Primarily Dubai's site for dhow-building and maintenance, Al Jaddaf is growing into a mixed-use development with plenty of amenities
16 February 2020
| Last updated on 16 February 2020A lovely mixed-use neighbourhood that's ideal for nature-lovers
Home base to Dubai's dhow-building area, several sports facilities, hospitals, and modern residential apartments, this district located along the Dubai Creek makes for a lovely place to live in. Al Jaddaf, which means "the rower" in Arabic, was originally an area dedicated to shipyards as well as the building and maintenance of traditional dhow boats.
Today, it's a mixed-use community offering access to other popular localities of Dubai and a sufficient range of daily amenities, including long-established sports clubs and healthcare centres.
Flanked between the Dubai Creek and Oud Metha/Bur Dubai, residents benefit from a convenient city lifestyle and a quiet environment by the waters. It's also within close proximity to one of the few urban wildlife preserves in the world, the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, making it a great location for nature enthusiasts.
The west and southern area of Al Jaddaf is also the location for the proposed Phase Two of Dubai Healthcare City.
Find out more about Al Jaddaf with our complete area guide.
Public transport in Al Jaddaf
Several RTA public buses run through the area, namely bus numbers 44 and C04 which connect to the nearest metro stations. For those looking for the Dubai metro stations in Al Jaddaf, the nearest stops are at Al Jaddaf metro station and Creef metro station - both of which are on the green line.
Dubai taxis might often be seen around Al Jaddaf, but if you're unable to find one, car-hailing services Uber and Careem can be used as well.
Commute times by car from Al Jaddaf
- to Dubai International Airport (DXB): 9 minutes
- to Dubai Festival City: 9 minutes
- to Dubai Design District (D3): 13 minutes
- to Dubai Healthcare City: 13 minutes
- to Downtown Dubai: 16 minutes
- to Jumeirah: 18 minutes
- to Academic City: 20 minutes
- to Sharjah: 23 minutes
- to Dubai Media City: 26 minutes
- to Dubai Investments Park: 36 minutes
Dubai Creek metro station in Al Jaddaf, Dubai
Amenities and facilities in Al Jaddaf
For residents in Al Jaddaf, the following amenities and facilities are available:
- Supermarkets and smaller grocery shops, including a West Zone supermarket.
- Hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and other health/wellness centres
- Few schools, with plenty more available in neighbouring communities.
- Sports clubs and facilities - Zabeel Stadium, Al Wasl Sports Club, Dubai Police Club Stadium.
- Hotels and other short-term accommodation with world-class facilities.
- The Jameel Arts Centre.
- Salons and spas.
- Short drive away from WAFI mall and Dubai Festival City shopping mall.
- Al Jaddaf boardwalk, with views of Dubai Creek.
- Petrol stations
- Dubai's main dhow repair and maintenance docks.
Almost everything you need for daily living, including supermarkets, medical centres, and salons, can be found in Al Jaddaf. For more shopping, dining, and entertainment options, shopping malls WAFI and Dubai Festival City are just a 10-minute drive away.
There are a few restaurants, cafes, and eateries, offering quick and budget-friendly menus.
In terms of schools in Al Jaddaf, at the moment there is only one English-speaking school in the area. Neighbours Oud Metha and Bur Dubai have plenty of other schools available and are conveniently a short drive to/from Al Jaddaf.
For hospitals, clinics, dentists, and other healthcare centres in Al Jaddaf, you can find the nearest one to you using our dedicated directory, here.
Residents who follow the Islamic faith will find a good number of mosques in the neighbourhood. Christians and Catholics will be glad to know that the nearest churches are only a 10-minute drive away to Oud Metha.
Hindu residents will find the nearest prayer facilities in the neighbouring Zabeel district or in Dubai Festival City. More temples are located at Al Fahidi, which takes 20 minutes by car or a few minutes by metro as the Al Fahidi metro station lies on the green line, directly connected to Al Jaddaf and Creek metro stations.
What's life like in Al Jaddaf?
- A quiet mixed-use district with basic amenities on offer
- Easy access to other parts of Dubai thanks to the Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Khail Road.
- Between 10-20 minutes away from other popular districts, such as Downtown Dubai, Dubai Festival City, Bur Dubai, and Deira.
- A lovely place for singles, couples, and families with children and pets.
- Close to Dubai Creek.
- Home to a few sports clubs and facilities.
- Close to the city centre, but is not crowded or flashy.
Al Jaddaf offers residents a quiet lifestyle between the creek and some of Dubai's established neighbourhoods. It's conveniently close to the city, minus all the hustle and bustle, allowing residents to enjoy life at their own pace.
It's worth noting that commuting residents may experience daily rush hour traffic while driving to/from Al Jaddaf through the main roads.
If you're a single resident, couple, or family seeking a lifestyle that is more private, exclusive, or has a strong nightlife, the Al Jaddaf may not be your first pick.
Dubai Creek
Al Jaddaf by day
During the day, Al Jaddaf residents are usually at school, work, running errands, enjoying a day out, or at home. It's quiet in the district, with most activity and noise happening at the dhow-building and industrial sites.
The afternoon sees children returning home from school, with some staying out with friends to hang out, study, or play before coming back around dusk.
Al Jaddaf by night
By night time, the residential area becomes peaceful. Residents will usually be at home, enjoying a night out elsewhere in Dubai, or are making use of the facilities nearby. Active residents can often be seen at the nearby sports clubs.
Others are queezing in some errands and other activities after work, such as a trip to the salon, a late-night jog, outdoor sports, etc.
While Al Jaddaf residents will rarely experience traffic within the community itself, drivers travelling to and from the area may see long queues on Sheikh Rashid Road during rush hour.
Al Jaddaf boardwalk
Who lives in Al Jaddaf?
- Professional singles and couples.
- Families with children and/or pets.
- Residents who work in the neighbouring localities.
The area is popular with professional singles, couples, and families who are looking for an ideal quiet place that is settled in the city. Its proximity to many schools, popular retail, dining, and leisure hotspots, and public parks makes it a lovely place for couples with children as well as growing families.
Al Jaddaf apartments are modern, child-friendly, and almost every residential building has its own outdoor swimming pool and indoor gym. It's also a great place to live for lovers of sports, nature, and art - the neighbourhood is home to a few sports clubs, and is located near the Ras Al Khor wildlife sanctuary and Dubai Creek Park.
Properties for sale and rent in Al Jaddaf
Average annual rental prices in Al Jaddaf are as follows:
- Studio apartment: AED 40,000
- 1 bedroom apartment: AED 55,000
- 2 bedroom apartment: AED 75,000
- 3 bedroom apartment: AED 100,000
- 3 bedroom apartment: AED 350,000
Average property sales prices in Al Jaddaf are as follows:
- Studio apartment: AED 600,000
- 1 bedroom apartment: AED 700,000
- 2 bedroom apartment: AED 900,000
- 3 bedroom apartment: AED 1,100,000
What are properties like in Al Jaddaf?
The neighbourhood is a great place for residents who want to live near the waters and other established areas in Dubai. The rent in Al Jaddaf is affordable, too. Residents can pick from a range of spacious and mdoern studio flats and 1-4 bedroom apartments. These apartments offer 24/7 security, balcony, built-in wardrobe, centralised air-conditioning, a community swimming pool, and some feature an indoor gym.
Basement parking is usually only open for residents, whereas guests can park their cars outside the building.
The Al Jaddaf waterfront is just a short drive or a couple of minutes walk away, providing plenty of space for pleasant strolls, jogging, cycling, and dog-walking with views of the Dubai Creek.
In terms of the industrial side, Al Jaddaf offers several warehouses with plenty of storage capacity at different rental rates.
What are noise levels like in Al Jaddaf?
As Al Jaddaf is a mixed-used locality, the noise levels vary depending on the area. The industrial, ship and dhow-building area tend to be very noisy due to the general sounds of machinery, welding, and workers. Apartments located near the main roads might occasionally hear cars honking and supercar engines.
However, Al Jaddaf is usually a very slow and quiet place to be. The residential buildings come with sufficient soundproofing, minimising the typical noises from neighbours such as loud television, music, voices, vacuum cleaners, etc.