10 Best Areas to Live in Dubai with Family

Among the top-tier cities in UAE, Dubai is the most preferred city in which to work and settle globally. Dubai is a popular business hub in Western Asia, offering beautiful prospects for expats. Choosing the perfect family-friendly neighborhoods in Dubai can be challenging when you want to meet all the needs and goals together. Dubai is the world's best place to have a happy and peaceful life by having the world-class amenities you ever dreamed of. Dubai offers endless opportunities for people who want to invest and grow, and one can find Dubai suburbs where families can settle.

Dubai has excellent amenities; every location has advantages and disadvantages in the top family areas. All you need to do is explore and pick the right place to settle.

Let's help you explore some of the best Dubai areas for families. These areas can be the perfect spot for families, with all the pros and cons in one place.

10 Top Areas to Live in Dubai with Family

1. Dubai Marina

Dubai Marina's vibrant waterfront area is the major attraction in the Emirates and one of the top family areas in Dubai. It is a luxurious option for high-end living in Dubai.

Advantages:

• It is a fabulous city with excellent real estate properties, wonderful play areas, amusement parks, and built-in closets. It's a tourist hub with Dubai Marina Yacht Club, JBR Beach, Marina Beach, and Dubai Marina Walk.
• It is near supermarkets, shopping, gyms, and the best daycare centers if you have young kiddos—one of the safe areas in Dubai for children.
• Excellent infrastructure with access to public transport.
• It is a fantastic option if you love partying, spas, cruise dinners, and shopping.

Disadvantages:

• Costly rentals.
• The bustling city center is always buzzing with vehicles on busy roads.

2. Jumeirah Lake Towers

Jumeirah Lake towers are segregated into different clusters in the heart of Dubai. It is known for its tall buildings and top-notch amenities.

Advantages:

• Easy access to banks, pharmacies, markets, and other amenities.
• Just 7 minutes to Jumeirah Heights, 10 minutes to Dubai Marina, 13 minutes to Emirates Hills, 20 minutes to Jebel Ali, 18 minutes to AI Quoz.
• World-class housing, safe areas in Dubai for children.

Disadvantages:

• Traffic congestion as it is close to popular areas.
• Not for families looking for a peaceful stay.
• High cost of living.

3. Arabian Ranches

It is the best place for expats who want to settle in Dubai. It comes with top-notch features, a freehold gated villa community, and is one of the best Dubai areas for families.

Advantages:

• Serene surroundings are covered with greenery, offering two- to six-bedroom properties.
• Top amenities include a golf course, polo, equestrian amenities, mosques, and schools.
• Home for the best schools in Dubai, making it an ideal choice for families with children.
• Well-connected public transportation.

Disadvantages:

• High cost of living.
• Reaching other parts of the city is a bit challenging during rush hours.
• Limited shopping and dining options.

4. Downtown Dubai

It is the best community for families, especially because it is surrounded by daycare centers and nurseries, and it is one of the top safe areas in Dubai for children.

Advantages:

• Easy access to public transport.
• Access to shopping malls, entertainment centers, and restaurants.
• Close to businesses, landmarks, and financial centers.

Disadvantages:

• The cost of living is expensive.
• It is a noisy area with high traffic.
• Limited schools.
• Strict laws on dress code religious practices.

5. Mirdif

It is the most famous residential, family-friendly neighborhood in Dubai. It has AI Mizhar from the North and AI Warqaa from the South as borders and is near the International airport.

Advantages:

• It is close to the best communities, such as Al Mizhar, Dubai Festival City, AI Warqua, and AI Rashidiya. Mushrif Park, Dubai Frame, and museums are also nearby. 
• Access to public transport, but there is no metro station available nearby.
• Close to all amenities like restaurants, spas, gyms, hotels, hospitals, & more.

Disadvantages:

• Non-freehold area in Dubai as buying properties here is challenging for expats.
• It doesn't have a metro station

6. Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah is a beautiful man-made island shaped like a palm tree. It is the best place for families to live.

Advantages:

• Captures the most beautiful waterfront view in an iconic pattern.
• Accessibility to retail shops, schools, food outlets, and more.
• Luxury living with a plethora of options to choose from high-end amenities.
• You can find the best family-friendly neighborhoods in Dubai here.

Disadvantages:

• Not connected to the Dubai metro and expensive lifestyle.
• Many top-off-plan properties in Dubai are located in places that might cause more dust due to construction.

7. Dubai Silicon Oasis

A modern hub for working professionals and students & best family-friendly neighborhoods in Dubai.

Advantages:

• Prime location and just 15 minutes away from the city center.
• Hassle-free rentals with all facilities like parking, gym, pools, and more.
• Access to healthcare facilities, hotels, restaurants, schools, and more.

Disadvantages:

• Lack of metro stations.
• Continuous construction area, as many off-plan projects are still ongoing.

8. Mudon

One of the best family-friendly neighborhoods in Dubai, It is close to the Arabian Ranches community situated on Emirates Road and AI Quadra.

Advantages:

• Different property types are available.
• Proximity to schools or educational institutions.
• Easy access to supermarkets, grocery shops, restaurants, and more.

Disadvantages:

• Lack of public transport
• It is still a developing area, as parks and play areas are developing.

9. Business Bay

It is one of the most vibrant districts in Dubai, with excellent infrastructure, holistic amenities, and residential and commercial towers.

Advantages:

• Strategic location with lavish properties and luxurious living experience.
• Perfect family-friendly neighborhoods in Dubai, safe for children as it offers top-level amenities.
• Easy access to transportation, best amenities' like restaurants, and dine-in options.

Disadvantages:

• Traffic jams as it is a prime location.
• Lack of proximity to top-tier schools.

10. Al Barsha

AL Barsha is a crowded place full of amenities and key attractions. It is a family-friendly neighborhood near all amenities and is one of the top family areas in Dubai.

Advantages

• It is an upbeat and lively area on Dubai's west side, a sub-community of AI Barsha.
• Prime location for residents and visitors.
• Easy transportation.

Disadvantages:

• Dominated by non-freehold properties
• Very far away from the beach area
• Crowded place, especially on weekends

Criteria for Selecting the Best Area

Dubai boasts diverse communities, and there are many choices for family-friendly neighborhoods.

One should consider the following factors when searching top family areas in Dubai:

• Accessibility to school if you have children.
• Public transportation is available for quick access to nearby locations when needed.
• Work commutes – try to reduce the commute time.
• Local amenities – Check out for grocery stores, malls, dine-ins, and parks per your lifestyle.
• Work on budgets in mind before choosing any area.

Conclusion

Dubai is a beautiful destination for family-friendly neighborhoods, as there is much room for growth and development, especially for investors and expats to embrace Dubai. We have given you a list of the best family-friendly locations based on your needs, convenience, advantages, and disadvantages.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best family-friendly neighborhoods in Dubai?

Dubai offers a wide range of communities with world-class amenities for families to live in this fantastic city. Here is the list of family-friendly neighborhoods in Dubai.

• Dubai Marina
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
• Arabian Ranches
• Downtown Dubai
• Mirdif
• Palm Jumeirah
• Dubai Silicon Oasis
• Mudon 
• Business Bay
• Al Barsha

2. What should I consider when choosing a neighborhood in Dubai for my family?

If you want to settle with your family in Dubai, consider your needs, such as commuting time, school, amenities, convenience, and budget. The second important thing is to evaluate the freehold property areas as non-freehold communities that don't allow expats and foreigners to buy properties in Dubai.

3. How do Dubai Marina and Jumeirah compare as family-friendly areas?

Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah are expensive locations offering luxurious, lavish, and high-end amenities. Even the rentals are costly as they offer great amenities. Dubai Marina is a prime location, a bustling city with all amenities like access to public transport and walking distance to significant landmarks. In contrast, Jumeirah is a man-made island with beautiful coastal views and a peaceful atmosphere. No metro access is available from Jumeirah, which is a drawback, and it is not easy to reach any location during rush hour.

4. Are there affordable, family-friendly neighborhoods in Dubai?

Most of Dubai's family-friendly neighborhoods cannot be considered as affordable as they offer high-end living with lavish villas, properties, and world-class amenities. However, some inexpensive, family-friendly neighborhoods are comparatively less expensive. If you are looking for an affordable option, it is wise to go with off-plan properties in Dubai, which you can grab at a reasonable price.

5. What amenities should I look for in a family-friendly neighborhood in Dubai?

Always check the commuting time to prime areas, look at your budget, and check if any off-plan properties are available in the neighborhood. Before you move with your family, it would be best to look for public transportation and access to amenities like grocery shops, malls, supermarkets, schools, and healthcare facilities in and around the neighborhood.