Explore Al Qusais, a budget-friendly locality in Dubai that combines apartment and villa residences with convenience city living
12 February 2020
| Last updated on 12 February 2020A quiet, family-friendly, affordable, and peaceful community
Though Al Qusais is not as affluent as other established and up-and-coming areas in Dubai, this old neighbourhood is one of the most sought-after locations by residents who seek an affordable cost of living.
The area offers low rent, spacious apartments, as well as an abundance of facilities. It's also home to Dubai's biggest industrial site, the Al Qusais Industrial Area.
Al Qusais is conveniently well-connected due to the many RTA public buses that travel through the area, not just one - but five Dubai metro stations nearby, and the main roads which link the locality to other parts of the city.
Much like its old neighbour Deira, the district is a culturally and amenity-rich zone, boasting an impressive list of hospitals, schools, supermarkets, banks, local parks, food joints, and much more.
Find out everything you should know about Al Qusais with our dedicated area guide, including average rent, what amenities are available, what the lifestyle is like, accessibility options, and more.
Public transport in Al Qusais
There are plenty of RTA public buses that run through Al Qusais, many of which connect directly to several red and green line Dubai metro stations. These include buses number 33, X28, 13, and 13A.
The nearest Dubai metro stations in Al Qusais are Stadium metro station, Al Nahda metro station, Dubai Airport Freezone metro station, Al Qusais metro station, and Etisalat metro station.
Commute times by car from Al Qusais
- to Dubai International Airport (DXB): 10 minutes
- to Deira: 13 minutes
- to Sharjah: 17 minutes
- to Mirdiff: 17 minutes
- to Dubai Academic City: 23 minutes
- to Downtown Dubai: 25 minutes
- to Jumeirah: 25 minutes
- to Dubai Investments Park: 39 minutes
Amenities and facilities in Al Qusais
Al Qusais offers a wide variety of amenities and facilities within the area:
- Supermarkets and corner grocery stores, including LuLu Hypermarket.
- Restaurants, cafes, canteens, and other eateries, with plenty of other dining spots available for delivery to Al Qusais.
- Hospitals, clinics, and other health and wellness centres.
- Close to Madina Mall.
- Indoor gyms.
- Schools, offering primary to secondary education with international curriculums.
- Automotive repair, vehicle maintenance, and motor-related service shops.
- Spaces for sport activities and clubs, from football to basketball, running, and horse riding.
- Dubai Club for People of Determination.
- Prayer and worship facilties, particularly mosques.
- Bank branches and ATMs.
- Local public parks.
- Driving schools.
- Government offices such as the UAE General Authority of Sports and the Al Qusais Municipality Office.
- Consulate General of Tunisia.
- Philippine Consulate General Dubai.
- Consulate of Ethiopa.
- Al Qusais Police Station and Fire Department.
One of the many perks of living in Al Qusais is the rich amount of options for schools, grocery shopping, health centres, sports activities, etc. available.
For the nearest hospital, clinic, or other health and wellness centre near you, our wellness directory will help you find the most suitable provider.
If you're looking for a nursery, school, or university, have a look at our dedicate education section.
There are plenty of opportunities for Al Qusais residents to maintain an active lifestyle, thanks to the local parks, indoor gyms, and sports clubs in the community.
Residents of the Christian and Catholic faith will find the nearest churches in Oud Metha, accessible via a Dubai metro ride or it's just a 15-minute car ride away. For Buddhists, the nearest temple is located in Jumeirah 1. The nearest Hindu temples to Al Qusais are in Muhaisnah and Al Fahidi. For Sikhs, the nearest places of worship are also in Al Fahidi.
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What's life like in Al Qusais?
- Ideal for cost-conscious singles, couples, and families who seek a child-friendly, active, and convenient lifestyle.
- Traffic rush during the mornings and late afternoons/evenings.
- Everything you need for everyday living is available nearby, either by walking or by car/public transport.
- Local parks and sports facilities, great for outdoor activities and getting to know other residents in the area.
- Enough pedestrian space for walking, jogging, cycling, and dog-walking.
- Lots of schools.
Life in Al Qusais is a peaceful and convenient one, making it a highly recommended spot for those who want a budget-friendly lifestyle.
Living in Al Qusais can spoil you to comfort, as almost everything you need is either within walking distance or a short drive away. The district is also close to Deira, one of the most prominent and vibrant hotspots in old Dubai. There, you'll find even more choices for dining, shopping, entertainment, and leisure at a range of prices.
The area is well served for schools. There are IGCSE to A-Level schools, CBSE curriculums, and even IB. Neighbouring areas have their own share of places for education, offering international curriculums including American and Filipino.
It's worth noting that Al Qusais experiences daily moderate to high traffic during rush hour, due to drivers commuting to and from Sharjah.
Al Qusais by day
Daytime sees parents, household help, and students head out early in the morning for school drop-off. Working residents also fill the streets as they commute to their jobs for the day.
As Al Qusais has enough sidewalks and spaces for pedestrians, people walking, jogging, cycling, using electric scooters, or walking their dogs can be a common sight.
By the afternoon and dusk, students can be seen arriving back to the neighbourhood. Oftentimes, they're outside enjoying a meal at any of the eateries nearby, running errands with a relative or home help, or playing sports with friends.
During cooler temperatures, Al Qusais residents enjoy the local parks where you might spot families and couples having picnics, exercising, playing sports, and other park activities.
Al Qusais by night
Post-sunset, children who live in the area usually come home for supper, schoolwork, indoor activities, and to call it a day. Parents tend to be home by then and will enjoy a peaceful evening indoors.
It's also a great time for working residents to squeeze in a night-time jog, bring home groceries, grab a haircut from any of the many salons and barbershops nearby, or enjoy an evening out with friends or family.
Who lives in Al Qusais?
- Emiratis and new/long-term expatriates.
- Singles.
- Couples.
- Small to medium families.
Al Qusais' low cost of living and availability of almost everything you need for a convenient lifestyle draws in many Dubai residents.
Those who live in the locality are a mix of expat and UAE National singles, couples, and families, though the majority of Al Qusais residents are foreigners.
The community's affordability and accessibility have made it a great location to raise a family in. There are even a few residents who have lived in the area since childhood and well into adulthood.
Properties for rent and sale in Al Qusais
Average annual rental prices in Al Qusais are as follows:
- Studio apartment: AED 25,000
- 1 bedroom apartment: AED 36,000
- 2 bedroom apartment: AED 50,000
- 3 bedroom apartment: AED 65,000
Average sale prices in Al Qusais are as follows:
- 1 bedroom apartment: AED 512,000
- 6 bedroom villa: AED 4,500,000
What are properties like in Al Qusais?
The residential side of Al Qusais is a collection of low or mid-rise studio and 1 to 3-bedroom apartments, as well as 3 to 11-bedroom villas.
Al Qusais apartments are affordable, many of which feature 24-hour security. Some of the apartments come with additional amenities such as an indoor gym and a rooftop swimming pool. Most, if not all, features underground and outdoor parking spaces for residents. Guests usually park their vehicles outside the building.
The apartments are typically flanked by amenities, including grocery stores.
Al Qusais villas are located in a quieter part of the neighbourhood, near the Al Qusais Pond Park. These spacious units usually come with a private parking lot for 1-2 cars, space for landscaping, maid's room, swimming pool, and storage space.
Some of the villas are quite old and as a result, their sales price is lower compared to villas found in affluent areas such as Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim.
What are the noise levels like in Al Qusais?
During the day, the district is peaceful and quiet, with only the typical sounds from the road. Rush hour time may increase the amount of noise you'll hear from the roads, such as cars honking during traffic. Some apartments are quite old, so you might hear the sounds of vacuum cleaners, loud voices and music, and celebrations next door.
Al Qusais sees a spike in activity in the evenings, but not so much that it becomes loud, busy, and crowded. The areas where you'll hear noises quite often are the local parks, roads, supermarkets, dining establishments, and sports facilities.