Popular Abu Dhabi residential areas for families

• Apartments
• Villas
• FAQs

Abu Dhabi’s real estate market offers a variety of options for residents, but which areas are the best for families? We’ve compiled a list of the most popular family-friendly Abu Dhabi residential areas, which offer a wide range of properties and amenities, and are close to schools and nurseries. Let’s explore them.

POPULAR ABU DHABI RESIDENTIAL AREAS FOR A FAMILY – APARTMENT LIVING

Looking to rent an apartment in Abu Dhabi? Here are the top residential areas for a family in Abu Dhabi, with flats to consider.

AL REEM ISLAND

Al Reem Island is a waterfront community and a preferred choice for those who want to live in luxurious apartments. The natural island is located 600 meters off the northeastern coast of Abu Dhabi and offers a modern lifestyle.

The area is a mixed-use community featuring clusters of high and mid-rise buildings. Flats for rent in Al Reem Island come with top-notch amenities, making it one of the best areas in Abu Dhabi for families.

The average rent for a 2-bed flat in Al Reem Island stands at AED 95k. For a spacious 3-bedroom apartment, the average rent stands at AED 138k.

Let’s look at the starting sales price for apartments in Al Reem Island.

• 2-bed: AED 735k
• 3-bed: AED 850k

AL RAHA BEACH

Al Raha Beach offers a range of residential properties to provide families with a luxurious and modern living environment. Most villas in the community offer stunning sea views.

This beachfront neighbourhood features several kilometres of pristine sandy beaches, making it a wonderful choice for swimming, sunbathing and watersports. So, if you’re a beach person, you’d enjoy living here. Rental flats at Al Raha Beach are always in demand. Many consider it the best place to live in Abu Dhabi.

The average rent for a 2-bed flat at Al Raha Beach is AED 109k. It rises to AED 168k for a 3-bed unit.

Interested in buying a flat at Al Raha Beach? Here is a look at starting costs.

• 2-bed: AED 1.1M
• 3-bed: AED 1.5M

AL KHALIDIYAH

One of the popular residential communities in Abu Dhabi for families is Al Khalidiya. The cultural hub of the emirate features mid-rise buildings and gated communities.

Parents interested in rental apartments in Al Khalidiyah have many schools and nurseries to choose from, such as the American Community School of Abu Dhabi and the well-known British Orchard Nursery. If you’re fond of lush green spaces, you can head to the popular Al Khalidiya Park, an urban retreat in Abu Dhabi.

If you have been wondering where to live in Abu Dhabi with family, Al Khalidiyah could be a good option.

The average rent for a 2-bed flat in Al Khalidiya is AED 69k. For a 3-bed unit, it goes up to AED 98k.

AL MUROOR

Another top area to live in Abu Dhabi for families who prefer apartments is Al Muroor. These flats are close to international educational institutes, top-notch hospitals and fitness centres.

The community is located in the heart of Abu Dhabi. Al Wahda Mall is just a few minutes away, and retail shops, restaurants and grocery stores are scattered around. For many, Al Muroor is the answer to the question, where to live in Abu Dhabi.

Let’s look closer at the flats for rent in Al Muroor. To rent a 2-bed flat in Al Muroor, you can budget to pay AED 57k on average. For a 3-bed unit, the cost goes up to AED 79k.

CORNICHE AREA

Searching for a waterfront location in the UAE capital? Look no further than Corniche Area. You can find flats and penthouses in this Abu Dhabi district, where most units are designed to suit modern tastes and lifestyle preferences.

Because of lifestyle amenities and accommodation variety, Abu Dhabi Corniche Area is one of the most popular residential areas for a family in Abu Dhabi.

Here’s what you can expect to pay when renting Corniche Area flats.

• 2-bed: AED 109k
• 3-bed: AED 127k

Here’s a summary of the average rents of apartments in the popular residential areas for families in Abu Dhabi.

Area	2-Bed	3-Bed
Area Al Reem Island	2-Bed AED 95,000	3-Bed AED 138,000
Area Al Raha Beach	2-Bed AED 109,000	3-Bed AED 168,000
Area Al Khalidiyah	2-Bed AED 69,000	3-Bed AED 98,000
Area Al Muroor	2-Bed AED 57,000	3-Bed AED 79,000
Area Corniche Area	2-Bed AED 109,000	3-Bed AED 127,000

POPULAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS FOR A FAMILY IN ABU DHABI WITH VILLAS

Let’s now look at the popular villa communities in Abu Dhabi for families.

MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED CITY

Mohammed Bin Zayed City (MBZ) is top on our list of the most popular areas in Abu Dhabi for families. The area features villas equipped with top-notch facilities.

The residential community is ideal for those who want to raise their family in quiet suburbs. Other benefits of living in MBZ are its proximity to Dubai and direct access to main highways.

Parents will find some of the best schools and nurseries here, including Al Dhafra Private School, The British International School, Riverwood Nursery and Happy Jump Nursery. If you prefer villas, this area is among the best for living in Abu Dhabi with family.

If you want to rent a villa in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, expect to shell out AED 105k for a 3-bed unit yearly. Whereas, the average rent of four-bedroom villas is AED 132k. For larger 5-bed units, you can expect to pay an average rent of AED 157k.

Let’s look at the starting sales prices for villas in MBZ City.

• 3-bed: AED 3.5M
• 4-bed: AED 8.5M

KHALIFA CITY

Khalifa City is designed to provide a family-friendly living environment with well-planned buildings, villas, landscaped gardens and ample green spaces.

The area is well-connected to major roads and highways, providing easy access to other parts of the capital and neighbouring emirates. It is located close to Zayed International Airport Abu Dhabi, making it convenient for residents who travel frequently.

Several reputable schools and educational institutions are located within the community, including the International School of Choueifat and GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi. This makes Khalifa City quite popular among families with children.

The rental villas in Khalifa City come in 3, 4, 5 and 6-bed configurations. The average rent is AED 139k for a 3-bedroom villa. It goes up to AED 158k and AED 173k for a 4 and 5-bed units, respectively.

Here’s a detailed look at the starting sales prices for villas in Khalifa City.

• 3-bed: AED 3M
• 4-bed: AED 3.8M
• 5-bed: AED 4.7M

SHAKHBOUT CITY

Shakhbout City features spacious villas and is located near Baniyas and Al Shawamekh. The area has many schools, including Virginia International Private School and Al Ittihad National Private School. The availability of top-notch medical facilities adds to the attraction of this community.

The rental villas in Shakhbout City offer great value for money. To rent a 3-bed unit, you can budget for AED 117k, on average. It rises to AED 134k and AED 149k for 4 and 5-bed units.

Below are the starting prices for villas for sale in Shakhbout City.

• 5-bed: AED 5.5M
• 6-bed: AED 5.8M

AL MUSHRIF

Al Mushrif is a quiet community based in the city centre, ideal for working parents. It is home to the Mushrif Palace and the famous Umm Al Emarat Park, a great place to visit over the weekend for a picnic with the whole family.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Umm Al Emarat Park (@ummalemaratpark)

Residents can head to the nearby Mushrif Mall for retail therapy.

Looking to rent a villa in Al Mushrif? The average rent for a 3-bedroom villa in Al Mushrif is AED 143k. You can expect to pay around AED 160k for a 4-bed unit. The rent can go up to AED 212k for a 6-bedroom villa.

Let’s look at the average sales price for villas in Al Mushrif.

• 5-bed: AED 4.2M
• 6-bed: AED 5.1M

AL RAHA BEACH

Al Raha Beach appears on lists of areas to look for villas and flats.

The average rent for villas in Al Raha Beach are relatively on the higher side. To rent a 3-bed unit, you will have to budget for AED 158k. It jumps up to AED 174k and AED 237k for 4 and 5-bed units.

The starting prices of villas for sale in Al Raha Beach are as follows:

• 5-bed: AED 4.5M
• 6-bed: AED 7.4M

Here’s a breakdown of average rents for villas in areas ideal for raising a family in Abu Dhabi.

Area	3-Bed	4-Bed	5-Bed
Area Mohammed Bin Zayed City	3-Bed AED 105,000	4-Bed AED 132,000	5-Bed AED 157,000
Area Khalifa City	3-Bed AED 139,000	4-Bed AED 158,000	5-Bed AED 173,000
Area Shakhbout City	3-Bed AED 117,000	4-Bed AED 134,000	5-Bed AED 149,000
Area Al Mushrif	3-Bed AED 143,000	4-Bed AED 160,000	5-Bed AED 196,000
Area Al Raha Gardens	3-Bed AED 158,000	4-Bed AED 174,000	5-Bed AED 237,000

FAQS ABOUT ABU DHABI RESIDENTIAL AREAS FOR A FAMILY

WHERE TO LIVE IN ABU DHABI WITH FAMILY?

Depending on your preference for villas or apartments, you can start your search from one of the areas from the aforementioned lists.

WHAT ARE MY BEST OPTIONS FOR LUXURY ACCOMMODATION AMONGST ABU DHABI RESIDENTIAL AREAS?

Yas Island and Saadiyat Island have lately garnered interest from families looking for luxury apartments and villas. While both islands have an exciting property portfolio besides a long list of amenities, you can check out our guide on Yas Island vs Saadiyat Island to determine which island would suit you best.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST OF LIVING IN ABU DHABI?

The average cost of living in Abu Dhabi can range from AED 3.8k to AED 18.8k. Check out the cost breakdown when searching for the top residential communities in Abu Dhabi for families. One can opt to live in one of the cheap residential areas in Abu Dhabi to save on rent.

WHICH ARE THE POPULAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS FOR INDIAN EXPATS IN DUBAI?

Here is a list of the most popular areas for Indian expats to live in Abu Dhabi.

WHICH IS THE BEST AREA TO LIVE IN ABU DHABI?

If you wish to living in Abu Dhabi with family, there are a variety of factors to consider. Some people prefer to live in an area near their office. Others prefer bigger spaces which are generally available away from the city centre. Similarly, some are more conscious about their budget. So, it really depends on your individual preferences.

WHAT IS A GOOD SALARY FOR A FAMILY IN DUBAI?

This is a subjective question because it all depends on your lifestyle. Read our guide on cost of living in Abu Dhabi to make a judgement on your personal choices.

IS ABU DHABI GOOD FOR FAMILIES?

Abu Dhabi is a safe and secure city, with plenty of reputable educational and healthcare institutes. Similarly, it offers a plethora of entertainment and leisure activities making it an ideal place for families.

And on that note, we conclude our guide to the best areas to stay in Abu Dhabi for families. The aforementioned areas can provide plenty of top options for people looking to rent properties in Abu Dhabi.

Want to do something fun with your kids? Make sure to try these family-friendly activities in Abu Dhabi. 

Looking for the popular areas for students to live in Abu Dhabi? Our guide will help streamline your research.