street Number 11. Also, residents will find that many attractions and leisure amenities are a short drive away.

The detached villas range from 3 to 6-bedroom configurations. Most villas in Al Rashidiya are large units with huge plot sizes ranging from 3,500 sq. ft. to 10,000 sq. ft. or more. Most villas come with a separate dining room, quarters for the house help, a private garden and secluded environment. For singles and small families, Al Rashidiya rental apartments are the most suitable option for living. These residential units are available in 1 and 2-bedroom configurations.

Whether one owns a car or not, when residing in Al Rashidiya they will find that parking and public transportation will not be an issue. Villas come with parking spaces for at least two vehicles. Otherwise, there is street parking available right outside the residences as well.

Those depending on public transportation will find that it’s quite easy to get around Dubai as Al Rashidiya is home to Centrepoint Metro Station. The Red Line on Dubai Metro runs from here to the UAE Exchange Station and vice versa. Also, there are bus stations connecting to many parts of Dubai. You can easily catch an RTA bus link including the feeder bus 03, 05, 06 and 10 to commute to Muhaisnah, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Mirdif and more.

Taxis are also found towards the commercial side of the area, along Airport Road. Residents can also rely on luxury taxi apps such as Uber and Careem or they can call a taxi from the RTA app as well.

There are several supermarkets in Al Rashidiya. The closest ones near central Rashidiya are Sea Supermarket and Halawa Supermarket. However, these are small supermarkets which are good for day-to-day essentials. One of the many branches of Spinneys in Dubai is located in Bin Sougat Centre. There is a branch of the large Union Cooperative Society in the neighbourhood. It has a wide range of imported products and also has a fashion and electronics department on the second floor.

There are no churches within the vicinity or in the surrounding neighbourhood. However, just a 13-minute drive up north to the community of Oud Mehta, you will find over 10 different types of churches belonging to different denominations of Christianity.

Similarly, there are also no Hindu temples within the community or in nearby areas. However, residents will only have to drive for 15-minutes to reach the Krishna and Shiva temples in the Bur Dubai district. Muslim residents will find many mosques in Al Rashidiya. Popular ones include Al Atuyba Mosque, Aisha Faheem Mosque and Masjid BinHuraiz. Nearly all sub-communities have a few mosques situated within them. Al Kabeer Mosque is one of the most architecturally beautiful mosques in Dubai.

Al Rashidiya has over 10 schools within its borders. Many of these schools are public schools which are mainly open to UAE Nationals. Expat students are admitted based on a merit-based system but do note that the curriculum is taught in Arabic. Most expat students prefer to study in private schools in Dubai. Those searching for Filipino schools in Dubai can also find The Philippine School in Al Rashidiya.

The only private school in Al Rashidiya is Al Eman Private School which follows the curriculum of the Ministry of Education. It is one of the oldest private schools in Dubai, established in 1973. There are quite a few private schools nearby such as The City School International, just 9 minutes away in the neighbouring community, Nad Al Hamar. It offers the British curriculum from foundation stage 2 (FS2) to Year 11.

There are also several world-class universities in the surrounding neighbourhoods. However, the closest university is the University of Jazeera which offers degrees in media sciences, information systems and business administration. Another institute of higher education is the American College of Dubai which is just 7 minutes north of Al Rashidiya.

There are two clinics in Al Rashidiya, Axon Medica Polyclinic and Al Noor Polyclinic. To visit a hospital nearby, residents won’t have to drive far to obtain emergency medical care. Mediclinic Hospital is the closest hospital just 11-minutes away, to the north.

To the north of Al Rashidiya is the community of Umm Ramool and to the northwest, you will find the recently developed community of Dubai Festival City, home to many leisure amenities. To its immediate south, one will find the community of Mirdif. Apart from residential communities, the eastern border of Al Rashidiya connects with the Dubai International Airport and this is where the commercial side of Al Rashidiya is also located.

When compared to other, more secluded areas in Dubai, Al Rashidiya is close to several interesting venues such as malls, restaurants and other places of interest.

There is a community mall in Al Rashidiya, the Bin Sougat Centre. Located right next to the Centrepoint Metro Station, this mall houses many retail stores and a few restaurants.

A larger shopping destination is a 10-minute drive south of Rashidiya, the City Centre Mirdif. Apart from its vast shopping amenities, this mall is a great place to dine. You’ll find many restaurants in the City Centre Mirdif that fit into both casual dining and fast-food categories. For movie buffs, there is a VOX Cinemas in Mirdif City Centre where residents can watch the latest blockbusters on the big screen.

However, what makes this mall a truly a spectacular place to visit, are the various activities in City Centre Mirdif. For instance, mall visitors have the opportunity to experience what it is like to skydive without having to jump off a plane – as this mall is home to the indoor skydiving experience, iFLY Dubai. Other interesting places that offer a unique experience in this mall include venues like Orbi, Little Explorers and Magic Planet. There is also a bowling alley in the mall called Yalla Bowling.

One of the perks of living in Al Rashidiya, Dubai is the various types of restaurants located in the community. Residents won’t have to drive far to enjoy their favourite dishes.

A few popular restaurants in Al Rashidiya include Sea Shell Restaurant which is a casual dining eatery offering American dishes. Next on the list is the Bait Al Mandi Restaurant that is popular for serving traditional Emirati cuisine. There is also a branch of Pizza Express in the Bin Sougat Centre.

Rashidiya is one of the southernmost communities in Dubai which means residents have to travel for around 20 to 30-minute drive to visit a beach near Al Rashidiya. The nearest ones include Jumeirah Beach and Al Mamzar Beach.

For fun and leisure, just 3-minutes away from Al Rashidiya is the Fun Block which is an indoor jungle gym for kids. Children have the entire venue to themselves and they can play and explore their surroundings. Fun Block is also a great place where kids can start building their social skills. Apart from the jungle gym, there are several arcade games for both adults and children to enjoy.

For those whose idea of a leisurely time involves golfing, the nearest golf park is located just 16 minutes north in the community of Port Saeed. There, residents will find the Dubai Creek Yacht & Golf Club.

In regards to notable landmarks, there is the Al Rashidiya Public Library in the community. It features a separate children’s section with a reading room and audiovisual facilities.

Visiting the local park is one of the best ways to enjoy the great outdoors, likewise, there is a park in Al Rashidiya known as the Al Rashidiya Park, one of the best BBQ spots in Dubai. It is most frequently visited by families living in the surrounding neighbourhoods. The park has several benches and gazebos for those looking to relax around nature.

Those looking to keep fit who prefer to visit the gym regularly will find that there are four to five gyms within Al Rashidiya. The most popular gym in Al Rashidiya is the Pro Fitness Gym which is located on 49th street. It offers CrossFit and mixed martial arts (MMA) classes.

Self-pampering options include the Dream Land Spa and Massage Centre which is located right in the heart of Al Rashidiya, situated right on 38th Street.

There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding to move to Al Rashidiya. Firstly, residents will likely have to put up with the noise of aeroplanes whizzing overhead due to the community’s proximity to the airport. Secondly, Al Rashidiya is mostly a villa based community, there are very few apartments in the area. Thirdly, there are very few properties up for sale for those looking to purchase their own home. Otherwise, the community promises an active lifestyle and is a perfect area to raise a family in.

• Right next Dubai International Airport
• Closely linked to Emirates Road (E 311) – takes 5 minutes to get on the highway
• 9 minutes away from Mirdif City Centre
• 14 minutes away from Sheikh Zayed Road