Emirates Living
Old-Dubai greenery a short drive from the Marina and Media City.
Overall score
Category average 8.6
Updated 2026-09-01
- Typical villa rent
- AED 230k – 700k / year
- Typical apartment rent
- No apartment stock
- Price level
- Upper mid-market · AED 3.2m – 18m
- Property types
- Villa, Townhouse, Mansion
Best for
Families working in Media City, Internet City, JLT or the Marina.
Main drawback
Housing stock is ageing and layouts feel dated.
Scorecard
Ten categories, each scored 0–10. How we score.
Overall upkeep, landscaping, streets, public areas and feeling of quality.
Typical age, finishing, layouts and build quality of villas and apartments.
Pools, gyms, parks, restaurants, retail, clubs and community facilities.
Playgrounds, schools, nurseries, safety, walking environment and family atmosphere.
Parks, landscaping, mature trees and access to nature.
Ability to walk to daily needs, restaurants, parks and amenities.
Quality and accessibility of restaurants, cafés and shops.
Access to major roads and important Dubai destinations.
Quality of lifestyle relative to typical rent or purchase price.
How established, completed and functional the wider community feels.
What it feels like
Emirates Living feels like the Dubai families settled into twenty years ago: lakes, big trees, walking loops and small neighbourhood centres. Interiors are the weak point, but the location and greenery still beat most newer communities.
A cluster of established Emaar communities (The Springs, The Meadows, The Lakes, Emirates Hills) beside Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road.
Strengths
- Very mature landscaping and lakes
- Excellent access to New Dubai offices
- Multiple schools within minutes
- Good walking and cycling loops
- Wide range of price points
Weaknesses
- Older properties and layouts
- Villa maintenance varies by owner
- Some clusters feel dense
- Parking pressure in The Springs
Commute times
Off-peak driving estimates. Placeholder data.
Schools nearby
- Dubai British School
- Emirates International School Meadows
- Regent International School
British-curriculum options within a short drive.