Jumeirah

The name Jumeirah means ‘Beautiful’ in Arabic and this is the oldest residential district on Dubai’s coast. Jumeirah used to be the favorite place for expatriates to live in and as a result many of buildings are large, low-rise and well spaced apart. In the city where glass and steel are the most used building materials, traditional houses command higher prices, which is why Jumeirah is the most expensive place to live and has become known as the Beverley Hills of the Middle East. And the rent here is amongst the highest in Dubai.

Up to the recent past, most of the real estate units in Jumeirah were villas, some very large with their own pools and some located on small compounds with shared recreational facilities. But now, after large Dubai master developers came to the area with their new large-scale masterplans, the district will probably change its face. Although, constructors, including Dubai Holding, are keen to preserve the special spirit of serenity Jumeirah has now, and make the territory of the new 60 building pedestrian-friendly, quite, green and fresh.

Besides the Mercato shopping mall there is a good variety of independent stores, boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants, as well as two post offices, several bank branches, two hospitals and a variety of medical and dental clinics. But the main place people come here for is Souk Madinat, a traditional Arabic market place, where you can spend time shopping and relaxing.

There are plenty of nursery schools and many British and American system schools, some new and some well established.

With so many of these places accessible on foot there is a real neighbourhood feel to Jumeirah.

AMENITIES AT JUMEIRAH:

Jumeirah's 9km long beach is the best in Dubai, which, together with the district's prime location between the Old and New Dubais, puts it in the premiere league of places to live.

Out to sea is the remarkable collection of man-made islands, The World, and along the coast is the famous sail-shaped Burj al-Arab hotel. Directly inland is the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, and the biggest shopping mall on the planet The Dubai Mall with its famous dancing fountains, and also such most-visited places as La Mer and Dubai Aquarium are all gathered here.

Jumeirah Beach Park is one of two welcome green spaces for walks, picnics and games. The other, Safa Park in the adjacent district of Al Safa, has a boating lake and fairground rides.

The elaborately decorated Jumeirah Mosque welcomes non-Muslims for guided tours as does the traditional Emirati-style Majlis Ghorfat Umm Al Sheif, once the summer residence of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, father of the present ruler of Dubai.