First visit, close to the sights: Downtown Dubai
Walk to the Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and the fountains, with a metro station on the doorstep. Hotels and short-stay apartments are among the most expensive in the city, but you save on transport.
Beach and nightlife: Dubai Marina and JBR
A public beach, a waterfront promenade, hundreds of restaurants and good metro and tram links. Busy and lively, especially at weekends.
Resort holiday: Palm Jumeirah
Beach resorts, Atlantis and beach clubs. Great for a relaxing break, less convenient for sightseeing without a car or taxis.
Culture and value: Bur Dubai and Deira
The old city, souks and the creek, with the most affordable hotels in central Dubai and excellent street food. Two metro lines run through it.
Families: Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim
Quiet villa streets, public beaches, La Mer and Kite Beach, and easy access to Downtown. Good for families who want space and the sea.
Jumeirah 1, Umm Suqeim 1: rents and prices.
Business and the middle of town: Business Bay and DIFC
Next to Downtown, with the canal promenade and plenty of newer hotels and serviced apartments, often a little cheaper than Downtown itself.
Business Bay, DIFC: rents and prices.
Budget-friendly with metro access: Al Barsha and JLT
Al Barsha is next to Mall of the Emirates; Jumeirah Lake Towers has lakeside cafes and is one metro stop from the Marina.
Al Barsha 1, JLT: rents and prices.
Thinking about moving to Dubai?
Holiday areas are not always the best value for living. Compare typical rents in every area with our rent by area guide, or see which areas give investors the best returns in rental yield by area.