A bit about me...
I have lived in Dubai 8 years, and come from the UK. Prior to becoming single again, I was married and lived in a villa in Mirdif. I enjoy living in Dubai and have many lovely friends here so it has become my home and therefore I have no plans to return to UK in the near future.
The Area
Al Barsha centres around the Mall of the Emirates and stretches back from Sheikh Zayed Road back towards the Al Khail Road. The accommodation and facilities in Al Barsha 1 seem to have built up from around the time the Mall of Emirates was built and it is now a well established area. The area is vibrant and busy and very multi-cultural. There are lots and lots of little supermarkets, salons, tailors, laundries and random independent shops and you can usually find anything you need within a short walk. There are also many many restaurants and take-aways of all description – from Middle Easter to Italian, from European bakery to KFC! There is also the City Max hotel which offers food and drink and the sports bar is a great place to catch the match on a Saturday evening.
Accommodation Options
In Al Barsha 1 there are only apartments available, within mainly low rise buildings. There are blocks which are old and established as well as new ones springing up at the back of Al Barsha going towards Al Khail Road. The buildings are mostly independently owned and therefore the management and upkeep is variable. I am lucky that my building has a great management company who are active in keeping in touch with the tenants and any maintenance is done efficiently.
Why I like Living Here
Mainly I like the location of Al Barsha because it is so convenient for getting around Dubai. It is easy to get onto Sheikh Zayed Road or Al Khail Road, and it is serviced by the main artery road Umm Sequeim Street. Whilst at peak times traffic can be congested, it is usually fairly quick to come in and out of the centre of Al Barsha 1.
I also love the convenience and random nature of all the shops and salons which surround my building. The fact that I can walk to the Mall of Emirates or Lulu’s supermarket is also a bonus, as is being able to get a cab (usually) fairly easily from the side of the street.
The rents in Al Barsha 1 tend to be a little lower than in other more glamorous areas, so that also makes living here a good option for me as a single lady.
It can be a little noisy at times in Al Barsha 1 with people on the streets and cars hooting their horns in traffic, however, with the door closed it never bothers me.
This area would suit busy single people who are want a central location in town and are on a budget.