Many international buyers are hesitant about projects such as The Acres or The Oasis by Emaar because they perceive them as being too far from the centre. But what does ‘far’ actually mean in Dubai?
In many cases, a drive to a central location like JBR or Business Bay takes 20 to 25 minutes. Ironically, a large portion of that time is spent on the final few kilometres due to traffic congestion.
A drive of just one and a half kilometres through Dubai Marina can easily take 25 minutes during the evening rush hour.
Compare that to cities like London or Amsterdam. No one would consider Chelsea uninteresting because it is 25 minutes from Oxford Street. In Amsterdam, people have no issue living in the city centre, even though it is 25 minutes from the Zuidas.
In Dubai, the perception of distance seems more skewed, even though the infrastructure is in many ways superior.
New Communities Become the New Centre
The largest gains in Dubai real estate have been made by people who bought when there was still nothing there. Consider Dubai Hills, which was called ‘too far away’ at the time. Now it is one of the most popular residential communities, just 15 minutes from Downtown and the beach.
Those who invest now in communities like The Acres get more space for a lower price. A four-bedroom villa there costs 80% less per m2 than in Nadd Al Sheba Gardens, even though both are from the same developer. Furthermore, a new road is under construction, to be completed within a year, which will reduce the travel time between these communities to just 10 minutes.
Moreover, these emerging areas already offer many advantages. European schools, quiet residential neighbourhoods, and less tourist traffic make them attractive for families and entrepreneurs. The best golf courses, such as Jumeirah Golf Estates, Trump International, and Arabian Ranches, are also located here. Even premium villas in Al Barari and JGE are already selling here for more than 50 million AED, with prices above 4,000 AED per m2.
Dubai is clearly expanding in this direction. What now feels like an outlying suburb will, within a few years, be one of the most sought-after areas.
Edward Clarke is a seasoned property expert with extensive experience in international real estate investment, with a particular focus on Dubai’s fast-growing property market. Drawing on both personal investment experience and years of client advisory work, he helps investors make informed, realistic decisions when purchasing apartments, villas or off-plan developments in Dubai. With a pragmatic mindset, a sharp focus on returns and a strong commitment to transparency, Edward is a trusted point of contact for anyone considering a property investment in Dubai.
