Al Furjan

Al Furjan is a large residential community in south-west Dubai, between Discovery Gardens and Jebel Ali Village and a few minutes from Ibn Battuta Mall. Nakheel master-planned it, starting with villa neighbourhoods in Arabian-influenced styles. Over the following years the land around them filled with low- and mid-rise apartment buildings from several developers, including Azizi, Danube and Deyaar, which is why the area now has a far broader mix of homes than its villa origins suggest.

The Route 2020 extension of the Red Line changed the area's prospects. Al Furjan station serves the community directly and Discovery Gardens station is close to parts of it, so many residents can reach Dubai Marina or Expo City Dubai by train. Road links are good too: Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road are both a few minutes' drive, which makes Al Furjan practical for people working in Jebel Ali, Dubai South or the Marina area.

It is still a work in progress. Several apartment projects are under construction and newer villa phases such as Murooj Al Furjan are recent additions, so some streets still see construction traffic. Quality also varies more than in single-developer communities, because buildings come from many different developers. It pays to compare individual buildings carefully rather than judging the area as a whole.

• 01

  Its own metro station

  Al Furjan station on the Route 2020 branch of the Red Line puts parts of the community within walking distance of trains to Dubai Marina and Expo City Dubai.

• 02

  The Pavilion for daily needs

  Al Furjan Pavilion has a supermarket, a clinic, cafés and a recreation centre, so most daily errands do not need a trip to the mall.

• 03

  A wide choice of homes

  Villas, townhouses and apartments from studios upwards sit side by side, so residents can move up within the community as their needs change.

• 04

  Near Jebel Ali and Expo

  Jebel Ali Free Zone, Expo City Dubai and Al Maktoum International Airport are all within about 25 minutes by car, which suits people working in the south of the city.

Life in Al Furjan is local and practical. Al Furjan Pavilion covers the weekly shop and a coffee, and more cafés, gyms and convenience stores sit on the ground floors of the apartment buildings. Ibn Battuta Mall, about 10 minutes away, is the nearest large mall, with a cinema and a wide range of shops. The villa neighbourhoods have small parks and play areas, and walking or cycling around them is pleasant in the cooler months.

For the beach, JBR and Dubai Marina are around 15 to 20 minutes by car. Jumeirah Golf Estates, with its two golf courses and clubhouse restaurants, is close by, and Expo City Dubai, with its parks and events, is a short drive or metro ride away. Evenings are quiet, so residents who want a busier scene usually head to the Marina.

Al Furjan is one of the better-connected communities in this part of Dubai. Al Furjan station, on the Route 2020 branch of the Red Line, serves the community, with Discovery Gardens station nearby; trains run towards Expo City Dubai in one direction and join the main Red Line towards Dubai Marina and Downtown in the other. By road, Sheikh Zayed Road is reached on the Ibn Battuta and The Gardens side, and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) runs close by. The community's exits can queue at peak times as more apartment buildings fill up.

The Arbor School, inside Al Furjan, follows the National Curriculum for England from FS1 to Year 13 and is known for its focus on sustainability and environmental education. A branch of Jebel Ali Village Nursery is also in the community. More schools are a 10 to 20 minute drive away in Jumeirah Village Triangle, Dubai Sports City and Al Barsha South. For healthcare, there are clinics and pharmacies locally, including one at the Pavilion, while NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park is the nearest large hospital, about 15 minutes away by car.

The villa side of Al Furjan is Nakheel's original phase: villas and townhouses in styles such as Quortaj, with its North African and Islamic-influenced design, and Dubai Style, alongside the newer Murooj Al Furjan villas. Masakin Al Furjan adds low-rise apartment blocks. The rest of the apartment stock is spread across many mid-rise buildings by Azizi, Danube, Deyaar, wasl and others, mostly studios to three-bedroom units.

Villas mainly attract families, both owners and long-term tenants, and suit people working in Jebel Ali, Dubai South or the Marina. Apartments attract investors and renters who value the metro link and newer buildings. Off-plan launches still appear, but much of the area is now ready stock. Before buying, check the walk from the building to the station, the developer's maintenance record and service charges, and whether anything is planned on neighbouring plots that could block views or add construction noise.