15 Popular Areas to Live in Dubai for Expats

Best for: Families, couples and singletons

Average rental prices:

• 65k per year for a 2 bedroom flat
• 160k per year for a 4 bedroom villa
• 300k per year for an 8 bedroom villa

Once a million mils outside of Dubai, Mirdif is now a well-connected suburbia, with shops, its own super mall and schools. It is a more affordable area for people looking to live in a villa with a garden. Apartments are also available here so it is a good mix. Watch out for the flight path though- check out the aircraft noise before you move in!

Best for: Families, couples and singletons

Average rental prices:

• 60k per year for a 1 bedroom flat
• 80k per year for a 2 bedroom flat
• 120k per year for a 2 bedroom villa
• 140k per year for a 4 bedroom villa
• 330k per year for a 4 bedroom villa with private pool

Despite being on the wrong side of the new Dubai, those that live in Garhoud are thankful of it. One of the nicer places in Dubai to live, and surrounded by admittedly a large number of older Dubai landmarks. The Irish Village will become your local haunt- not a bad thing! There are older villas and a mix of old and new apartments available in this area.

Best for: Couples and singletons

Average rental prices:

• 25k per year for a studio apartment
• 30-35k per year for a 1 bedroom flat
• 50k per year for a 2 bedroom flat
• 80k per year for a 3 bedroom villa

This area is starting to mature with an expanding range of shops and restaurants now open. Prices are genuinely cheap for Dubai standards, making this one of Dubai's few low cost options.

Beware it is very close to a sewage treatment plant and you can sense that in some places, traffic in and out during rush hours is trying and there are recent reports of companies using it to house workers- too many to a flat- but it is a very big development.

So, check out the many different clusters to find one to suit you and visit in the evening to see how busy it really is.

Best for: Families and couples

Average rental prices:

• 47k per year for a studio apartment
• 70k per year for a 1 bedroom flat
• 90k per year for a 2 bedroom flat
• 130k per year for a 3 bedroom villa
• 150k per year for a 5 bedroom villa

Great for families & couples, this area of Dubai is older, more established and can be quite beautiful and peaceful, once you get behind Jumeirah Beach Road. Houses on one side are on the beach - or almost. On the other side, it is quiet and about as green as Dubai gets. Jumeirah 1 and 2 used to be the most expensive - closer to the old centre of town, plus Palm Strip and Mercato Shopping Malls.

Best for: Families, couples and singletons

Average rental prices:

• 50k per year for a studio apartment
• 65k per year for a 1 bedroom flat
• 90k per year for a 2 bedroom flat
• 160k per year for a 3 bedroom villa
• 185k per year for 4 bedroom villa

Al Sufouh includes the Palm Jumeirah, along with Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City- it is bordered by Emirates Hills and Al Barsha. There are many villas old and new style and apartments available- apartments on The Palm Island are no longer incredibly expensive so it’s definitely worth a look.

Best for: Families and couples

Average rental prices:

• 110k for a 2 bedroom villa in The Springs
• 130k for a 3 bedroom villa in The Springs
• 150k for a 3 bedroom villa in The Lakes
• 180k for a 4 bedroom villa in The Meadows

Popular with families and couples, there are various gated communities featuring anything from 2 bedroom town houses up to 6 bed room luxury villas. There are several community centres for shopping and health clubs available, as well as shared pools and recreation areas. The new Springs Souk has recently opened too, bringing a cinema to the area!

Best for: Families (and rich people, apparently!)

Average rental prices:

• 250k a year for a 3 bedroom villa
• 600k a year for a 5 bedroom villa
• 1.8m a year for a 7 bedroom villa

Emirates Hills is a luxury gated community of villas, which is home to some of Dubai's richer expatriates. It overlooks the Montgomerie, an 18-hole Championship Golf Course and has some truly amazing villas!

Bear in mind that rental prices increase significantly depending on the view and location of the villa; if you're wanting a lake view with several bedrooms, be prepared to pay the price.

Best for: Families, couples and singletons

Average rental prices:

• 40k per year for a studio apartment
• 50k per year for a 1 bedroom flat
• 65k per year for a 2 bedroom flat
• 130k per year for a 4 bedroom villa
• 170k per year for a 5 bedroom villa

Once desert, now one of the more popular areas for expats, Al Barsha starts behind the Mall of the Emirates and heads out towards Emirates Hills. Not cheap, but cheaper than Dubai Marina, and very close to the Mall of the Emirates.

The Barsha Heights area within Barsha has many new apartments at really reasonable prices. There are also private villas tucked away in this area too.

Best for: Couples and singletons

Average rental prices:

• 40k a year for a studio apartment
• 50k a year for a 1 bedroom flat
• 65k a year for a 2 bedroom flat
• 95k a year for a 3 bedroom flat

The name is somewhat misleading- it is nowhere near Jumeirah- we hasten to point out! Jumeirah LakeTowers is across the other side of Sheikh Zayed Road from the Marina.

Plenty of towers have been built and rented out to those who can't quite make the rents of the Marina. What they save on rent, however, they pay for in dust, noise and traffic- it is getting better though!

Best for: Families, couples and singletons

Average rental prices:

• 44k a year for a studio apartment
• 55k a year for a 1 bedroom flat
• 90k a year for a 2 bedroom flat
• 120k a year for a 3 bedroom flat

Situated around the race track development, are many villas and apartments that are also quite reasonably priced- shops and services are also available. You’ll get the noise from the race track maybe 6 times a year- but it all adds to the excitement of living there! It’s close to Arabian Ranches and more affordable.

Best for: Families

Average rental prices:

• 110k a year for a 2 bedroom villa
• 130k a year for a 3 bedroom villa
• 150k a year for a 4 bedroom villa
• 170k a year for a 5 bedroom villa

A beautiful, residential gated community located on the Emirates Road. The project consists of different kinds of villas and townhouses. The project includes a Golf Course, Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club, a community shopping centre and Jumeirah English Speaking School.

Best for: Couples and singletons

Average rental prices:

• 40k a year for a studio apartment
• 60k a year for a 1 bedroom flat
• 80k a year for a 2 bedroom flat
• 110k a year for a 3 bedroom flat

Dubai Marina is at the heart of what has become known as 'New Dubai'. The Marina Walk feels like one of Dubai's better planned developments, with lots of shops and restaurants around the man- made marina.

The development is populated by many, many freehold waterfront apartment towers- this is definitely high rise living. It’s the area of choice for the young, affluent expat singleton or couples.

Best for: Families, couples and singletons

Average rental prices:

• 40k a year for a 1 bedroom flat
• 65k a year for a 2 bedroom flat
• 100k a year for a 3 bedroom villa/townhouse
• 140k a year for a 4 bedroom villa/townhouse

This includes the two up and coming areas - Jumeirah Village Triangle, and Jumeirah Village Circle. The former is more finished, with landscaping and amenities installed already. However, the latter, JVC, still needs some TLC and time.

In both communities, there is great villas with lots of space and large gardens and there are bargains to be had here- so if you don’t mind dusty roads and some quite close by electricity pylons you can snap up a bargain here.

There are town houses and villas starting from 2 beds at great prices. It has easy access to Emirates and Al Khail Road and is about a 20 minute drive to Mall of the Emirates to put it in perspective- and it’s really quiet right now too. (Also not in Jumeirah so don’t be fooled by the name again.)

Best for: Families, couples and singletons

As The Gardens is an area of Dubai developed and owned by property developer, Nakheel, rental prices are not publicly shared - and instead, prospective tenants must contact Nakheel directly for availability and to be added to a waiting list.

The Gardens consists of low and high rise apartment blocks all surrounded by well established gardens and community areas including swimming pools. It is behind Ibn Battuta Mall- so excellent for shopping. There are some access problems with road works at the moment but once these are completed it will be smooth sailing. Not too expensive an area although you will find the “old” Gardens apartments more expensive than the “new” Gardens.

Besides Ibn Battuta, the Jebel Ali Recreational Club has recently undergone a refurb - bringing with it a new cinema and dining options for residents of the area.

Best for: Families and couples

Average rental prices:

• 45k a year for a studio apartment
• 70k a year for a 1 bedroom flat
• 180k a year for a 3 bedroom villa

Still considered a bit too far away by many, the residents of this community don’t seem to care. The villas are beautiful and there is a real feeling of peace and serenity in this well planned gated community. There are plenty of services and living there is a great experience. There are also apartments available. It is very close to Jebel Ali and handy for those who commute to Abu Dhabi.