Abu Dhabi Neighbourhoods

Al Raha:

Another of the city’s major development areas, Al Raha is based around a long stretch of beach that looks across to Yas Island, and sports a much more premium feel. Though some way from the buzz of the city centre, Al Raha has the potential to develop into a colourful community of its own in the coming years.

Housing:

Like all Abu Dhabi’s off-island residential areas, villas dominate Al Raha’s housing market, although apartment complexes close to the beach are planned. Expect to pay Dhs300,000 a year for a three-bedroom villa, more if you’re after a pool.

Health care:

While Al Raha Mall features both a Lulu pharmacy and a Beyond Optics optician, that’s about it as far as medical facilities go. Head to the Lifeline Hospital in Mussafah for any emergency treatment.

Positive:

The nearby Al Raha Beach Hotel – a five-star complex opened in 2005 – boasts some decent restaurants and Enigma, one of the city’s biggest nightclubs. Al Raha Mall, though a little decrepit, boasts some handy shops, while the Spinneys in nearby Mangrove Village is just a ten-minute drive away. However, it’s Al Raha’s location, based around the Abu Dhabi-Dubai road and close to Yas Island, that’s its biggest selling point.

Negative:

Property prices are cheaper than those on the island, but considering that for the time being there’s not a lot to see or do it can feel a little isolating. However taxis are readily available and will take you wherever you need to go.

Mohammed Bin Zayed City:

As one of the key focal points of the city’s residential development, MBZ City isn’t particularly easy on the eye. That said, its off-island location means it’s a popular spot for those looking for an easy commute to Al Ain or Dubai, while downtown Abu Dhabi can still be reached within half an hour on a good day. In a few years’ time, once the building work’s died down and some trees have been planted, this could be a highly sought-after area.

Housing:

New clusters of villas are constantly springing up, with Dhs160,000 the current asking price for a year’s rent on a two-bedroom place. As with all new properties the cost of any maintenance or repairs ought to be fairly low, but this also means you’re extremely unlikely to find anywhere with even a scrap of furniture included.

Health care:

The south-western corner of the suburb is home to an Al Noor Hospital, while neighbouring Mussafah has a Lifeline Hospital. Al Mafraq Hospital is also nearby, off Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road to the east. For less life-threatening situations, Spinneys supermarket stocks anything you might need.

Positives:

Buying property in the area ought to prove a sound investment (though not for a while), there’s a good choice of small shops and supermarkets, it’s close to the airport and the streets lack the screeching tyres and honking horns of the city centre. For now though, that’s about it.

Negatives:

The location is a little isolated, as most basic amenities are a short drive away. It’s also rather lacking in basic urban charm – the newly-built villas may be cosy on the inside, but driving along the dusty streets, the identical buildings, gridded streets and ubiquitous construction sites make MBZ City a rather bleak place to set up home.

Al Bateen:

As the area favoured by the city’s increasingly outnumbered Emirati population, Al Bateen has a very different feel to the rest of the city’s downtown districts. This suburb is known for its wide streets, large villas, manicured gardens and communal playgrounds. It has a strong family orientation and general feeling of wealth.

Housing:

In stark contrast to the high-rise apartment blocks that you’ll find on the north-east side of the island, the vast majority of accommodation in Al Bateen comes in villa form. It’s not cheap, either; you’ll do very well indeed to rent a three-bedroom place for less than Dhs400,000 a year.

Health care:

Al Bateen doesn’t boast a hospital, so for any A&E type emergencies you’ll need to head into the city centre – Central Hospital in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City is the nearest. Private clinic Cure (www.cure.ae) between Khaleej Al Arabi Street and Sultan Bin Zayed Street covers cardiology, dermatology and much more.

Positive:

There are some handy amenities nearby. The Spinneys in neighbouring Khalidiyah is one of the city’s biggest supermarkets (both alcohol and pork products can be bought there) and Al Bateen Marina boasts a decent sports club and some half-decent bars. Best of all though, since there aren’t many expats to be found in Al Bateen, it’s one of the few areas in Abu Dhabi relatively untouched by Western influence. Traditional Arabian ambiance high on your checklist? Sizeable budget to play with? Al Bateen is well worth considering.

Negative:

Property is relatively scarce, and can be extremely pricey when it does pop up. There aren’t many hotels nearby either, meaning those looking for nightlife and licenced restaurants face either a taxi ride or a fairly lengthy walk.

Khalidiya:

This is a very popular area to live in because it has the best of both worlds in terms of scenery and practicality. Within walking distance of the Corniche, there are plenty of parks, making it popular with families.

Housing:

There are luxury apartment blocks overlooking the beach, villa compounds such as Khalidiya Village further inland and a sprinkling of cheaper, slightly run-down apartments all available in this area. Prices vary wildly, but for Dhs150,000 per year you can find a smart, spacious two-bedroom apartment. Expect to pay more for parking, and facilities such as a pool or gym.

Health care:

The hospital complex in Khalidiya includes Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Central Hospital. Nearby is the Gulf Diagnostic Centre, the Swedish Medical Centre and the Advanced Dental Centre.

Positives:

The plentiful amenities make this one of the most desirable places to live in the city – there are plenty of hotels in the area with fashionable restaurants and bars to keep you occupied at night. In the villa compounds particularly, you’ll find plenty of expats and a friendly community feel plus easy access to shops and supermarkets. And for most people, being minutes away from the beach is one of the biggest draws. It’s one of the few areas of the city that’s genuinely easy and pleasant to walk around, too.

Negatives:

Prices aren’t low, and you’ll have to search hard to find properties where you get your money’s worth for the accommodation itself and not just the location. Parking can be a nightmare – buildings with their own spaces cost substantially more, and it can be tough to find a place to leave your car by the road. The area gets extremely busy at weekends and on public holidays, which is great for atmosphere but can be a real pain if you’re after peace and quiet.

Khalifa City A:

Known for being one of the most affordable places to live; people who don’t mind a significant commute save a lot of money by renting here. When it was first developed Khalifa City A was considered a little isolated, but this is changing fast.

Housing:

Spacious apartments at the new Al Bandar development are being snapped up like hot cakes. Opposite the Etihad HQ on the Dubai road, there’s plenty of bustle and a few decent cafes and restaurants. For a two-bedroom apartment you’re looking at Dhs90,000 per year or for a one-bedroom, Dhs65,000.

Health care:

The all-new German General Hospital is near the police station, or you can visit the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company.s (SEHA) Ambulatory Healthcare Centre.

Positives:

It’s cheap, and for the most part quiet. Situated near the airport in the far north of Abu Dhabi, it’s ideal for anyone commuting regularly, whether internationally or to Dubai. The area is developing fast so there are frequent new openings, and even plans afoot to open a licenced restaurant in the near future. Schools out here aren’t as heavily oversubscribed as those downtown so your kids won’t get stuck on a waiting list.

Negatives:

Many of the villas in Khalifa A were put up quickly and cheaply, so although they appear in pristine condition when they’re new, after a year or two you might start to see some major faults emerging – ropey AC or peeling paint. There’s very little by way of entertainment and certainly no nightlife, and of course you’re facing a good 30-minute drive every time you want to visit the downtown area. It’s possible to get a taxi near the Etihad Plaza, but you can forget grabbing one easily anywhere else.

Khalifa B:

Even newer, quieter and more remote than Khalifa City A, this area hasn’t much to recommend it except the fact that it’s so cheap.

Housing:

Similar to Khalifa City A, with plenty of large villas, some of which come with pools and gyms. Average annual rent for a one-bedroom is Dhs60,000, Dhs80,000 for a two-bedroom.

Health care:

There’s very little out here and certainly no hospitals in the area, but it’s not a terribly long drive to Khalifa A’s medical facilities. Al Mazroi Hospital and Ahlia Medical Centre. Al Noor Hospital and Sheikh Zayed Military Hospital are also within a 20-minute drive.

Positives:

The Mazyad Mall and the new Delma Mall, which is the biggest in Abu Dhabi, are both nearby. You can get to the amenities in Khalifa City A without too much difficulty. Now that there’s a mosque there, taxi drivers are able to find it more easily than a year or so ago. And did we mention it’s cheap?

Negatives:

You’ll feel like you’re living on the edge of the desert here – which you are. It’s isolated, the development is a long way behind even Khalifa City A and it’ll be a good few years before it’s a convenient place to live. Predictably, there’s not much of a community, friendly atmosphere. Taxi drivers don’t like coming here to collect people, and you won’t find any available on the roads – basically if you don’t drive yourself, living in Khalifa City B really isn’t a viable option.

Tourist club area and Al Markaziyah:

Right in the heart of the city – essentially Abu Dhabi’s downtown – these two areas stand side by side, stretching from the north end at Corniche Road East to Al Falah Street. Defined by high-rise buildings, bustling streets and an energetic vibe, this is definitely the most vibrant part of the city. For those who want to be within walking distance of many hotels and shops, and not too far from the stunning Corniche, this is a good option.

Housing:

No villas here – this is firmly skyscraper territory, with massive towering apartment blocks filling the skyline. Mainly a rental area, flat shares and apartments are always available and, if you’re lucky, the odd studio. A one-bedroom will set you back around Dhs85,000 a year, although they’re very hard to come by, and two-bedrooms start from around Dhs130,000. Those willing to cut the cost by sharing are best advised to search www.abudhabi.dubizzle.com. Expect to pay around Dhs3,000 to Dhs5,000 for a flat share.

Health care:

There’s a branch of Al Noor Hospital across the road from the Hamdan Centre; it also offers top-notch dental care. There’s also the Al Salam Street Hospital (Hamdan Street, 02 671 1220), and Corniche Hospital (02 672 4900), the city’s main maternity hospital, near the Sheraton Hotel. There’s a wealth of pharmacies and opticians jostling for space on almost every street.

Positives:

Practically everything is within walking distance – from Al Mariah and Abu Dhabi malls to a wealth of hotels such as the Beach Rotana, Le Meridien, Le Royal Meridien and Crowne Plaza, making it great for those who want to enjoy some of the city’s best restaurants, as well as the shopping and nightlife. There’s also a wealth of small cheap shops, tailors, repair stores and bargain restaurants just waiting to be discovered.

Negatives:

Traffic can be a problem, mainly due to the city’s ongoing roadworks – particularly in Salam Street. Aside from that, the street noise means that if you’re a fan of fresh air, you’ll have to suffer the deafening hooting of a hundred horns should you feel the need to open any windows, and finding a parking space is no mean feat.

Muroor and Mushrif:

This quiet residential area of Muroor, between Muroor Road and Eastern Corniche, is a world away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Abu Dhabi, consisting mainly of older villas, as well as a few newer low-rise flats. Al Mushrif opposite, between 30th Street and 2nd Street, is a sleepy, tree-lined suburban area. While there are some expat communities in Muroor, in contrast Mushrif is somewhat lacking a community.

Housing:

Property here is mainly townhouses and villas, making it a little more suitable for families. However, it does range in quality. Prices for a one-bedroom apartment start at around Dhs90,000 a year in Mushrif, Dhs110,000 in Muroor, and two-bedroom properties can be found for around Dhs140,000.

Health care:

There aren’t many health care facilities in Mushrif; however, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (884 4444), one of the most reputable hospitals for emergency care and surgery, is located just off 11th Street. Muroor boasts the Middle East Specialised Medical Centre (446 7446), which provides general medical care and dental services. Private hospital Dar Al Shifaa Hospital (641 6999) and Central Hospital (621 4666) are also on 11th Street.

Positives:

Mushrif has plenty of parks and open spaces, and this, coupled with the quiet roads and spacious accommodation, makes it especially good for families. Muroor has a good sense of community, with a mix of locals and expats living side by side. The new Mushrif Mall, planned to open in late 2011, will make shopping excursions easy and should make finding a passing taxi easier.

Negatives:

It’s a little far out from the city and getting a cab can sometimes be a bit difficult. During rush hour, traffic is a problem – and, due to the roadworks, Salam Street can get very clogged.

Bain Al Jessrain (between the bridges):

Located, as the name suggests, between the Maqta and Mussafah bridges, Bain Al Jessrain includes Officers’ City, which itself has two compounds, Mangrove Village and Seashore Villas. The compounds are self-contained, and Mangrove Village features its own branch of supermarket chain Spinneys. Not really a spot for party animals due to its location around 30 minutes’ drive from the city, it’s an area most suited to families looking for affordable accommodation.

Housing:

Accommodation tends to be highly sought after, and properties don’t stay available for very long. A four- to six-bedroom villa will set you back around Dhs400,000 to Dhs700,000. In Mangrove Village, some of the properties have sea views, and all have gardens, while Seashore Villas has very good communal leisure facilities, though it’s somewhat lacking in private gardens. There’s a smattering of partitioned studio and one-bedroom apartments available to rent in some of the larger villas, and these will set you back around Dhs90,000 for a one-bedroom, or Dhs140,000 for a two bedroom. A word of warning: if you choose a partitioned room, make sure it’s legal before renting or you could find yourself evicted.

Health care:

There are no primary health care facilities in the area, and the nearest available options are probably those in Muroor and Mushrif. However reputable private hospital Al Noor has a branch in Mussafah (554 1155), and there’s also the New National Medical Centre (671 1000).

Positives:

There’s a large expat community, and the area is especially good for families, with large gardens and affordable housing. The nearby Shangri- La and Fairmont hotels and the Souk Qaryat Al Beri have some of the best restaurants in the city.

Negatives:

There are very few shops, and being so far out of the city means cabs can be costly and traffic can be nightmarish, particularly at rush hour. Also, accommodation is difficult to come by.