The Best Places to Live in Dubai – An Expat’s Guide
With a population of roughly 3.6 million, Dubai is a sprawling city, which makes choosing where to live a daunting task – especially if you’re totally new to the city. When it comes to finding the best place to live in Dubai, it’s largely going to depend on your personal circumstances.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Where is your job and how will you commute?
- Do you have children and need to be near a certain school?
- Do you prefer villa or apartment life?
- Do you want to be near public transport so you don’t have to drive?
- Do you prefer green spaces? Nightlife? The beach?
Like I said, Dubai is a sprawling city and the most popular places for expats to live are all wildly different from one another. If you’re looking for the best places to live in Dubai, I’ve put together a guide to help you out. I moved here in 2022 and knew next to nothing about Dubai’s different neighborhoods, so hopefully this guide can make your move just a little bit easier!
Once you do land on your ideal Dubai neighborhood, you might also want to check out my guide on everything you need to know before renting an apartment in Dubai.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of these links I may earn a small commission (which I’m so thankful for!) at no extra cost to you.
The Best Places to Live in Dubai
Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
Jumeirah Beach Residence is definitely one of the more pricey places to live. But it’s arguably the best place to live in Dubai if you’re dreaming of living at the beach, which is just steps away from the buildings that line the sandy shores in this part of town.
JBR is home to tons of restaurants, bars, and hotels (which boast excellent nightlife venues), as well as cool food trucks on the beach and all of the popular restaurants in the Pavilion and the shops and eateries along The Walk at JBR. The Dubai Marina is also an easy 10-minute walk away.
There’s basically always something fun to do in JBR! If you prefer to get around on public transport, you’ll also have easy access to the tram, which will connect you to one of the marina metro stops in just a few minutes. One downside of living in JBR is that traffic jams are bad in this ultra-touristy part of town, which could make commuting a pain.
Dubai Marina
Living in the Dubai Marina comes at a cost, but there are plenty of reasons why it’s considered one of the best areas to live in Dubai. This is where I live and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. One of the biggest perks of living in the Dubai Marina is having easy access to the Dubai Marina Walk.
This 7-kilometer pedestrian walkway is a popular place to take your evening walk or jog and the marina views just never get old. It’s also dotted with play areas perfect for families with young kids (you’ll see plenty of moms with strollers out and about here!). Living here gives you easy access to the beach at JBR, as well as all of the restaurants and bars in both JBR, JLT, and, of course, the marina.
Another major perk of living in the Dubai Marina is that you’ll have multiple metro and tram stops, making getting around without a car super simple. That being said, the traffic in the marina is notoriously bad. While I don’t personally have a car (or need one!), I know that a lot of people who need a car to commute tend to avoid living here because of traffic issues.
The traffic and lack of nearby schools also means that families with children old enough to attend school generally don’t choose to live in the marina.
Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT)
Located on the other side of Sheikh Zayed Road from the Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers (better known as JLT) is easily one of the best places to live in Dubai. The cost of living in JLT comes with a slightly lower price tag than the Dubai Marina but you have easy access to the metro and the tram while being a stone’s throw from attractions like JBR and the Marina Walk.
One major perk about living in an apartment in JLT is that you’ll have plenty of outdoor spaces, so this is a great area to live if you enjoy getting outside. This community boasts plenty of green spaces, walking and biking paths, kid-friendly playgrounds, pickleball and basketball courts, and family-friendly community activities, like outdoor movie nights.
The food scene in JLT is also one of the best in the city for affordable and diverse eats. From Indian and Chinese to Mexican and Indonesian, you’ll find almost every type of cuisine over here.
Palm Jumeirah
If you’re looking for luxurious places to live in Dubai, go all out on one of the waterfront villas or posh high-rise apartments in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai’s famous palm tree-shaped island. This is arguably the best place to live in Dubai for families looking to live the luxury villa life while having easy access to a range of family-friendly beaches, upscale restaurants, stunning views, and all of the shops in Nakheel Mall.
The Greens
If you’re wondering where to live in Dubai with outdoor spaces, The Greens is a great option. Flanked by Barsha Heights and Emirates Golf Club, this community is a bit more removed from the touristy hubs of the Dubai Marina and downtown, which means the cost of living here is a little bit less.
That being said, The Greens is well-known for its high-quality apartments, quiet lifestyle, picturesque water features, and proximity to the golf course, so you will be paying more compared to areas like neighboring Al Barsha or JVC (more on these areas below). Expats love living here so they can get out in the evenings and walk their dogs or jog around the lakes and go golfing on the greens.
Al Barsha
Al Barsha is a fairly large area stretching all the way from the Mall of the Emirates on Sheikh Zayed Road out to Dubai Miracle Garden in South Al Barsha. It can feel a bit like a sea of buildings but this is a great part of town to base yourself in if you’re looking for more affordable rental or villa options than those listed above.
While some parts of Al Barsha do give you access to the metro (like anything near the Mall of the Emirates), you’ll likely need a car if you live in this part of town. This is also a popular area with families with children, as you’ll find some excellent schools in Al Barsha.
Business Bay
Business Bay is a popular option among families who are looking for spacious apartments or villas surrounded by all the necessary amenities and top-notch schools. Plus, Downtown Dubai is an easy 10-minute commute from this part of town.
Business Bay is lined by the Dubai Canal and the promenade makes for a nice area to take an evening stroll or jog when the weather is nice. The buildings here are sky-high, so it’s a great option if you’ve always dreamed of living in one of Dubai’s towering buildings.
Downtown Dubai
Downtown Dubai is arguably the best place to live in Dubai if you want to be surrounded by all the action and the glitz and glam of Dubai. But, of course, living in this part of town does come with a high price tag.
But choose to live in Downtown Dubai and you’ll have easy access to all of the shops and restaurants in Dubai Mall, as well as neighboring Business Bay and the Dubai Design District. Plus, you’ll have nightlife galore here. Whether you prefer to get cultured at Dubai Opera, socialize over drinks at Time Out Market, or dance till the wee hours at one of the many nightclubs, Downtown Dubai is always buzzing with things to do.
Downtown Dubai is also very well connected to other parts of the city thanks to the Dubai Metro, which can whisk you everywhere, from the airport to the Dubai Marina.
Old Dubai
If you’re looking for the most affordable places to live in Dubai, Old Dubai is your best bet. This area consists of Bur Dubai and Deira and it’s not only where you’ll find some of the cheapest accommodation in the city but you’ll find super affordable shops and restaurants in these areas.
Old Dubai doesn’t have all the glitz and glamor of places like the Dubai Marina or Downtown Dubai but in exchange you get a melting pot of cultures, a diverse food scene, and a lot of hustle and bustle on the streets. When it comes to culture, you’ll find it in spades in Old Dubai!
JVC (Jumeirah Village Circle)
JVC is an affordable alternative to the more pricey areas of town. Rent an apartment in this up-and-coming part of town and you’ll get loads more space for far less than you’d find in places like the marina or JLT.
This can be a great option for families as well as singles and couples because you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips – from parks and grocery stores to Circle Mall and international schools. That being said, you will be a bit more removed from the action, as well as the metro, in this part of town and you will need a car to get around Dubai.
Motor City
Motor City is another one of the best places to live in Dubai if you’re looking for affordability. This neighborhood is adjacent to JVC, so it’s also a bit inland from the action in downtown or the marina, but you’ll have everything you need for comfortable living (i.e. grocery stores, restaurants, schools, malls, and green spaces) while paying a lot less in rent for your spacious villa or apartment!
