Neima, Al Ain

Made up of Neima 1 and Neima 2, Neima is a residential community in the southern area of Al Ain city. With Ni’mah Road (E40), Hazza Ibn Sultan Street (E95) and Jabal Hafeet Street forming its three borders, the community is shaped like a triangle.

Neima is abundant in residential properties, restaurants and bus stops. It has a mall, a few public schools and other essentials. The E40 and E95 highways help provide easy access to other areas in Al Ain city and other regions of the Abu Dhabi emirate.

• Residential community in Al Ain
• Bordered by the E95 and E40 highways
• Consists of Neima 1 and Neima 2
• Offers apartments and villas
• Surrounded by many residential areas
• Has a mall, health centre, bus stops, public schools and restaurants
• Close to the Jebel Hafeet mountains

Neima is located on the southern end of Al Ain, somewhat away from the hustle and bustle of the main city. It is only 5 minutes away from the Jebel Hafeet Mountains and close to many of the prominent attractions in the city.

The community offers villas and apartments on a rental basis, each finished with state-of-the-art décor and amenities such as marble flooring and high quality sanitary ware. Residents will find many restaurants, grocery stores and a mall at their disposal, along with a health centre, public schools and bus stops.

Properties in Neima include villas and apartments. An apartment with three bedrooms will measure around 3,638 sq. ft. and feature a living and dining area, three bedrooms ensuite with bathrooms, a large balcony, powder room and storeroom.

Villas are available from 3-bedroom to 10-bedroom configurations too, with each of them featuring bedrooms with attached bathrooms, expansive living areas, Majlis, powder rooms, large kitchens and a large compound with spaces for multiple cars at a time. All the villas are double-storey villas with terraces too.

The average floor area of a 3-bedroom villa is around 1,950 sq. ft. whereas a 4-bed villa may cover around 2,400 sq. ft. 5-bedroom villas feature an average built-up area of 3,000 sq. ft. while a 10-bedroom encompasses around 25,000 sq. ft. of floor area.

For renting property in Neima, you can refer to the listed trends.

• 3-bedroom to 5-bedroom villas for rent in Neima cost annually from AED 59K to AED 110K.
• The rent of a 10-bedroom villa is around AED 150K yearly.
• The average annual rent of a 3-bedroom apartment in Neima is around AED 60K.

Some of the better-known hotels near Neima include:

• One to One Hotel & Resort Ain Al Faida – 3-star hotel
• Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet – 4-star hotel
• Ayla Bawadi – 4-star hotel
• Radisson Blu Resort – 4-star hotel
• Al Ain Rotana – 5-star hotel

One to One Hotel & Resort Ain Al Faida is the closest hotel at a 9-minute drive while the rest of the hotels are reachable within a drive of 21 to 25 minutes.

The villas have their own compounds, which can accommodate more than a vehicle or two at a time. Those who rent apartments in the community can opt for covered parking spaces outside the buildings or settle for street parking if they own more than one vehicle.

In addition to buses and taxis, ride-hailing services such as Careem and Uber are viable options for transportation near Neima. There are several bus stations and bus stops in the community, each of them serving bus routes that can help you in moving around the city.

Bus stops in Neima include Makani Mall Bus Stop, Neima Clinic Bus Stop, Neima 2 Playground, Neima Petrol Station Bus Stop, Neima Roundabout Bus Stop and Zakher New Police East Bus Stop. These serve routes 460, 990, 560, 550, 560 and 990.

Makani Mall Bus Stop caters to Route 460, Neima Clinic Bus Stop caters to Route 990, Neima 2 Playground Bus Stop caters to routes 990 and 560. Neima Petrol Station Bus Stop is also a stop for Route 460 while Neima Roundabout Bus Stop services multiple routes including 460, 550, 560 and 990. Zakher New Police Station East Bus Stop is a spot for the most routes with 460, 940, 970 and 990.

Grocery shopping and buying all sorts of essentials is rendered easy with the abundance of grocery stores and supermarkets in Neima. These include:

• Sabir Grocery Store – 6/1, 27 Street
• Spar Hypermarket – Makhani Shopping Centre
• Al Nuaimiya Baqala
• Rihana Stores
• Earth Supermarket 
• Paramount Supermarket

There are a variety of community mosques in Neima, available on almost every street of the area. These include:

• Fatima Suwaidan Al Kaabi – 50/50, 40 Street
• Community Mosque – 47 Street
• Community Mosque – 75 Street
• Community Mosque – 29 Street
• Community Mosque – 47 Street
• Community Mosque – 19 Street
• Community Mosque – 11 Street

Fatima Suwaidan Al Kaabi Mosque is open 24 hours a day.

In Al Khirayr, there is the Gurudwara Nanaksar Al Ain established in the year 2000 by Baba Suvender in his apartment. Located 18 minutes away, the Gurudwara offers different services and prayers along with langar too.

For the Christians, there are few churches in the city, such as:

• Al Ain Evangelical Church
• St. Mary’s Catholic Church
• St. Thomas Anglican Church
• St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Simhasana Church

Al Ain Evangelical Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church are 18 minutes away while St. Thomas Anglican Church and St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Simhasana Church are reachable within 23 minutes.

For the Hindus, there are two choices, one in Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai. They can opt for the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi or visit the temples in Bur Dubai, both of which are almost two hours away.

Within Neima, there are a few government schools and nurseries, including the Shaikha Bint Suroor Primary School. For well-known private and top-tier schools in Al Ain, you can find other options in the nearby areas.

Some of the better-known schools near Neima include:

• Brighton College – Zakher
• Liwa International School – Al Falaj Hazza
• Our Own English High School – Al Manazir

Brighton College is reachable within a 5-minute drive. Offering classes from Foundation Stage 1 to Year 13, Brighton College follows the British National Curriculum and has a purpose-built campus spanning 28 acres.

You can reach Liwa International School and Our Own English High School in 14 minutes by car. Liwa International School follows the American curriculum and consists of classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Our Own English High School operates under the GEMS Education Group and is affiliated with both the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) and also teaches additional languages including Arabic, Hindi, Malayalam, Bengali and French.

Neima Healthcare Centre is the only hospital in Neima. It is a multi-specialty medical centre that proves convenient for the residents of the community.

A few other clinics and hospitals near Neima include:

• Mediclinic Zakher
• Amana Healthcare Medical and Rehabilitation Centre
• Exeter Medical Centre

Mediclinic Zakher serves an array of services that also include cosmetic services, dentistry, laboratory services and a pharmacy in addition to general medicine, ENT, dermatology and a few others. It is reachable within an 8-minute drive and is located in the neighbouring Zakher community.

Amana Healthcare Medical and Rehabilitation Centre and Exeter Medical Centre are reachable within 11 minutes. Amana Healthcare Medical and Rehabilitation Centre is one of Al Ain’s leading hospitals with long-term care and inpatient rehabilitation services, in addition to other facilities for surgery and clinical conditions.

Exeter Medical Centre or Exeter Bone & Joint provides Orthopaedic services along with laboratory, radiology and diagnostic services.

The triangle-shaped Neima shares borders with three areas; Zakher to the north and west, Ain Al Fayda to the south and  to the east. Ain Al Fayda is currently undergoing development and consists of the Ain Al Fayda Lake and One to One Hotel & Resort.

Zakher is an expansive district that is separated from Neima through the Ni’mah Road (E40) and its territory encompasses the western and northern borders of the community. Also known as Zakhir, it is a villa-only district, further divided into sub-communities and is home to the Zakher Lake in Al Ain.

Sheibat Al Watah is located in the larger expansive district of Al Wutah and is an under-development housing complex.

The area houses one mall, namely Makani Zakher Shopping Centre. In addition to a few shopping stores, a hypermarket and a food court, the mall consists of Cinemax and an indoor play area for children.

For going on a greater shopping spree, you can pay a visit to any of the other malls in Al Ain, reachable within a drive of 26 minutes. These malls are:

• Bawadi Mall
• Al Jimi Mall
• Al Ain Mall

Bawadi Mall is 23 minutes away on Meyzad Road. Along with international brands such as IKEA, Zara, Marks and Spencer, the mall has an eight-screen cinema, a play zone and fun city. The food court has a number of renowned cafes and fast food joints while other service facilities are also available.

Al Jimi Mall is amongst Al Ain’s largest shopping centres and enjoys a prime location in one of the oldest areas in Al Ain. You will find a food court, a branch of Magic Planet, many popular brands, a food court and VOX Cinemas here.

Al Ain Mall is the second-largest mall in the city with international brands like Ralph Lauren, Prada, Chanel, Calvin Klein and Armani. It has many recreational areas including Fun Farm, Cheeky Monkey, Ice Skating Rink and Bowling City as well as a food court, a Carrefour Supermarket and the Star Al Ain Cinema Mall.

In addition to the eateries available in Makhani Zakher Shopping Centre, you can also dine in various restaurants in Neima, such as:

• Burger King – ADNOC Petrol Station, Hazza Bin Sultan Street
• Dreams Hut Cafeteria – Next to Shams Al Neima Supermarket
• Shabab Qerayeh – Neima Market
• Al Sial Al Shaab – Beside Shams Al Neima Supermarket

Burger King is an American fast food restaurant while Dreams Hut Cafeteria serves different varieties of fast food and juices. Shabab Qerayeh is a South Indian restaurant whereas Al Sial Al Shaab is a Lebanese restaurant.

For upscale dining, you can find two choices in mainland Al Ain. These fine dining restaurants near Neima are:

• Ayla Restaurant – Ayla Hotel, Al Mutaredh
• La Belvedere – Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Al Ain Hotel, Jebel Hafeet

Both Ayla Restaurant and La Belvedere are reachable within a drive of 22 minutes. Ayla Restaurant serves dishes from a vast range of cuisines, including American, Italian, European, Middle Eastern and even Indian cuisine. At La Belvedere, you can order different kinds of Emirati items, Italian dishes and seafood.

You can enjoy nightlife in the city by taking a drive of 23 minutes and reaching the nightlife options near Neima, including:

• Trader’s Vic – Al Ain Rotana, Al Mutaredh
• Oasis Pool Bar – Danat Al Ain Resort, Al Sarooj
• W XYZ Lounge – Aloft Al Ain, Al Towayya

For visiting any of the beaches near Neima, those interested will have to drive more than an hour and 45 minutes to reach either the beaches in Abu Dhabi or those in Dubai.

The city of Al Ain or the ‘Garden City’ has many recreational activities to offer.

• Al Ain Classic Cars Museum 
• Al Ain Zoo
• Al Ain Palace Museum

Al Ain Classic Cars Museum is 6 minutes away in One to One Hotel & Resort Ain Al Faydah. It is a place where you can learn all about vintage vehicles. What started in 2009 as a small collection of personal and member cars is now a 2,000 sq. m. museum.

Al Ain Zoo is located at an 18-minute drive and is an establishment by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. A popular spot for more than 50 years, the zoo has animals from over 200 species and houses an educational facility too, namely the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center.

Al Ain Palace Museum is reachable within 21 minutes and is one of the topmost attractions in the city. Built for the late H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his family in 1937, the structure housed the family until 1998 and underwent conversion in 1998, before finally becoming a museum in 2001.

The community has no parks or gyms, which is why fitness enthusiasts will have to bear with a short drive of 5 to 10 minutes in the nearby communities. Two of the parks near Neima are:

• Jebel Hafeet Park
• Green Mubazzarah Park

Both Jebel Hafeet Park and Green Mubazzarah Park are amongst the best parks in Al Ain. Green Mubazzarah Park features chalets too available for renting on a temporary basis along with many attractions for children. Jebel Hafit Park is popular for sightseeing due to its rocky terrain. It is located in Jebel Hafeet, the third highest peak in the United Arab Emirates.

For personal grooming every now and then, a few saloons are available in the community, such as:

• Al Jamal Barber Shop 
• Shatha Neamah 
• Shabbab Qraiha Saloon
• Ushi Nail Spa – Makhani Zakher Shopping Centre

Al Jamal Barber Shop is a gent’s salon whereas Shatha Neamah and Shabbab Qraiha Salon are ladies salons. Ushi Nail Spa has multiple branches in the UAE including in Dubai too.

Makhani Zakher Shopping Centre in the community hosts events on public holidays. You can also visit the nearby parks and malls for enjoying cultural events and holiday festivities from time to time.

Neima is a family-friendly area that offers peaceful living in Al Ain. However, many parts of the area and the neighbouring areas are still under development and the community is far away from central Al Ain. Those interested in a lively lifestyle in the urban areas will not find the area suitable.

• 27-minute drive to Al Ain International Airport 
• Abu Dhabi city is reachable within a drive of 1 hour and 30 minutes
• The city of Dubai is 1 hour and 45 minutes away