Old Town Dubai

Old Town Dubai is a residential project by Emaar Properties featuring low-rise apartment complexes located in Downtown Dubai close to Al Asayel Street (D72). The term ‘Old’ refers to the architectural style in which this region was built. The construction of the area was completed in 2006.

Downtown Dubai Old Town features 35 low-rise buildings that feature classic Arabian architecture, more commonly found in the older parts of Dubai.

• A project by Emaar in Downtown Dubai
• Located close to Al Asayel Street (D72)
• A mix of low-rise and mid-rise apartments 
• 35 buildings divided into 6 districts
• Features apartments and a few penthouses

Although the residences in Dubai Old Town area have a vintage look, the lifestyle is far from that. It is located in the most happening part of the emirate, Downtown Dubai – aptly named as ‘the centre of now’.

As it is a pedestrian-friendly district, the area is within close walking distance of Souk Al Bahar, Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain. It also gives easy access to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, which is decked with coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and other facilities for those living in the neighbourhood to experience the perks to the fullest.

There are over 1,500 residential units in 35 buildings spread over 6 districts. The Yansoon district features 9 buildings, Reehan has 8, while Zafran and Miska are clusters of 5 low-rise buildings each. Furthermore, the Zanzebeel and Kamoon districts are home to 4 apartment buildings each.

Old Town Island is separate and closer to the Souk Al Bahar area. The project also features The Palace Hotel.

Properties in Old Town Dubai have 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments. These units have spacious bedrooms, bathrooms, a maid’s room with a maid’s bathroom, a laundry area, a spacious living room and dining space.

There are a few 4-bedroom penthouses in Downtown Dubai Old Town. Spanning 3,182 sq. ft., these units have master bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms and walk-in closets. The maid’s room has its bathroom and a separate entrance to the property. Each penthouse has a fitted kitchen, spacious living room, dining area, large windows and terrace.

Those looking for floor plans can browse through the Old Town floor plans available for popular communities.

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Each apartment in Old Town Dubai comes with designated parking spaces. Each district also has a visitor’s parking lot for guests, otherwise, there are also underground parking spaces on the Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard.

Dubai bus service and Dubai Metro service are the modes of public transport in Dubai Old Town area.

South Ridge Tower 1 & 2 bus stops, Burj View central Tower 1 & 2 bus stops and 8 Boulevard Walk Tower 1 & 2 bus stops are the nearest from Downtown Dubai Old Town. These are accessible within a 10-minute drive.

Burj Khalifa/ Dubai Mall metro station is the nearest Dubai Old Town Metro option, reachable at a 9-minute drive.

Old Town Mini Mart, Spinneys, Grandiose Supermarket and West Zone Fresh Supermarket are some of Dubai’s best supermarkets in the area. These are reachable at a 5-minute drive.

The main mosque for the area is Al Ghafoor Mosque on Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard. There are other mosques in nearby Business Bay for the Muslim residents to visit.

Those looking for churches can head to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oud Mehta which is a 15 to 20-minute drive away. Hindu residents can head to their respective temples in Bur Dubai.

Parents will find that there are many nurseries in the area for their toddlers. Popular options include Babilou Downtown and Blossom Nursery Downtown, the nurseries in Business Bay are also close by.

There are many primary schools close by, and most of them offer the British curriculum until Year 6. GEMS Wellington Primary School Dubai in the community of Al Satwa is merely 13 minutes away if you drive. At the same distance, there is Horizons English School in Al Wasl. Further, 20 minutes away from the neighbourhood, Hartland International School is located near the master development, Meydan City. It offers the UK/IB curriculum until Year 9. The many schools in the Al Safa and Jumeirah districts are also close by and easily accessible.

As Dubai Old City is part of Downtown Dubai, it is approximately 20 minutes away from both of the university hubs of Dubai. It takes 20 minutes to reach either Knowledge Park or Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) near Dubai Silicon Oasis.

For medical services, residents can head to the Mediclinic branch within The Dubai Mall. The Emirates Hospital Clinic is one of the top clinics in Business Bay.

Medcare Hospital in Al Safa is also close by. Moreover, pharmacies are at convenient intervals around the community.

Old Town Dubai is close to business hubs such as Business Bay and DIFC. Whereas, it may take more or less 25 minutes by car to reach the central Internet City and Dubai Media City. The community also sits in proximity to popular residential districts such as Al Wasl, Al Safa and Jumeirah offering plenty of entertainment activities for families to enjoy. Those in search of educational opportunities can get to Academic City in around 20 minutes by car.

As it is part of ‘The Centre Of Now’, Old Dubai has a reputation for being a quieter part of the bustling Downtown Dubai district.

While the gigantic Dubai Mall with its regional, local and international stores is the main shopping mall in the area, Dubai Old City residents can head to the more laidback Souk Al Bahar. It has a mix of dining and retail options, not to mention the unique specialised shops attracting both, locals and tourists alike.

From fashion stores to grocery, home furnishing and electronics, there is a wide range of brand shops in Dubai Mall you can shop from. For a more unique experience and entertainment, urban malls such as Boxpark and Citywalk are 8 to 12 minutes away from this area. Both of them feature outdoor retail and dining, however, the second phase of Citywalk is indoors.

There is certainly no shortage of restaurants in Old Town Dubai. There are 22 alone in Souk Al Bahar, not to mention the various restaurants in Dubai Mall which range from every single price point. There are also the restaurants on Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard and the fine-dining establishments part of the many hotels in the area.

The Downtown district is also great for those who enjoy a night out, the resident favourite licensed restaurants are Japanese eatery Downtown Toko which is part of the Vida Downtown Hotel, Peruvian restaurant Inka which is part of the Sofitel Downtown Hotel and the sports-themed pub Nezesaussi Grill in Manzil Downtown Dubai.

There is no beach in Old Town Dubai or Downtown Dubai but since the area is centrally located, the Jumeirah Public Beach is only 20-minutes away. Those who love the water can also head to the community swimming pools, part of each building in Old Town if a trip to the beach is too far.

There is so much to do around Old Town Dubai. The towering Burj Khalifa alone offers a plethora of facilities including a health club, hotel, restaurants, observation decks and more. It is often referred to as a virtual city for this very reason.

Another landmark for the area is the Dubai Opera. It is an architectural marvel to view located in the heart of the Opera District. An entertainment project Emaar Properties, hosts a variety of performances and events such as theatre, opera and ballet shows as well as concerts and exhibitions.

Another cultural element in Downtown Dubai is the art installations alongside Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard. These are normally created by local artists, residents can head down and stroll through the Boulevard to take it all in.

The main park in the area is the Burj Park which is also pet-friendly. There are many fun things to do in Burj Park including cycling, jogging or enjoying a leisurely stroll. As it offers views of Burj Khalifa and the Dancing Fountain many couples and families often head down here for a leisurely picnic.

Another park close to Old Town would be the South Ridge Park in Business Bay, it is a small park that is mainly used for dog-walking. It has a branch of Universal Fitness which uses the park for its outdoor boot camp sessions and other training exercises.

There is a community gym and a community pool in the buildings of Old Town for residents to use. Other gyms in the area include the Burj Club gym inside the Burj Khalifa, this is by membership only, offering a separate ladies gym and access to a temperature-controlled indoor pool and an outdoor infinity pool. For a different type of workout, there are also bikes you can rent along Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard.

The best part about living in Dubai Old City is that you can watch the New Year fireworks from the comfort of your own home. Residents can also view the Dancing Fountain from their balconies for those who reside in the fountain-facing apartments. Those facing Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard can view the many parades that occur yearly, such as those for National Day or the classic car show.

There are also community events within the buildings such as events for Halloween, Christmas and more. The nearby Burj Park hosts food festivals, craft markets, free movie screenings and more.

For more information about what is happening in the locality, residents can join the Facebook group: Old Town Dubai Community Page. Here residents can share information, ask questions and socialize.

Living in Old Town Dubai has many benefits, one thing to consider is that the area is prone to high amounts of traffic at rush hour. There are high amounts of traffic typically in the morning and evening times at the entry and exits points of Downtown Dubai. Also, due to this traffic, the lower floor residences that are facing Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard often complain about the noise. Regardless, there are many reasons the area is popular among tenants and investors.

It is a part of the Downtown Dubai area.

Dubai Old City is easily accessed via metro or taxi. Both options are pretty economical.

• Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and Souk Al Bahar are within 5-10 minutes walking distance
• Business Bay area and Dubai International Financial City are 10 minutes away
• Urban malls such as Boxpark and Citywalk are under 15 minutes away
• Dubai International Airport is a 17-minute drive away
• Business hubs such as Internet City, Media City and Dubai Marina are a 25-minute drive away
• Close to Business Bay, Al Safa and Al Wasl
• Souk Al Bahar, Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa in walking distance