Emaar communities in Dubai cover a wide range of homes, from the towers around Burj Khalifa to quiet villa streets in Arabian Ranches. Emaar, the developer behind Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, builds master-planned residential communities in Dubai, where homes, parks, schools, shops and leisure facilities are designed together.
This guide covers 10 popular Emaar communities, grouped by the type of home they’re known for. For each one, you’ll find what daily life is like, the main landmarks and amenities, and links to homes for sale and rent on Property Finder.
- What is Emaar in Dubai?
- Popular Emaar Communities in Dubai
- Emaar apartment communities in Dubai
- Emaar villa and family communities in Dubai
- What community living in Dubai looks like with Emaar
- Emaar community management and service fees
What is Emaar in Dubai?
If you’re wondering what is Emaar in Dubai, it’s Emaar Properties, a real estate developer listed on the Dubai Financial Market. Its work spans homes, shopping malls, hotels and entertainment. Since 2002, Emaar has delivered more than 130,900 residential units in Dubai and other markets.
Emaar is behind several of Dubai’s landmarks, including Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and The Dubai Fountain. When people talk about an Emaar community, they usually mean one of its master-planned developments, where the developer plans the roads, parks, retail and community facilities as well as the homes.
Emaar malls in Dubai
Shopping is a big part of the Emaar story. Three Emaar malls sit within the communities covered in this guide:
- The Dubai Mall: In Downtown Dubai, next to Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Fountain. It’s home to Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Dubai Ice Rink, KidZania and Reel Cinemas.
- Dubai Hills Mall: The retail centre of Dubai Hills Estate, with 282,000 sqm of shopping and leisure space.
- Dubai Marina Mall: A 150,000 sqm mall on the Dubai Marina waterfront.
Popular Emaar Communities in Dubai
Here’s a quick comparison of the 10 Emaar communities in Dubai covered below:
| Community | Main home types | Known for |
| Downtown Dubai | Apartments | Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, city living |
| Dubai Marina | Apartments | Waterfront promenade, beach, yacht club |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | Apartments, some villas | Creek views, parks, Creek Beach |
| Emaar Beachfront | Apartments, some villas | Private beach between Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah |
| The Greens & Views | Low-rise apartments | Lakes, parks, golf course views |
| Dubai Hills Estate | Villas, townhouses, apartments | Golf course, Dubai Hills Park, Dubai Hills Mall |
| Arabian Ranches | Villas, townhouses | Gated family living, golf and polo |
| Arabian Ranches III | Villas, townhouses | Newer gated family community |
| The Valley | Villas, townhouses | Family clusters, sports village, Golden Beach |
| Emaar South | Villas, townhouses, apartments | Golf course and neighbourhood parks in Dubai South |
Emaar apartment communities in Dubai
These five communities suit buyers and tenants who want apartment living, with landmarks, the waterfront or the beach close by.
1. Downtown Dubai
Downtown Dubai is the Emaar community around Burj Khalifa. It sits between Sheikh Zayed Road and Financial Centre Road, with Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and The Dubai Fountain at its centre. Residents live in apartment towers within walking distance of restaurants, hotels and some of Dubai’s busiest attractions.
- Home types: Apartments, from one to five bedrooms
- Landmarks: Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, The Dubai Fountain, Dubai Opera, Souk Al Bahar and Burj Khalifa Lake
- Getting around: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard runs through the area, and Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station on the Red Line connects to the mall by an air-conditioned link bridge
- Find a home: apartments for sale in Downtown Dubai | apartments for rent in Downtown Dubai
Looking at off-plan towers instead? Read about Emaar’s new projects in Downtown Dubai.
2. Dubai Marina
Emaar describes Dubai Marina as a pioneering waterfront project. Towers line a man-made marina, with Dubai Marina Walk, cafés and the beach all within a short walk. It’s an established area, so schools and healthcare facilities are already in place.
- Home types: Apartments
- Highlights: Dubai Marina Walk, Dubai Marina Mall, Pier 7, Marina Beach and the Dubai Marina Yacht Club
- Good for: Young professionals and couples who want a lively waterfront lifestyle
- Find a home: apartments for sale in Dubai Marina | apartments for rent in Dubai Marina
Smaller units are especially popular here. If you’re searching for a 1 bedroom apartment for rent in Dubai Marina, start with one-bedroom apartments for rent in Dubai Marina on Property Finder.
3. Dubai Creek Harbour
Dubai Creek Harbour sits on the water next to Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, with views back towards the Downtown skyline. The community mixes apartment towers with a waterfront promenade, Creek Beach and 500,000 sqm of parks and open spaces. Downtown Dubai and Burj Khalifa are about 15 minutes away.
- Home types: Mostly apartments, plus a smaller number of villas
- Highlights: Creek Beach, Creek Marina, waterfront promenade and parks
- Nearby: Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, about 5 minutes away, and Dubai International Airport
- Find a home: apartments for sale in Dubai Creek Harbour | apartments for rent in Dubai Creek Harbour
4. Emaar Beachfront
Emaar Beachfront is a waterfront development between Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, within Dubai Harbour. Its towers face a 1.5 km private beach, and many apartments look straight out to sea. Sheikh Zayed Road is close by, so getting to the rest of the city is easy.
- Home types: Mostly apartments across 27 residential towers (around 10,000 residential units), plus villas in selected projects
- Highlights: 1.5 km private beach and a 13,000 sqm retail mall
- Good for: Buyers and tenants who want beach access without leaving the city
- Find a home: apartments for sale in Emaar Beachfront | apartments for rent in Emaar Beachfront
For more detail, read our full guide to living in Emaar Beachfront.
5. The Greens & Views
The Greens and The Views are quieter, low-rise neighbourhoods next to Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City. Apartment buildings are set around lakes, garden courtyards and parks, and some homes overlook the Emirates Golf Club.
Both neighbourhoods are part of Emirates Living, Emaar’s wider master community that also includes Emirates Hills, The Springs, The Meadows and The Lakes. Emirates Hills is a villa community, and you can browse villas for sale in Emirates Hills on Property Finder.
- Home types: Apartments in 40 low-rise residential buildings
- Highlights: The Greens Souk, The Backyard community garden, parks and barbecue areas
- Location: Along Sheikh Zayed Road, next to Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City
- Find a home: apartments for sale in The Greens | apartments for rent in The Greens | apartments for rent in The Views
Emaar villa and family communities in Dubai
If you need more space, a garden or a quieter street for the children, these Emaar communities focus on villas and townhouses. Dubai Hills Estate and Emaar South also have apartments.
6. Dubai Hills Estate
Dubai Hills Estate is a 2,700-acre community built around an 18-hole championship golf course. It combines villas, townhouses and apartments with a lot of green space, including Dubai Hills Park and a 54 km bicycle route. Dubai Hills Mall gives residents a major shopping centre on their doorstep.
- Home types: Villas, townhouses and apartments
- Highlights: Championship golf course, Dubai Hills Park, Dubai Hills Mall and a 54 km bicycle route
- Schools: Three schools within the community, plus nurseries
- Find a home: villas for sale in Dubai Hills Estate | apartments for rent in Dubai Hills Estate
Read our guide to living in Dubai Hills Estate for the pros and cons.
7. Arabian Ranches
Arabian Ranches is a family community by Emaar. It’s a gated, desert-themed development of villas and townhouses, with open spaces, lakes and plenty of sports facilities.
- Home types: Villas and townhouses
- Sports and leisure: 18-hole championship golf course, two international-sized polo fields, 15 full-size tennis courts, 19 half-size basketball courts and two large lakes
- Good for: Families who want space, gardens and a gated setting
- Find a home: villas for sale in Arabian Ranches | villas for rent in Arabian Ranches
Find out more in our Arabian Ranches community guide.
8. Arabian Ranches III
Arabian Ranches III is the newest chapter of the Arabian Ranches story, just a short drive from the original community and Arabian Ranches II. It’s a gated community of more than 4,000 villas and townhouses with five entry points, plus parks, sports facilities and shops.
- Home types: Three- and four-bedroom villas and townhouses
- Highlights: Parks, sports and leisure facilities and retail within the community
- Good for: Families looking for a newer home in an established part of Dubai
- Find a home: villas for sale in Arabian Ranches 3 | villas for rent in Arabian Ranches 3
9. The Valley
The Valley is a family community of villas and townhouses split into clusters such as Eden, Nara, Talia and Orania. Shared spaces include Golden Beach, Town Centre, Sports Village and Kids Dale.
- Home types: Three- to five-bedroom villas and townhouses
- Highlights: Golden Beach, Town Centre, Sports Village and Kids Dale
- Nearby: Ranches Primary School, Dubai Academic City and local clinics
- Find a home: villas for sale in The Valley | villas for rent in The Valley
10. Emaar South
Emaar South is a community within Dubai South, built around an 18-hole championship golf course. It offers villas, townhouses and apartments, with 25 neighbourhood parks spread across the community.
- Home types: Villas, townhouses and apartments
- Highlights: Championship golf course, 25 neighbourhood parks and 53,000 sqm of shops and restaurants
- Location: Dubai South
- Find a home: apartments for sale in Emaar South | apartments for rent in Emaar South
Weigh up the pros and cons of living in Emaar South before you decide.
What community living in Dubai looks like with Emaar
Community living in Dubai means more than a home. In Emaar’s residential communities in Dubai, the parks, pools, retail centres and sports facilities are planned alongside the homes, so most everyday needs are close by.
Here’s what that usually looks like:
- Shared amenities: Pools, gyms, parks, playgrounds and barbecue areas for residents
- Retail on the doorstep: From a neighbourhood souk in The Greens to Dubai Hills Mall and The Dubai Mall
- Gated security: Villa communities such as Arabian Ranches and Arabian Ranches III have controlled entry points
- One management team: Common areas are looked after by a community management company rather than individual landlords
To compare Emaar’s developments with other secure neighbourhoods, see our guide to gated communities in Dubai. You can also browse Emaar’s new projects on Property Finder if you’d rather buy off-plan.
Emaar community management and service fees
Emaar Community Management (ECM) is the company that runs the shared parts of Emaar’s master communities. It handles association management, operations, technical and financial management and customer service, in line with Dubai Law No. 6 of 2019 on jointly owned property.
What does the community service fee cover?
Property owners pay a community service fee unless the unit’s lease agreement says otherwise. In Emaar communities, this fee is split into:
- General fund: Day-to-day running and administration of the community
- Capital reserve fund: Repairing and replacing capital items
- Special levy: One-off costs for items that weren’t in the original design or aren’t covered by the general fund
- Master community levy: Charged to each community, covering items such as sewage treatment plants and master community infrastructure
These fees pay for essentials such as security, landscaping, irrigation and common-area maintenance, so late payments affect the whole community.
How to pay Emaar community fees
ECM sends invoices by email, so keep your contact details up to date on your community portal. Payment options vary slightly by community, and include:
- Online payment
- Bank transfer
- Cheque
- The credit control department at Emaar Square
Some communities also list the EMAAR ONE app, Emaar E-Service and self-service kiosks.
Key Takeaways
- Emaar Properties is the Dubai developer behind Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and many of the city’s master-planned communities.
- Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Dubai Creek Harbour, Emaar Beachfront and The Greens & Views are mainly apartment communities.
- Dubai Hills Estate, Arabian Ranches, Arabian Ranches III, The Valley and Emaar South focus on villas and townhouses, with apartments in Dubai Hills Estate and Emaar South.
- The Greens and The Views sit within Emirates Living, alongside Emirates Hills.
- Emaar Community Management runs shared areas, and owners pay a community service fee online, by bank transfer, by cheque or at Emaar Square.
Frequently Asked Questions
Emaar Properties is a Dubai real estate developer listed on the Dubai Financial Market. It built Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, and it develops master-planned communities such as Downtown Dubai, Dubai Hills Estate and Arabian Ranches.
Dubai Hills Estate, Arabian Ranches, Arabian Ranches III and The Valley focus on villas and townhouses, with parks, sports facilities and schools nearby.
Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Dubai Creek Harbour and Emaar Beachfront are Emaar’s main apartment communities. The Greens & Views offers quieter, low-rise apartment living.
Yes. Emirates Hills is part of Emirates Living, a master community developed by Emaar that also includes The Springs, The Meadows, The Lakes, The Greens and The Views.
Emaar Community Management (ECM) manages the shared areas of Emaar’s master communities, including maintenance, security, landscaping and owners’ associations. It also collects the community service fee from property owners.
Options include online payment, bank transfer, cheque and the credit control department at Emaar Square. Some communities also list the EMAAR ONE app and self-service kiosks.
Dubai Hills Mall is the main mall in Dubai Hills Estate. Emaar’s other malls include The Dubai Mall in Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina Mall.
You can search one-bedroom apartments for rent in Dubai Marina on Property Finder and filter by building, price and furnishing.
