Zone 12, Mohammed Bin Zayed City

Zone 12 is a part of Mohammed Bin Zayed City, a residential community with sub-communities categorised into 36 zones. It is located between Mussafah and Khalifa City B on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. The neighbourhood mainly features villas and townhouses. It also offers a serene and peaceful environment, an ideal retreat for families. Zone 12 lies in proximity to schools, hospitals, supermarkets, restaurants, mosques and a wide range of leisure amenities. MBZ City Abu Dhabi is named after the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

• One of the 36 residential zones in MBZ City
• Villas and townhomes for rent and sale
• Affordable housing option
• A family-friendly community
• Close to Abu Dhabi University

Zone 12 (Z12) in Mohammed Bin Zayed City lies in the suburbs which makes it peaceful and tranquil. The community is closely knit. The highlights of the sub-community are:

• Family-friendly community
• The three mosques
• Affordable housing

All the essential amenities are available at a short distance from Zone 12.

Properties in Zone 12 MBZ City include a cluster of detached and semi-detached villas coming in 2 to 5-bed configurations. There is also a choice of brand new and luxurious units and those offering a shared swimming pool and gym facility. According to the Annual Rental Report 2021 by Bayut and Dubizzle, MBZ City is the most popular for offering affordable villas. Likewise, there is a wide range of options in Zone 12 alone.

Zone 12 MBZ also has few apartments that come in studio to 2-bedroom units. These residential units feature a master bedrooms, bathrooms, big kitchen and spacious balcony.

Villas for rent in Zone 12 comprise 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6-bedroom units.

• The annual rents range from AED 90k to AED 210k
• Covered areas range from 1,200 sq. ft. to 5,600 sq. ft

Starting from AED 55k, 2-bed rental villas in Zone 12 span 1,200 sq. ft. Renting a bigger unit like 4-bedroom villa may cost over AED 150k. Tenants can expect flexible payment schedules for annual rents.

Compared to rental properties on offer, villas for sale in Zone 12 are limited. Investors can choose to buy luxury units starting from AED 9.5M.

There are ample parking spaces in Zone 12. Most properties have spacious covered spaces for private cars.

Things might get tricky for those relying on public transportation near Zone 12. Bus stations are more than 20 minutes away from the sub-community. These include Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station and Abu Dhabi, Shahama Village. Naseem Al Barr Street that runs along Zone 12 directly connects the sub-community to Mahawi. Residents who don’t own private cars can opt for ride-hailing services to commute around the city.

Baqala Al Khazna Star is the nearest option for grocery shopping in Zone 12. Other supermarkets near Zone 12 include Earth Supermarket, Lamar Baqala in Zone 14 and Little Star Supermarket in Zone 16. Both options in the neighbouring zones are accessible in 5 to 6 minutes.

There are quite a few community mosques in Zone 12. Mubarak Bin Salmeen Mosque is one of them. Residents can also find other mosques near Zone 12. A few other mosques in the neighbourhood are also conveniently accessible.

Christian residents can head towards neighbouring zones to visit their place of worship. Churches near Zone 12 include St. Paul’s Church Mussafah, Prophet Elias Cathedral Greek Orthodox, Christ Church of Prayer Ministry and The Mar Thoma Church. These churches are at a distance of 13 to 15 minutes.

BAPS Hindu Mandir is the only temple near Zone 12. It is 28 minutes away from the sub-community. Sikh residents can visit New Gurudwara Abu Dhabi which is at a distance of 16 minutes.

There are plenty of renowned nurseries, schools and universities in the sub-community.

Parents of toddlers can find nurseries near Zone 12 located at a distance of 4 to 7 minutes. These include:

• Teddy Bear American Nursery, MBZ City Branch
• Riverwood Nursery

Other options include Vision Nursery and Maple Bear Nursery accessible within 7 minutes via car.

Residents can find numerous schools in the neighbouring communities of Zone 15, Zone 23, Shabiya 12 and ME – 9. These are located at a distance of 5 to 12 minutes from Zone 12.

Schools near Zone 12 include:

• Ajyal International School
• Al Rabeeh Academy
• Abu Dhabi International Private School MBZ

Ajyal International School MBZ is a British curriculum school offering Foundation Stage 1 to Grade 13. It is situated in Zone 15. Other notable options including Al Rabeeh Academy and Abu Dhabi International Private School are also based in MBZ City. Former is an American curriculum school.

Those looking for higher education can access Abu Dhabi Polytechnic and Zabeel International Institute of Management and Technology located at a 4 to 8-minute drive. Abu Dhabi University in Zayed City is 6 minutes away from the sub-community.

There are a number of clinics and hospitals near Zone 12. Popular clinics include:

• Madinat Mohamed bin Zayed Healthcare Center
• Al Dhabi Medical Centre
• Taba Specialist Medical Center

Other options include Health and Life Medical Center, Prime Care Medical Center, New Al Mazroui Medical Centre. These clinics are at a distance of 6 to 10 minutes by car. Some hospitals near Zone 12 are:

• Bareen International Hospital
• Mediclinic Al Noor Hospital
• Burjeel Medical City

These are the nearest hospitals to visit during sickness or emergency. These are at a 5 to 11-minute drive from the sub-community.

There are several residential communities near Zone 12. These include:

• Zone 36
• Zone 16
• Zone 13

Zone 36 is located to the east, Zone 13 is located to the north, Zone 14 is located to the northwest, Zone 16 is located to the west and Zone 22 is located to the south of the sub-community. These neighbouring zones are accessible within 5 to 10 minutes.

Some malls near Zone 12 are located in ME-10. Stores such as Al Mussafah Jewellery LLC are 12 minutes away from the sub-community. The Village Mall and Dalma Mall are both at a distance of 14 minutes.

Those who are interested in dining out will find plenty of mouth-watering options close to Zone 12. Those who love Indian cuisine can find many Indian restaurants near Zone 12.

The following restaurants are 8 to 15 minutes away from the sub-community.

• Broccoli Pizza and Pasta
• Bombay Chowpatty
• Yellow Sand Restaurant

Those looking for fast food restaurants near Zone 12 can find few nearby. They include:

• KFC
• Chic Chicken Restaurant
• Happy Burger Cafeteria
• McDonald’s
• Subway
• Charley’s Grilled Subs

The fast-food restaurants are located at a distance of 7 to 16 minutes from the sub-community. The easily accessible coffee places and tea houses near Zone 12 include Caribou Coffee, Starbucks, Glitch Specialty Coffee, Caffeino and Costa Coffee. These are located at a 5 to 10-minute drive.

Beaches near Zone 12 are more than 20 minutes away from the sub-community. These include some of the best beaches in Abu Dhabi such as Abu Dhabi Beach, Corniche Beach, Yas Beach, Al Bateen and Saadiyat Beach.

Corniche Beach features over 1,100 free parking spaces and separate sections for individuals and families. Gorgeous views, crystal blue waters and excellent facilities such as lifeguards, and changing rooms make it worth visiting. Saadiyat Beach is for those who love surfing and sailing. It offers over 300 sun loungers, showers, a beach café and two hundred parking spaces.

The nearby entertainment destinations are:

• Yas Waterworld
• Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
• Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

Yas Waterworld is 29 minutes away from the sub-community. It features adrenalin-fuelled waterslides along with static surfing waves, shopping malls and restaurants.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi for car enthusiasts is a 29-minute drive away. It is a motor-racing theme park featuring thrilling rides and a car factory tour.

A 30-minute drive from Zone 12 will take you to Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. It is the largest indoor theme park in the world, bringing characters of Batman, Superman, Looney Tunes, Flintstones and Jetsons to the UAE.

Mohammed Bin Zayed City is still under development; therefore, it has limited outdoor activities. Families living in Zone 12 can head towards public parks equipped with a play area for children. Outdoor spaces can be utilised for walking and jogging.
Parks near Zone 12 are:

• MBZ Park 16
• Mussafah Park
• Mohammed Bin Zayed City Public Park

These parks are located in the neighbouring communities and can be reached within 4 to 11 minutes. Those who wish to shed extra calories can find several gyms near Zone 12. The closest ones are:

• Eagle Gym, Mussafah
• Las Vegas Gym
• Body Care Gym

These gyms are located at a 7 to 10-minute drive from the sub-community. Other nearby options are World Gym, Power House Gym Body Building, Body Factory Body Building Gym and Tiger Gym to name a few.

Salons & Spa near Zone 12 include:

• La Riche Spa Lounge
• Silver Star Ladies Beauty Centre
• Cello Ladies Beauty Center

Other salons nearby are Boston Ladies Salon and Exotica Beauty Salon. These salons are 10 minutes away from Zone 12.

Zone 12 offers a peaceful environment for families. Major amenities are at a small distance from Zone 12, so residents need to travel to other communities. Commuting can get tricky for those who rely solely on public transport.

• Mussafah is 14 minutes away via 16th St
• Al Mafraq is just 8-minute drive via Naseem Al Barr St
• Abu Dhabi International Airport is an 18-minute drive away
• Zayed City is 4 minutes away via Al Qa-Id St.
• Baniyas is an 11-minute drive via Abu Dhabi – Al Ain Rd/E22