Dubai area guide
Large villas set among working farms, family attractions and some of the most genuine Emirati heritage in Dubai.
Overview
Few parts of Dubai still farm, and Al Khawaneej is one of them. It sits behind more culturally mixed districts such as International City, Al Warqaa and Mirdif. The land is mostly desert, starting on the western side of Emirates Road (E611) and following the line of the Sharjah-Dubai border. Emirati nationals make up a large share of residents, so this is the city at its most traditionally Emirati. To the east lies Al Awir, another agricultural centre, where one of the farms belongs to the royal Maktoum family.
There are two districts: Al Khawaneej 1 and Al Khawaneej 2. Between them they hold many private farms and agricultural plots, kept by wealthy families whose farming businesses go back generations. In Al Khawaneej 1 you will find The Yard, a lakefront leisure destination of 350,000 sq ft from Meraas, the company that built City Walk and La Mer. The feel is rustic. There is a lake, walking trails, a bakery, an 18-metre windmill and an organic farmer's market, plus the Last Exit food truck park and the romantic Promise Bridge.
Al Khawaneej 2 is different. Most of it is given over to farms, nurseries and stables where camels and horses are bred, including operations belonging to the National Agricultural Development Company and Al Rawabi Dairy Company. At Organic Oasis, a certified organic farm, visitors can pick fruit and vegetables themselves. Crops such as broccoli, carrots and aubergine grow well in the desert sand.
Villas here lean on traditional Arab design, not the international styles common across the rest of Dubai. Expect large courtyards, boundary walls, shaded paths and big ornate gates. Homes are two storeys and measure between 4,000 and 15,000 sq ft. Each has a separate majlis for receiving guests, in line with the Emirati custom of segregated social spaces. Swimming pools, fountains and carefully kept gardens are standard.
Investment case
A large local population and farming roots going back generations give the area a cultural character that Dubai is steadily losing elsewhere.
Prices have risen 6% to 10% year on year, a sign that demand for the area's large villas is holding up.
Well-known leisure destinations add lifestyle value that keeps families interested over the long term.
With villas from 4,000 to 15,000 sq ft, investors can buy into some of the biggest residential plots in Dubai.
Broad roads, plenty of parking and a calmer setting set the area apart from Dubai's more crowded urban districts.
A retail centre planned by Nakheel and Al Nasr Cultural & Sports Club shows ongoing investment in local amenities.
Community
Al Khawaneej runs at a slower, more traditional pace than most of Dubai. Generations of Emirati families and their farming roots set the tone. Most residents are Emirati nationals or GCC families, and many run farming businesses themselves. Broad roads and generous parking make the whole community feel open, unlike the packed central districts.
Built by Meraas across 350,000 sq ft on the waterfront, it has a lake, an 18-metre windmill, an organic farmer's market and the Promise Bridge, where couples leave padlocks.
The region's first park inspired by the Quran, with the Cave of Miracles and a Glass House planted with species named in the Quran.
A food truck park with both outdoor and indoor outlets, covering burgers, cafés and desserts.
Built around a central pond, it gives residents a place to walk, run, jog and cycle.
Found where Al Khawaneej Street meets Al Amardi Street, it offers general healthcare inside the community.
Masjid Alharamain, Abdullah bin Rawahah Masjid and Yousef Abdulla AlJaziri Smart Masjid carry Emirati architectural heritage through the area.
Nearby
More than 10,000 Ghaf trees grow here, alongside a theatre, an astronomy centre and an international village of traditional houses.
A wildlife and conservation site holding about 250 Nile crocodiles, with a savannah-style habitat and a 500,000-litre aquarium.
Roughly 11 to 13 minutes' drive, with shops, restaurants and a Lulu Hypermarket.
About 13 minutes from the community, anchored by a Union Coop Hypermarket.
Among the biggest malls in Mirdif, around 17 to 20 minutes away.
A public beach about 30 minutes away, with jogging tracks and places to eat and drink.
Daily life
A few well-regarded schools operate in Al Khawaneej itself, and more curricula are a short drive away in Al Khawaneej 1 and nearby Al Mizhar.
Residents have Al Khawaneej Health Centre on their doorstep, and bigger hospitals are a short drive off.
Local grocers and supermarkets on Al Amardi Street take care of everyday shopping.
For drivers, Al Khawaneej Street (D89) links the community with Emirates Road (E611) and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), so the rest of the city is easy to reach. Villas come with private parking, and visitors have plenty of public spaces.
Starting prices
Starting prices by unit type as published by the developers active in the area. Individual units vary by floor, view and finish; the project pages carry the detail.
| Unit | Starting from |
|---|---|
| 3-Bedroom | AED 7,350,000 |
| 4-Bedroom | AED 9,000,000 |
| 5-Bedroom | AED 10,000,000 |
| 6-Bedroom | AED 11,800,000 |
Getting around
Al Khawaneej sits on the eastern edge of Dubai, following Emirates Road with the Sharjah-Dubai border running beside it. From here, Mirdif, Al Mizhar and the rest of the city are an easy drive
Drive times are the developer’s typical figures in light traffic.
Master developer
Enter the world of Meraas, one of Dubai’s most design-forward developers and a member of Dubai Holding, renowned for creating the city’s most iconic lifestyle destinations rather than simply buildings. From City Walk and Bluewaters Island — home of Ain Dubai — to the Mediterranean-inspired Port de La Mer and…
All Meraas projectsFAQ
Al Khawaneej 1 is mainly residential, with The Yard and most of the villa communities. Al Khawaneej 2 is mostly farms, nurseries and stables for camels and horses.
It suits families who want large villas, real farming heritage and a calmer pace than central Dubai.
It is the region's first park inspired by the Quran. It includes the Cave of Miracles and a Glass House planted with trees and plants named in the Quran.
Yes. It is one of only a few agricultural districts in Dubai, with private farms, nurseries and stables for breeding camels and horses, mainly in Al Khawaneej 2.
Go to The Yard for the lake and organic farmer's market, visit Quranic Park, eat at the Last Exit food truck park, or walk and cycle at Al Khawaneej Pond Park.
The community starts on the western side of Emirates Road (E611) and stretches beside it, following the Sharjah-Dubai border.
Steady population growth, no property tax and expanding infrastructure keep demand high in both mature and new communities. The Dubai Land Department adds a transparent regulatory framework.
Registering with the Dubai Land Department gives buyers legal protection. Developer funds sit in escrow accounts and are only released as building work moves forward.
Talk to an expert
Ask which launches in Al Khawaneej are actually worth the premium, what resale and rent look like today, and which payment plans are open right now.