Discover the best new real estate developments in Downtown Dubai, the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall district. Dubai Immo has selected the best real estate projects in the Downtown area from developers such as Emaar and Damac.
Buying an apartment in Downtown or making a rental investment in central Dubai has never been easier. Consult our analysis of the best apartment programs for sale in Downtown Dubai.
Contact our teams directly to find out more about availability and buying property in Dubai.
Located less than 100 meters from the Burj Khalifa, Address Residences Dubai Opera has everything you need to make your stay a success. ... [Read more]
Located less than 100 meters from the Burj Khalifa, Address Residences Dubai Opera brings together all the expertise of ... [Read more]
Downtown Dubai is the city's central district! It's home to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. But that's not all: it's also home to the Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping malls. A highly sought-after district, it lies next to other popular areas such as Business Bay and DIFC (Dubai International Financial Center). Finally, access to Sheikh Zayed Road is very quick.
General description
Downtown Dubai is home to many hotels, boutiques and restaurants. It's a popular area for tourists, but also appeals to locals and expatriates. Living in Downtown, you'll be close to absolutely everything. But living in the center of any city comes at a cost, often a little higher than elsewhere. Whether you're looking for a studio, 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom apartment (or even more), you need to have a stable financial situation to hope to settle in. But the lifestyle, amenities and services offered by the residences in the center of town make all that hard to forget: you'll be hard-pressed to find anything more convenient!
Population and diversity
The Downtown district is primarily targeted by tourists, as well as families and young couples with high incomes, who want to take full advantage of its proximity to amenities, public transportation, bars and restaurants. Living in Downtown means experiencing 100% of the city's ambiance, and in particular, the chance to opt for a pedestrian lifestyle!
The Downtown real estate market
What are the apartment prices in Downtown?
Average price per square metre
On average, the price per m² in central Dubai ranges from 2,000 to almost 8,000 euros, with an average of around 3,700 euros! As a result, apartment prices can quickly become quite high.
Factors influencing prices
Several factors influence the price of a Downtown apartment. First, the type of residence. If it's a new residence or one under construction, real estate prices will be higher than for a purchase in an "old" building. Secondly, the location and the view. A perfectly located apartment, just a few meters from a metro station with a breathtaking view of the Burj Khalifa, will inevitably cost more than a more out-of-the-way property with a less pleasant view.
Rent in Downtown
Average rent for an apartment
Downtown is not the most affordable area of Dubai in terms of prices and rents. A studio apartment costs between 12,500 and 40,200 euros a year! To rent a 1-bedroom apartment in Dubai, prices range from around 19,600 to 113,000 euros per year. For 2-bedroom apartments, you'll need to budget between 25,000 and 250,000 euros per year. Finally, to rent a 3-bedroom apartment in Downtown, you need to consider a budget ranging from 39,000 to 500,000 euros per year.
Average rent for a villa
Downtown Dubai is not really known for its villas. Indeed, the city center is very touristy. It's mainly studios and apartments ranging from 1 to 3 or even 4 bedrooms that are available for rent. If you want to invest in Downtown real estate, you'll need to look at this type of product.
Daily life in Downtown Dubai
Lunch/Dinner/Drinks in Downtown Dubai
The best restaurants
If there's one thing you can't take away from Downtown Dubai, it's the restaurants! According to TripAdvisor, some establishments are well worth a try. These include Bombay Brasserie and Tribes Carnivore. For seafood and fish, Secret Garden by VII is also worth a visit. For good French cuisine, Taikun is an excellent option, as is Tulum for lovers of Mexican food. Downtown is the place to invest in real estate in Dubai, if you have a very active social life!
Cafés and places to relax
There's no shortage of places to enjoy a cup of coffee after lunch, or simply to relax for a few moments after a busy afternoon or day. In Downtown, we recommend Café Buono or Café Angelina Dubai. Another emblematic venue is Hafiz Mustafa 1864, in the Dubai mall. And don't hesitate to try Karat, Magnolia Bakery (for their great sweets) and Tim Hortons!
Bars and nightlife
Another feature that makes Downtown one of Dubai's most exciting districts is its many bars! Once again, TripAdvisor offers us a clear selection of the best establishments, starting with Treehouse Dubai, which also boasts a splendid view of the entire center. Add to this Cabana, a bar offering Mediterranean-inspired drinks. For lovers of tapas bars, there's only one address: The Eloquent Elephant. Finally, for a livelier evening, the Distillery Dubai Gastropub is one of the places not to be missed!
Shopping in Downtown
Supermarkets and grocery stores
Clearly, in the heart of Downtown, there's only one place to go for your shopping: the Dubai Mall. There are a number of stores to choose from, including the All Day Minimart and the Grandiose Supermarket. There's also the Mall Mart and Waitrose. There's also a Carrefour Market in Downtown, but not in the mall. You'll have to go to Burj View Towers!
Boutiques and specialty stores
In the Dubai Mall, you'll find all kinds of stores, from fashion boutiques (for men and women) to home decor, children's toys, electronics, sports, beauty and fragrances. All the top brands are represented! Bulgari, Cartier, Louboutin, Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton... Last but not least, you'll find boutiques specializing in special occasions, such as birthdays, rackets, weddings, travel arrangements and much more.
Sports and activities in Downtown
Sports centers and gymnasiums
In Downtown Dubai, there are a number of sports centers and gyms where you can keep fit. Close to the Burj Khalifa, for example, you'll find F45 Training Downtown Dubai and REVL Training. These are two gyms in the same league as Snap Fitness, TRAIN Strenght & Fitness and Easy Fit EMS. On site, you'll find all the facilities you need to work up a sweat. At the Dubai Mall, you can even go ice skating on the Dubai Ice Rink! And if you're a football fan, the Ballers is the place to be! These are soccer pitches for hire. And if you're looking for a gym, the Zabeel Sports District is the place to go!
Parks and green spaces
There are two parks and green spaces in the heart of Downtown, both close to the Burj Khalifa. The first is Burj Park, while the second is Burj Khalifa Park by Emaar. These are two parks with a magnificent view of the world's tallest tower. A little further on is South Ridge Park. Accessible on foot, you'll be able to enjoy a bit of greenery even though you're right in the middle of the city center. It's a pretty green neighborhood, and a great place to invest in real estate!
Leisure activities
In Downtown Dubai, you can spend several hours wandering the corridors of the large Dubai Mall, sailing near the fountain, having fun at the Mirror Maze or at the Dubai Dino if you've got kids! And don't hesitate to take public transport to all parts of the city. The metro is super-accessible and you can reach all Dubai's main tourist or leisure centers in just a few minutes, without taking the car. What luxury!
Must-sees in Downtown
Historical monuments and sites
Downtown Dubai is home to two of the city's biggest tourist attractions: the Burj Khalifa (and the Dubai Fountain) and the Dubai Mall. The Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest tower. It was completed on January 17, 2009. It measures 828 metres! As you'd expect, you can visit it and even have lunch/dinner in the restaurant on the 124th and 125th floors! When it comes to the Dubai Mall, the numbers are just as dizzying. More than 1,200 stores, 800,000m² of floor space, a huge aquarium, an ice rink... It's one of the busiest places in the world! Add to this list of monuments and historic sites the famous "Wings of Mexico Statue", sculpted by Jorge Marin in 2010.Finally, why not stroll through the maze of the Al Bahar souk? It's a large, typical Arab-style shopping mall, where you'll find a host of antique, carpet and lifestyle stores. A change of scenery guaranteed!
Cultural spaces and museums
Downtown is also a cultural district! There are a number of art galleries, such as the MB&F M.A.D Gallery, with free admission! For art lovers, Gallery One at the Dubai Mall is also worth a visit, as is the Mozaiic Art Gallery. As for museums, we recommend Infinity des Lumières, a major exhibition focusing on the play of light. For opera lovers, the Dubai Opera is also just a few dozen meters from the Burj Khalifa. This superb building can accommodate up to 2,000 spectators. Enough to convince you to invest in Downtown real estate?
Downtown services and amenities
Health
Hospitals and clinics
In or very close to Downtown, you'll find several hospitals and health clinics. These include the Amana Healthcare hospital and the Emirates Hospital Clinics, which, although located in Business Bay, is only a few minutes from Downtown. Add to this the Mediclinc Dubai Mall and IKIGAI Medical Centre, and Art of Aesthetics (a cosmetic surgery clinic), and you have just about every major hospital and clinic in the area. In short, if you decide to invest in local real estate, you'll have no trouble finding a doctor and being looked after.
Pharmacies and medical services
Still in the same Downtown area, several pharmacies are on hand to sell your medicines. The first is Al Manara Pharmacy (Al Manzil). You can also visit the Marina Pharmacy or the BinSina Pharmacy. Finally, within the Dubai Mall itself, you'll find a number of pharmacies and medical services: SuperCare Pharmacy, Grand United Pharmacy, Boots and Gulf Pharmacy. Downtown has it all!
Public transport in Downtown
Bus and metro lines
What about subways? There are several metro stations within easy reach of Downtown. The easiest and fastest is Burj Khalifa - Dubai Mall Metro Station. But you can also get off at Business Bay or Financial Centre Station. However, you'll have to walk a little if you decide to get off at one of the last two stations mentioned above. As for bus stops, here again you have a choice: The Dubai Mall, 8 Boulevard Walk Tower 1, Boulevard 9, Burj View Central Tower 2 or Dubai Fountain Street 1. An important factor in boosting investment in Downtown!
Accessibility and frequency
The Dubai Metro operates daily, from 5 a.m. to midnight Monday to Thursday, from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, from 5 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and from 8 a.m. to midnight on Sunday. Subways run at a frequency of once every 4 minutes during rush hour, and once every 7 minutes on average the rest of the time. Buses run every 10 minutes in Downtown and other busy areas.
Schools in Downtown
Primary, secondary and international schools
In Downtown, you'll find several primary and secondary schools, including Blossom Downtown Nursery and Eman School System. You can also try your hand at Learning Tree Nursery or Babilou Nursery Downtown. Other international schools include Dubai International School, International Horizons College and Safa British School! In short, the choice is quite impressive for such a densely populated area.
Other aspects to consider in Downtown
Safety and quality of life
Crime rates
In Dubai, the crime rate is virtually non-existent. In fact, numerous patrols are carried out on a daily basis by the forces of law and order, both in the heart of Downtown and in the adjacent districts. So you can rest assured that burglaries and snatchings are fairly rare. On the other hand, there's no such thing as zero risk, especially in densely populated or crowded areas! A major advantage for those wishing to invest in Downtown Dubai real estate.
The environment and sustainability at Downtown
Green initiatives and green spaces
In 2006, the Emirates were considered to be the country that emitted the most greenhouse gases (according to a study by the WWF). But since that ranking, things have begun to change. Whether in Downtown or elsewhere in the city, self-sufficient residences are being built, which recycle their water and waste and produce energy (in fact, for many of them, they produce more than they consume). The idea? That 75% of the energy used and consumed will be clean, by 2050.
Air quality
As Downtown is one of Dubai's busiest and most visited areas, the air pollution index is not necessarily at its highest. It is generally in the very high average range, with an index, at the time of writing, of 165 (i.e. "Unhealthy" according to IqAir). However, efforts are being made to clean up the air and make it less harmful.
Why invest in Downtown Dubai real estate: our conclusion
Living in Downtown Dubai means living at the heart of the action. From the Dubai Mall to the Burj Khalifa, from the famous fountains to the Souk Al Bahar, Downtown is Dubai's central district par excellence. With buildings as iconic as the Burj Khalifa, Downtown offers a luxurious lifestyle that attracts expatriates from all over the world. With some of Dubai's finest and most expensive high-rise buildings, Downtown is as much a meeting place for shopping tourists as for the city's wealthiest residents, who enjoy views of the Burj Khalifa from the terrace of their penthouse.
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