Most popular areas to live in Dubai for Filipino expats
The tax-free life, affordable homes and high standard of living are just a handful of the reasons why people choose to move to the UAE. Taking advantage of all that Dubai has to offer, Filipinos are one of the largest expat community in the emirate. Whether you’ve newly moved from the Philippines or a long-time Dubai resident looking for a new home, it’s certainly helpful to know the popular areas to live in Dubai for Filipino expats.
Popular areas to live for Filipino expats in Dubai
When you move to a new country, finding the right place to live can be a daunting task. Living in a neighbourhood where you can easily socialise with other Filipino expats or get your favourite food will make you feel right at home.
We reveal the top neighbourhoods in Dubai that Filipino expats enjoy living in. Let’s take a closer look at each of these areas of Dubai for Filipino expats, all of which have a vast array of apartments available for impressively affordable rental costs.
- 1 BED
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- 2 BATHS
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- 911 SQFT
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- 951 SQFT
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- 490 SQFT
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- 412 SQFT
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- 2 BATHS
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- 731 SQFT
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- 777 SQFT
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- 717 SQFT
Area | Studios | 1-Bed | 2-Bed | 3-Bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Area Bur Dubai | Studios AED 30,000 | 1-Bed AED 48,000 | 2-Bed AED 67,000 | 3-Bed AED 91,000 |
Area Al Nahda (Dubai) | Studios AED 25,000 | 1-Bed AED 34,000 | 2-Bed AED 46,000 | 3-Bed AED 64,000 |
Area International City | Studios AED 23,000 | 1-Bed AED 32,000 | 2-Bed AED 49,000 | 3-Bed AED 77,000 |
Area Al Karama | Studios AED 37,000 | 1-Bed AED 50,000 | 2-Bed AED 63,000 | 3-Bed AED 90,000 |
Area Al Satwa | Studios AED 37,000 | 1-Bed AED 53,000 | 2-Bed AED 70,000 | 3-Bed AED 206,000 |
Area Al Quoz | Studios AED 32,000 | 1-Bed AED 44,000 | 2-Bed AED 56,000 | 3-Bed AED 70,000 |
Area Al Rigga | Studios AED 30,000 | 1-Bed AED 42,000 | 2-Bed AED 64,000 | 3-Bed AED 85,000 |
Bur Dubai, Al Nahda (Dubai) and International City are considered the most popular areas to live in Dubai for Filipino expats. These areas have a sizable number of Filipino restaurants, stores and supermarkets.
Other popular areas include Al Karama, Al Satwa, Al Quoz and Al Rigga. The presence of multiple public transport options, affordable rents and a large Pinoy community make these neighbourhoods popular for Filipino expats looking for homes in Dubai.
Bur Dubai
Bur Dubai is first on our list of popular areas to live in Dubai for Filipino expats. It is one of the most affordable neighbourhoods and has a plethora of stores, restaurants, gyms and healthcare centres. Bur Dubai encompasses a number of smaller neighbourhoods such as Oud Metha, Al Mankhool and Al Raffa.
The area is home to BurJuman Mall and is very well connected by public transport, with several metro and bus stations in the vicinity. All this contributes to its popularity among the preferred areas to live in Dubai for Filipino expats.
Weekends are never dull here, as there are plenty of things to do in Bur Dubai. When it comes to amenities, you can easily find clinics and hospitals in Bur Dubai and salons for both men and women. Hot Palayok Restaurant & Grill, Bulwagang and Max’s Restaurant are some of the well-known Filipino restaurants in the area.
- Studio apartments for rent in Bur Dubai are available for an average of AED 32k per year
- A 1-bedroom apartment for rent in Bur Dubai costs AED 48k annually, on average
- A 2-bedroom flat for rent in Bur Dubai is available for around AED 67k per annum.
- For a larger 3-bedroom apartment in Bur Dubai, the average annual rent is AED 91k.
Al Nahda
Al Nahda is also counted among the popular areas to live in Dubai for Filipino expats. The area is ideal for expats who plan to stay long-term in the UAE with their family. You can find a studio to three-bedroom apartments in Al Nahda at budget-friendly prices.
Situated right on the Dubai-Sharjah border, Al Nahda offers its residents an easy commute between the two emirates, which contributes to its popularity among areas to live in Dubai for Filipino expats. It is an excellent choice for families with young kids as there are plenty of schools near Al Nahda.
There is also the Al Nahda Pond Park in the community that has open spaces, running tracks and play areas for kids. One of the other benefits of living in Al Nahda Dubai is that there are some top-notch healthcare facilities like NMC Speciality Hospital and Thumbay Hospital Dubai in the vicinity.
There is large inventory of rental apartments in Al Nahda. You can find flats ranging from affordable studios to spacious 3-bedroom units.
- A studio apartment for rent in Al Nahda costs an average of AED 25k per year
- A 1-BHK flat is available for AED 33k on average.
- Similarly, a 2-bedroom apartment for rent in Al Nahda costs AED 45k on average.
- You can expect to pay around AED 63k per year for a 3BHK apartment for rent in Al Nahda.
International City
International City is also one of the most preferred areas to live in Dubai for Filipino expats. While it’s located away from the city centre, International City has developed into a self-sufficient community over the years, housing restaurants, clinics, laundry services and grocery stores. It’s well connected by the RTA bus network, however there are no Dubai Metro stations nearby.
When it comes to leisure and sports, Mushrif Park is a 15-minute drive away, while the well-known Melia Desert Palm Resort is 10 minutes from International City. The sprawling Dragon Mart shopping centre is also located just outside the community. These recreational and shopping facilities make International City a great community to live in.
Another benefit of living in International City is the extremely affordable rents; it’s frequently featured on our list of cheapest areas to rent studios in Dubai.
- You can get a studio apartment for rent in International City for AED 23k on average.
- Alternatively, you can opt for a 1-BHK apartment for rent in International City available for an average price of AED 32k.
- A 2-bed flat for rent in the area costs around AED 49k per year.
- A 3-bedroom apartment for rent in International City costs AED 77k per annum.
Al Karama
For cheap residential areas to live in Dubai for Filipino expats, look no further than Al Karama. This neighbourhood is located just opposite Bur Dubai and is another popular choice for Filipino expats in Dubai looking for affordable housing options.
Similar to Bur Dubai, this area features a mix of low and mid-rise apartment buildings at affordable prices. Al Karama is one of the cheapest residential areas near the Dubai Metro. There is also a plethora of supermarkets, hotels, clinics and hospitals in Al Karama.
For some retail therapy, there is the Al Attar Centre and Karama Shopping Complex, both of which are popular shopping destinations for Filipinos in Dubai. To decide whether or not this is the right neighbourhood for you, consider the pros and cons of living in Al Karama.
- A studio for rent in Al Karama costs AED 37k on average
- You can also get a 1-bedroom apartment for rent in Al Karama for around AED 50k.
- The 2BHK apartments for rent in Al Karama average at AED 63k per year
- Whereas a large 3-bedroom flat for rent in Al Karama costs around AED 90k per annum.
Al Satwa
Dubbed as ‘Mini-Manila’ by the Filipinos in Dubai, Al Satwa is one of the most popular neighbourhoods for Filipino expats. Here, you will find low-rise buildings with apartments ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units. These flats are predominately occupied by a mix of Indian, Pakistani and Filipino expats.
Al Satwa’s central location and the presence of ample public transportation options like buses and taxis, make it easily accessible from the rest of the city. Al Satwa has a few villas for rent too.
- The rents for studio flats in Satwa average at AED 37k.
- 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments for rent in Al Satwa cost an average of AED 53k, AED 90k and AED 206k, respectively.
AL QUOZ
Al Quoz is also fairly popular among Filipino expats. It’s located between two major highways, Al Khail Road (E44) and Sheikh Zayed Road (E11). There are plenty of schools in the area, making it the perfect choice for families with kids.
There are several Filipino restaurants in the area as well such as Cuisinerong Pinoy Restaurant, Golden Fork, Max’s Restaurant and Dine Garden Restaurant and Cafe.
Al Quoz has a large number of apartments for rent, mainly in Al Quoz 4 and Al Quoz Industrial Area. These flats are available in different sizes, ranging from studios to 3-BHK.
- Those interested to live in this affordable neighbourhood can get a studio for rent in Al Quoz for AED 32k per year, on average.
- A 1-bedroom apartment for rent in Al Quoz costs an average of AED 44k per year.
- Tenants will have to shell out an average of AED 56k per year for 2-BHK apartment for rent in Al Quoz.
- While a 3-BHK rental flat in Al Quoz costs around AED 70k per year.
Al Rigga
As a Filipino expat in Dubai, another great place to consider is Al Rigga, which is part of the Deira neighbourhood. The streets in the area emanate the charm of Old Dubai but offer all the modern comforts and conveniences.
One of the reasons why Al Rigga is one of the top places to live for Filipino expats in Dubai is that several popular Filipino restaurants like Pinoy Dampa are located in the district.
You even have two West Zone outlets, which are one of the most popular Dubai supermarkets for expats. There is the Philippine Supermarket, which sells a variety of Filipino products. For shopaholics, Al Ghurair Mall is nearby.
You’ve got not one but three metro stations, Union, Al Rigga and Baniyas Square. Hailing a cab or catching a public bus is also very convenient for the residents.
- To rent a studio flat in Al Rigga, you can expect to pay an average of AED 30k per annum.
- The 1-bedroom apartments for rent in Al Rigga are available for AED 42k on average
- For 2 and 3-bedroom apartments for rent in Al Rigga the average cost is around AED 59k and AED 83k, respectively.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY IS AL SATWA AMONG THE POPULAR AREAS TO LIVE IN DUBAI FOR FILIPINO EXPATS?
As a Filipino expat in Dubai, one of the major benefits of living in Al Satwa is affordability. Apart from reasonably-priced housing, the vibrant neighbourhood has rows of budget-friendly cafes, restaurants and retail stores – many of which exclusively sell Filipino products in Dubai.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR FILIPINO SUPERMARKETS IN DUBAI?
Aim Fresh Supermarket and Al Attar are some of the top Filipino stores in Dubai.
That concludes our guide to the popular places to live in Dubai for Filipino expats. The above-mentioned areas are known for having a large Filipino community in Dubai.
For those who plan to move to Dubai from the Philippines, there are several things to consider, such as visa requirements, health insurance, medical tests and other requirements such as OEC in Dubai. But once the application process is complete, you can stay at one of the aforementioned areas in Dubai. If you’re moving from the Philippines with your family, you can also consider these Filipino schools in Dubai for your little ones.
How to get CENOMAR in UAE? is a common question for Filipino expats looking to wed. Our blog provides a clear and detailed guide on obtaining this crucial document in Dubai and other emirates, ensuring your marriage preparations are legally secure.
It’s also recommended to stay updated on your visa and passport expiry dates. If your passport is near expiration, make sure you timely apply for your Philippine passport renewal to avoid complications.
