Guides to living in Dubai, built on our scores

Best communities in Dubai for families

We score every community on playgrounds, school access, safety, walking environment and overall family atmosphere. These are the communities that come out strongest for households with children.

Best villa communities in Dubai

Villa living in Dubai varies enormously in plot size, upkeep and everyday convenience. We ranked the villa communities by property quality, community quality and amenities.

Greenest communities in Dubai

Greenery is the single biggest differentiator in how a Dubai community feels day to day, especially between May and September. Here is how the city's communities rank.

Best communities near DIFC

If you work in DIFC, commute time is usually the constraint that decides where you live. We combined off-peak drive times with our community scores.

Best communities for British schools

For families following the English National Curriculum, school proximity shapes the whole week. These communities combine strong family scores with British-curriculum schools within a short drive.

Is Al Barari worth it?

Al Barari is the most expensive mainstream villa community in Dubai on a per-square-foot basis. We look at what you actually get for the premium.

Is Dubai Hills a good place to live?

Dubai Hills Estate is the default recommendation for families moving to Dubai. We scored it across ten categories to see whether the reputation holds.

Green Community Dubai review

Green Community is small, old by Dubai standards, and unlike anywhere else in the city. Here is our independent assessment.