Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain
Downtown Dubai
The tallest building in the world, with the fountain show running every evening at its base. Living in Downtown means this is your local park, with the noise and the crowds that implies.
Explore
Dubai, from theresident’s side.
Most guides are written for a four day holiday. This one is written for people working out which part of the city they want to wake up in.
01
Landmarks and attractions
The set pieces the city is known for, and the ones worth living near.
Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah
The original palm island, now mature: hotels along the crescent, low rise apartments along the fronds, and beach clubs throughout. Traffic funnels through one trunk road, which shapes daily life here.
Museum of the Future
Trade Centre
The calligraphy wrapped torus on Sheikh Zayed Road. Worth visiting once, and a useful landmark for orienting yourself along the main artery.
Dubai Frame
Zabeel
A literal frame between old and new Dubai. The view explains the city’s geography better than any map.
Ain Dubai
Bluewaters Island
The observation wheel off JBR, with Bluewaters itself now a compact residential and dining island connected by footbridge.
02
Dining
From the fine dining strip to the neighbourhood places people actually eat at twice a week.
Downtown and DIFC
Downtown Dubai, DIFC
Where the marquee restaurants cluster. DIFC in particular runs on business lunches and long dinners, and the Gate Village galleries make it walkable in the cooler months.
Jumeirah and La Mer
Jumeirah
Beachfront casual dining, brunch spots and coffee culture. This is where the low rise villa communities eat.
Al Seef and Deira
Bur Dubai, Deira
Old Dubai along the creek. Emirati, Iranian, Indian and Levantine food at a fraction of the marina prices, and far more atmosphere.
Dubai Marina and JBR
Dubai Marina
The Walk and Marina Promenade give you waterfront dining at street level. Busy at weekends, convenient every other day.
03
Shopping
Malls are civic infrastructure here. Which one is your default matters more than you would expect.
Dubai Mall
Downtown Dubai
The largest mall in the world by area, with the aquarium, the ice rink and direct metro access. Serves Downtown, Business Bay and Za’abeel.
Mall of the Emirates
Al Barsha
Ski Dubai, a strong cinema and a more manageable footprint. The default for Al Barsha, Umm Suqeim and the Springs.
Dubai Hills Mall
Dubai Hills Estate
Newer, calmer and genuinely convenient if you live in Dubai Hills. A big part of why the community commands its premium.
Gold and Spice Souks
Deira
The traditional trading quarter across the creek. Still working markets rather than heritage displays.
04
Family and entertainment
Schools, parks and the places that make a weekend with children manageable.
Schools and the northern corridor
Dubai Hills, Arabian Ranches, Sustainable City
The strongest concentration of British and IB curriculum schools sits along the Al Khail and Emirates Road corridor. School run distance is the single biggest driver of where families rent.
Parks
Zabeel, Safa, Mushrif
Zabeel and Safa Park are the central green lungs. Mushrif Park in Mirdif is bigger, quieter and better for a long afternoon.
Theme parks
Dubai Parks and Resorts, Dubai South
Motiongate, Legoland and Real Madrid World sit together off Sheikh Zayed Road toward Abu Dhabi, close to the Dubai South communities.
Global Village
Dubailand
Seasonal, running roughly October to April. Pavilions, street food and funfair rides, and a genuine local institution rather than a tourist trap.
05
Beaches and outdoors
Eight months of the year the outdoors is the point. The other four you plan around it.
Kite Beach and Umm Suqeim
Umm Suqeim
Public beach with a running track, watersports and food trucks, looking straight at the Burj Al Arab.
JBR and The Beach
Dubai Marina
Beach, promenade and retail in one strip. The most walkable stretch of coastline in the city.
Dubai Creek Harbour and Ras Al Khor
Creek Harbour
Boardwalks along the creek and a flamingo sanctuary at Ras Al Khor. Unusual for a city this dense.
Hatta
Hatta
Ninety minutes inland into the Hajar mountains. Kayaking on the dam, mountain biking and hiking, and a genuine change of climate.
06
Culture and heritage
The parts of Dubai that predate the skyline, and the arts scene that has grown up beside it.
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Bur Dubai
Wind tower houses, courtyard cafes and the coral stone lanes of the old town. Home to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
Alserkal Avenue
Al Quoz
Converted warehouses housing the city’s serious contemporary galleries, independent cinema and studios. The centre of gravity for the art scene.
Dubai Opera
Downtown Dubai
A dhow shaped house that reconfigures between concert hall, theatre and flat floor. Programme runs from opera to touring musicals.
Etihad Museum
Jumeirah
Built on the site where the union was signed in 1971. The clearest account of how the country came together.
Where to live
The Dubai addresses we are asked about most.
Downtown Dubai
Where luxury meets the city skyline.
Dubai South
The future of connectivity and lifestyle.
Dubai Islands
Exclusive waterfront living, redefined.
Dubai Hills Estate
Green spaces, grand residences, perfect balance.
Business Bay
The pulse of Dubai’s business and leisure.
Palm Jebel Ali
Iconic waterfront elegance at your doorstep.
Palm Jumeirah
The address the whole city is measured against.
Jumeirah Village Circle
Where the yields still stack up.