Living in Dubai Marina: An Expat’s Honest Review
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If you’re currently researching the best places to live in Dubai, chances are the Dubai Marina is on your list of neighborhoods to check out. I moved here in 2022 and I absolutely love living in Dubai Marina. That being said, it’s not ideal for everyone, and living in this part of Dubai does come with its pros and cons.
If you’re wondering whether or not living in Dubai Marina is right for you, I’m here to break down the good, the bad, and the ugly. (Spoiler alert: It’s mostly good!)
You might also like:
~ The Pros & Cons of Living in Dubai (By an Actual Expat)
~ A Local’s Dubai Marina Guide: What to See, Eat & Do!
Living in Dubai Marina: The Pros
You can walk everywhere
The thing that I absolutely love about living in Dubai Marina is that the area is totally walkable. It’s possible to walk to a wide range of grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, shops, gyms, and more.
And if you prefer to exercise outdoors, you can walk or jog along the pedestrian-friendly Marina Walk (pictured above). You can also walk to the beach over in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) in just 10-15 minutes.
This is a very convenient place to live if you enjoy getting outside and you prefer not to drive everywhere. A lot of people I know who live in this part of town don’t have a car, including myself!
There are plenty of outdoor spaces
Having access to outdoor spaces is not a given in Dubai, and one of the reasons why I love living in Dubai Marina is because of the Dubai Marina Walk. The 7-kilometer Marina Walk is a pedestrian-friendly pathway that runs around the Dubai Marina and it’s a major perk of living in the area.
So many neighborhoods in Dubai lack not only outdoor spaces but pretty views, so having such a large and picturesque area to get outside is a major plus. If you ask me, walking around and taking in the views of the marina honestly never gets old – and I’ve lived here for four years!
You’ll find locals and tourists alike walking and jogging along the Marina Walk each evening. There are also plenty of designated play areas for little ones dotting the Marina Walk, making this a great place to live for families with young children.
You can walk to the beach
Another major perk of basing yourself in Dubai Marina is that you’ll have easy access to the beach at JBR. JBR is one of the most touristy areas of Dubai, but if you enjoy having beach days every now and again, you can walk to the beach in 10-15 minutes from pretty much anywhere in the marina area.
There are also tons of fun things to do in JBR. Whether you want to dine at an international restaurant, watch a holiday fireworks show, play carnival games with your kids, or mix and mingle at a beach club or bar, there’s always something going on in JBR. It’s nice to have this neighborhood right next door.
You can walk to the restaurants in JLT
Located on the other side of Sheikh Zayed Road from Dubai Marina is Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT). JLT is a popular alternative to living in the marina, offering easy access to the Dubai Marina and JBR at a slightly lower price tag.
One major perk of having JLT right next door is that it’s easy to walk to all of the area’s excellent restaurants. The restaurants in JLT are far more affordable and less touristy than those you’ll find in JBR and Dubai Marina. From Vietnamese, Chinese, and Indonesian to Indian, Mexican, and Japanese, you can eat your way around the world in JLT!
You’ll have direct access to the metro and tram
While I love the walkability of Dubai Marina, this neighborhood also features multiple tram and metro stops, making getting around Dubai using public transportation a breeze. The Dubai Tram runs a loop around Dubai Marina and makes its last stop in Al Sufouh. The tram makes getting around the neighborhood a cinch and it’s a lifesaver when things heat up in the summer months.
The marina also has two Dubai Metro stops, which will take you to places like the Dubai International Airport, Old Dubai, and the Dubai Mall, to name a few areas and attractions. If you happen to work near a metro stop, having easy access to a metro station means you don’t have to have a car or rely on taxis to get to work, which is a bonus.
You can wear what you like
The Dubai Marina is its own little bubble and sometimes it’s almost easy to forget you’re in a Muslim country. You’ll find expats and tourists from all walks of life here, hailing from countries around the world. In this part of the city, both men and women dress however they’d like (within reason!) and the dress code is far less conservative than you’ll find in other parts of Dubai.
Living in Dubai Marina: The Cons
The high price tag
The Dubai Marina is one of the most expensive areas to live in Dubai. The proximity to the beach, the Marina Walk, the gorgeous views, and the tourist attractions all play a role in hiking up the price of apartments in this part of town.
Neighborhoods like Deira, Al Barsha, and JVC will come at a far lower price tag than the Marina, so it’s important to understand the higher cost right off the bat. Prices here seem to be sky-high at the time of writing, with a 1-bedroom apartment going from anywhere from AED75,000 to AED110,000 (or way more) and a 2-bedroom apartment ranging from AED110,000 to AED200,000+.
The traffic is bad
A lot of people choose not to live in the marina solely because of the traffic. This part of town is ultra-touristy, so it’s no real surprise that traffic jams are a part of life here. And while I love the tram for getting around the area, it does cause a lot of traffic.
A lot of people, including myself, who live in Dubai Marina opt not to have a car since traffic is so bad and getting around on foot or via public transport is so easy.
The lack of schools
Families with school-age kids also tend not to live in Dubai Marina. And this is because there are no schools in the area. Traffic makes commuting to and from Dubai’s schools a nightmare!
The high humidity
Because it’s located on the water and near the ocean, Dubai Marina gets insanely humid. Usually, the high humidity starts in May and lingers until the end of September or the beginning of October. The humidity is way higher than what you’ll experience just a few kilometers away from the water.
One important thing to note is that it’s recommended to leave your AC on in the summer, even if you leave town during the summer months to escape the heat. The AC helps to bring moisture levels down inside, and those who do turn their AC off and leave for extended periods of time over the summer often return to mold-infested apartments. It can get really bad!
It’s touristy
Once again, Dubai Marina is super touristy. And while this doesn’t bother me a bit, a lot of expats are really put off by dealing with not only the tourists but the crowds. Things do get especially crowded here during holidays and during the peak tourist season in winter, but again, this doesn’t bother me a bit.
