Guest Blog: A Review of Renting in Dubai Sports City by a Rentee

Everyone loves to know what they’re getting exactly when looking to rent an apartment in Dubai. Thankfully, with names like Dubai Sports City – it’s hard to misunderstand the type of community it strives to be. Sports City is home to the International Stadium, the International Cricket Council (ICC) training academy, football pitches, golf courses and fitness centres. Luckily for residents, it doesn’t end with sports facilities. Renting in Dubai Sports City is a smart choice due to its plethora of residential buildings, nurseries, schools, restaurants and other much-needed amenities.

AFFORDABLE 

The fast-paced Dubai lifestyle means people want to partake in the hustle and bustle of communities such as Dubai Marina and JBR. However, rental costs in those areas can be very high– so what is the next best thing? Well, living in a place like Sports City, where the average rent for a 1-bed apartment hovers around AED 60,000 per year.

WELL CONNECTED

When you rent in Sports City, you are a short drive away from the main hot spots in Dubai. It takes 15 minutes to get to the beach or the Marina, and 25 minutes to get to Dubai International Airport. Furthermore, there are excellent links to the main roads, such as Al Khail Road or Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, which makes accessing different parts of the emirate hassle-free.

BEAUTIFUL VIEWS

When looking for a rental, not having a great view is a big deal breaker for some tenants – myself included. Luckily, Sports City does not disappoint in this department. There are a lot of residential buildings with fantastic views – some buildings have a full view of the Els Club golf course, which is particularly convenient as we all know greenery in the desert is a refreshing sight. Oh, and let’s not forget the beautiful skyline views you can see at sunset – it’s enough to turn anyone into an amateur photographer.

pedestrian friendly

For those who love to walk, you will have noticed by now that there aren’t many areas in Dubai with pavements to walk safely. Thankfully, Sports City has plenty of footpaths in the process of being laid down, which means it’ll be perfect for an evening walk in the winter months. Also, if you love to keep fit, you can enrol one of the many classes available in the FitRepublik Fitness Centre. These include Aquatics, Boot Camp, Circuit Training and even kid’s sessions.

restaurants & cafes

Foodies, don’t worry! Sports City hasn’t forgotten about you. There are great restaurants dotted along the Canal. But if that doesn’t satisfy your cravings, you can drive a couple of minutes into the neighbouring area, Motor City, where you can find a strip of restaurants catering to everyone’s taste. If there is anything else you need, you can pop down to Me’aisem City Centre community mall and dining destination in International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), which is only a 5-minute drive away.

easily accessible

Although there is currently no metro service, there is a bus line that runs from various bus stops in Sports City to Motor City, IMPZ and Mall of Emirates. It connects you quickly to the Metro. However, most residents who live in Sports City opt to drive – it just makes it that much easier to get around spontaneously. Using the bus will require planning beforehand, which isn’t always ideal.

I know those who don’t drive always have the option of a taxi – and yes, RTA and others are all convenient. Be that as it may, Sports City is relatively quiet community compared to other areas, so it is rare that you can flag a taxi down. It’s much easier to book, which again requires planning beforehand.

As we all know Dubai is a constantly developing city, so there are still pockets of construction dotted around Sports City. However, for most residents, this isn’t an issue, and depending on what part of Sports City you choose to rent, you are likely to be unaffected by any construction noise.

To sum it up, I would wholeheartedly recommend renting an apartment in Sports City. It is more developed than some other areas in Dubai, and the amenities are great. There is something for everyone there, whether you’re a bachelor/bachelorette, a young couple, or a family. Oh, and the final plans for this area are fascinating! Who wouldn’t want to watch the future epicentre of Dubai sports world grow and evolve?

ABOUT THE BLOGGER:

Safiyya Mansoor left London and moved to Dubai with her husband early in 2016. Following a bumpy transition into Dubai life, Safiyya decided to blog her experiences of being an expat in Dubai and share expat advice to help others in similar situations – mostly with a comical twist!

You can find out more on their blog www.thexpats.com and Instagram, @thexpats.