Al Barsha

Al Barsha is the established neighbourhood that grew up around Mall of the Emirates on the inland side of Sheikh Zayed Road. It is split into Al Barsha 1, 2 and 3, with Al Barsha South stretching further inland. Al Barsha 1 is the busy part, with apartment buildings, hotels and shops close to the mall and the metro; Al Barsha 2 and 3 are quieter streets made up mostly of family villas.

People live here for the location rather than the views. Dubai Marina, Dubai Internet City and Downtown are all within easy reach, the metro runs along the edge of the district, and almost everything a household needs, from supermarkets to schools and hospitals, is close by. Apartments here generally give you more space for the money than the newer waterfront districts.

There are trade-offs. Much of the housing is older, traffic around the mall and on Umm Suqeim Road is heavy at peak times, and most of Al Barsha 1 to 3 is not freehold for foreign buyers, so it is mainly a rental market. Foreign buyers who like the area usually look at the freehold districts of Al Barsha South instead.

• 01

  Mall of the Emirates nearby

  With Ski Dubai, a cinema, a large Carrefour and a long list of shops, the mall covers most errands and is walkable from much of Al Barsha 1.

• 02

  Two metro stations

  Mall of the Emirates station and the next Red Line stop towards Dubai Marina put much of Al Barsha 1 within walking distance of the metro.

• 03

  Schools and hospitals close

  Several long-established international schools are here, along with Saudi German Hospital, Al Zahra Hospital Dubai and, in Al Barsha South, Mediclinic Parkview Hospital.

• 04

  Space for the money

  Older apartments and villas often have larger rooms than newer stock, which suits families who want space near the city's main business districts.

Life in Al Barsha revolves around convenience. Mall of the Emirates covers shopping, cinema and Ski Dubai, and the streets behind it are full of cafés, small restaurants, pharmacies and grocery stores serving a very international mix of residents. Al Barsha Mall and several hypermarkets handle the weekly shop, and the many hotels in Al Barsha 1 add plenty of restaurants for evenings out.

Al Barsha Pond Park in Al Barsha 2, with a jogging loop around its lake and children's play areas, is the local favourite for evening walks. The beach at Al Sufouh and the restaurants of Dubai Marina and JBR are about 10 to 15 minutes away by car, and Dubai Hills Mall is a similar drive in the other direction.

Al Barsha is one of the better-connected neighbourhoods in Dubai. Mall of the Emirates station on the Red Line is linked directly to the mall, and a second Red Line station a short way along Sheikh Zayed Road towards Dubai Marina also serves Al Barsha 1; it has been renamed several times under sponsorship deals, so check the current name in the RTA app. RTA buses cover the inner streets. By car, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Umm Suqeim Road and Hessa Street all run through or along the area, though the roads around the mall slow down badly at weekends and rush hour.

Al Barsha has one of the widest choices of schools in Dubai. The American School of Dubai, GEMS Dubai American Academy, Kings' School Al Barsha and Al Mawakeb School Al Barsha are all in the area, and Nord Anglia International School Dubai is in Al Barsha South. Healthcare is just as close: Saudi German Hospital is in Al Barsha 3, Al Zahra Hospital Dubai is in Al Barsha 1 near the metro, and Mediclinic Parkview Hospital is in Al Barsha South, with many clinics and pharmacies in between.

Housing in Al Barsha falls into two groups. Al Barsha 1 has low- and mid-rise apartment buildings and hotel apartments, many built in the 2000s, which are popular with tenants who work along Sheikh Zayed Road and want to be near the metro. Al Barsha 2 and 3 are mainly standalone villas on generous plots, often owned by UAE nationals and let to families on longer leases.

Because most of Al Barsha 1 to 3 is not freehold for foreign buyers, the area is mainly a place to rent. Foreign buyers who want the Al Barsha location usually look at freehold districts in Al Barsha South, such as Arjan. When renting an older villa or flat, check the condition of the air-conditioning, plumbing and kitchen, ask who handles maintenance, and confirm parking, as some older buildings have limited spaces.