HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD IN DUBAI FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

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HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD IN DUBAI FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

Does your new Dubai neighbourhood suit your needs and lifestyle? That’s the question that comes into mind when you’re looking for a neighbourhood to move in. Choosing the right neighbourhood is just as important as choosing your new house/apartment itself; you’ll need to consider various factors such as property value ranges, property types, and proximity to schools and other amenities. So, how do you select the best neighbourhood? We have made a list of some basic tips to consider whilst choosing the best community in Dubai to buy a new home.

1. Are You Moving Local or Long Distance?

You may already live Dubai and are looking to move locally to a new neighbourhood, or you may be coming from across the world—either way, moving to a new home and a new neighbourhood is a huge responsibility!

So, one factor to consider is how long you want your commute to be based on a new job or a new school to help you choose your ideal neighbourhood.

2. Do You Prefer the Main City or the Outskirts of Dubai?

Each type has its own pros and cons. Do you like having neighbours? Do you want to be within walking distance of all amenities?

Deciding what your ideal setting will be can tell you about the best area to live in Dubai for you.

Open spaces and quiet in a rural area mean there are typically fewer options for stores and community amenities. Living in the city means lots of options for entertainment and schools as well as activities and community programs, but it does mean less space, neighbours close by and typically noisy traffic.

It’s up to you to evaluate what you prefer. Changing your neighbourhood is a huge change, make sure your expectations are reasonable and educated.

3. Safety and Crime Statistics

Usually in any other country in the world you would have to do some research on crime statistics before moving. But in Dubai this is not the case, in fact Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world to live in!

4. Neighbourhood Appearance and Feel

Walk around your neighbourhood of interest and see how well its maintained, are the streets and pavements clean? Do the townhouses have nice driveways? Look at the vacant spaces which could one day be used for commercial purposes and change the look and feel of the neighbourhood. Commercial developments can also affect property values.

Emerging neighbourhoods typically mean investing in open spaces. Ideally, in a few years, your new home will be in an older neighbourhood—which can mean a huge return on investment if you pay attention.

If you can’t visit but still want to get a good look and feel, using Google Street View can be an effective tool for taking a virtual “stroll”.

5. Proximity to Shopping & Restaurants

Check check to see that the amenities you need are available in your chosen neighbourhood or nearby where you can commute to easily. If you need to make frequent visits to grocery stores and restaurants, you’ll want to ensure these amenities are nearby.

6. Schools

A well-maintained local school is the sign of a desirable neighbourhood. If you have school aged children, think about how long it will take them to get to school every day. Can they walk, or will they need to take public transportation? How long does it take to drive to the school? If you want children in the future, are there reputable day-care centres nearby?

You may also want to look for neighbourhoods with other families in that area- a real estate agent will know that kind of information.

7. Property Type

A large part of where you live will be based on by the type of home you want. High-rise condominium apartments will be harder to find in the suburbs than in the city, as will single-family homes with large yards in the heart of the city.

With multi-generational homes becoming more popular, you might consider a planned community with access to pools, tennis courts, and clubhouses. Choosing your new home in the right neighbourhood will have a massive impact on your quality of life.

8. Parks for Kids & Pets

Safe parks for children or pets indicate the type of neighbourhood. If there is garbage in the park, or broken swings, you know that it isn’t maintained and it most likely isn’t a very child-friendly neighbourhood. A well-maintained green space is an excellent indication of the health of the community.

Luckily in Dubai, the Dubai Municipality ensures everything is well maintained and clean so you wouldn’t have to worry about this.

9. Proximity to Work

This point is very important. When testing the time, it takes to get to work from a neighbourhood you’re interested in—make sure you’re checking at rush hour.

In case you don’t have your car. Is there public transportation? How reliable is it? Do the schedules match up with your work hours?

10. Explore the Neighbourhood

Try to rent an Airbnb for a night or two in the neighbourhood you want and see how you like it. We suggest a Thursday and Friday night- this lets you get a feel for both weekday and weekend life in the traffic, noise levels, and how easy it is to get your errands done (and what restaurants are good in the area!).

Or simply going for a drive or taking a walk a few times on different days will also help give you a good picture. Finally, go to your local coffee shop and talk to the barista—not only do they know the patterns of the population throughout the week, but they will also typically have valuable insight on the neighbourhood, the local culture, and some tips on the best places around.

Get Moving with Sawani Properties

Reach out to us to help you find a home that checks off all your boxes- we can help you narrow down your neighbourhood list by offering local insight and to help you choose the right neighbourhood.

Once you’ve found your ideal neighbourhood in Dubai, trusting the professionals with your moving will help make the transition go smoothly from planning to execution.