Based on 1 community and 61 building reviews
Deira sits on the northern bank of the Dubai Creek and dates back to the 1700s, which makes it one of the city's oldest districts. It still works as a trading area today, with the Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and Perfume Souk all here, alongside landmarks including Al Ahmadiya School, Heritage House, and the Deira Clocktower.
The district covers several distinct residential pockets. Al Rigga and Al Muraqqabat are the denser, more commercial stretches with mid-rise apartment blocks above street-level retail. Abu Hail and Hor Al Anz are quieter and more residential, and Al Mamzar on the northern edge carries the villa stock and the beach frontage.
Housing is overwhelmingly apartments, from compact studios in older buildings to larger family units in newer blocks, with rents among the most affordable of any central Dubai district. That draws long-term residents, families, and workers across the trading and hospitality sectors rather than short-let tenants.
Deira is one of the best-connected districts in the city for metro access, with stations on both the Green and Red lines inside its boundaries.
Prices of properties for sale in Deira range from AED 920K to AED 105M, with a median of AED 14.95M. A total of 31 listings are available. 18 properties have been listed for sale in Deira over the past 30 days. Across all listings, 42% are verified and 81% are listed by SuperAgents.
37,397 sqft
Land
Al Wuheida, Deira, Dubai
7+
7+
10,000 sqft
Whole Building
Al Muraqqabat Residence, Al Muraqqabat, Deira, Dubai
37,397 sqft
Land
Al Wuheida, Deira, Dubai
37,397 sqft
Land
Al Wuheida, Deira, Dubai
37,397 sqft
Land
Al Wuheida, Deira, Dubai
37,397 sqft
Land
Al Wuheida, Deira, Dubai
37,397 sqft
Land
Al Wuheida, Deira, Dubai
2
3
1,720 sqft
Apartment
Emaar Tower B, Emaar Towers, Deira, Dubai
164 sale transactions were recorded in Deira over the past 12 months, marking a 10.1% increase YoY.
The data displayed is based on average prices and sizes of all in Deira.
See all TransactionsDeira sits at the northern end of Dubai Creek, with Sharjah to the northeast, Dubai International Airport to the east, and Al Qusais to the southeast. Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, Al Ittihad Road, and Al Khaleej Road run around the district and connect it with the rest of the city.
Daily errands are straightforward because supermarkets, restaurants, and clinics are spread across areas like Hor Al Anz, Al Muteena, and Al Rigga. Al Ghurair Centre anchors the shopping scene, while the Gold Souk, within walking distance of Gold Souq Metro Station, and the Spice Souk keep pulling visitors in from across the city. The Deira Clocktower, built in the 1960s at the gateway to Al Garhoud Bridge, is still the landmark residents give directions by.
Nirala sits on the edge of the central Deira area and is within walking distance for residents of Hor Al Anz and Abu Hail. It's a casual place for tea and South Asian snacks.
Aria serves a similar crowd and is roughly a ten-minute walk from the area's core.
If you're after a full meal, Aroos Damascus is a practical option for Levantine grills and sits about a five-minute drive from most parts of Deira. Yakitate is around the same drive time and gives you a lighter choice with sushi and noodle bowls.
Al Safadi is reachable in under five minutes by car and is well known for mezze and fresh bread. Near City Centre Deira, Shogun adds teppanyaki and sushi to the mix.
This area tends to suit working professionals and budget-conscious families who care more about public-transport access and everyday convenience than resort-style facilities. If you need private parking, quieter streets, or newer tower amenities, Deira may feel less practical.
Deira gives families access to schools following Indian, British, American, and UAE Ministry of Education curricula. In practice, Indian and British schools are the most common around the area, and several are a practical drive from the main residential pockets.
Little Flower English School, in Hor Al Anz, Deira, has run as a kindergarten and primary school since 1984, following the Indian CBSE curriculum from KG1 through Grade 6 with a KHDA rating of Acceptable and some of the most affordable fees in Dubai.
Himayah School For Education For Boys, in Abu Hail, Deira, was established in 2018 under Dubai Police administration and teaches the Ministry of Education curriculum from Grade 1 through Grade 12 to boys, including children of Dubai Police personnel. It holds an Acceptable KHDA rating.
The Indian High School is one of Deira's longest-established schools and follows the CBSE curriculum. It has a Good KHDA rating, charges roughly AED 5,000 to AED 21,000 a year, and sits about a five-minute drive from the main residential streets, which makes it one of the most affordable Indian-curriculum options in the city.
Al Ittihad Private School runs a UAE Ministry of Education curriculum alongside a British pathway, with annual fees in the AED 19,000 to AED 42,000 range. It's roughly a five-minute drive from central Deira and carries a Good KHDA rating.
There are several nurseries in the vicinity, including Himayah Kindergarten, Blossom Nursery, and Yellow Brick Road Nursery. Blossom Nursery and Yellow Brick Road accept children from around 12 months through pre-KG age, typically up to four years old, and are within a short drive from the community's apartment towers.
| School name | Curriculum | Fee range | Distance | KHDA rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Flower English School | Indian | 4K - 4K | 908 m | Acceptable |
| Himayah Kindergarten For Education- Karama | Ministry of Education | 1.4 km | Good | |
| National Charity School Primary | Ministry of Education | 5K - 5K | 1.5 km | Acceptable |
| Himayah School For Education Boys - Diera (Abu Hail) | Ministry of Education | 1.6 km | Acceptable | |
| Elite English School L.L.C | Indian | 5K - 11K | 1.6 km | Acceptable |
| Pearl Wisdom School L.L.C | Indian | 16K - 23K | 1.7 km | Good |
| Sabari Indian School L.L.C | Indian | 16K - 21K | 1.8 km | Good |
| Queen International School | UK - UK* | 16K - 29K | 2.1 km | Acceptable |
| Al Ittihad Private School | American | 19K - 42K | 2.8 km | Good |
| The Indian High School-Branch | Indian | 5K - 21K | 3.7 km | Good |
| GEMS Legacy School - Dubai Branch | Indian | 9K - 21K | 3.7 km | Good |
| Dubai Scholars Private School | UK | 16K - 33K | 3.7 km | Good |
| Dubai International Private School | American | 15K - 24K | 3.7 km | Not inspected due to COVID 19 |
| Amity School L.L.C | Indian | 17K - 33K | 3.9 km | Good |
| Amity English School | UK | 24K - 31K | 3.9 km | Not inspected yet |
| The Millenium School | Indian | 18K - 27K | 4.0 km | Very good |
| Dubai National School AlTwar L.L.C | American | 20K - 39K | 4.1 km | Good |
| Al Maaref American School L.L.C | American | 13K - 37K | 4.1 km | Acceptable |
| Himayah School For Education Girls - Al Karama | Ministry of Education | 4.1 km | Acceptable | |
| American International School | American | 13K - 22K | 4.1 km | Good |
| H.H.Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistani School | Pakistani | 5K - 9K | 4.3 km | Acceptable |
| Woodlem Park School L.L.C | Indian | 13K - 25K | 4.3 km | Acceptable |
| English Language Private School | UK | 5K - 12K | 4.3 km | Acceptable |
| Al Salam Private School | UK | 14K - 34K | 4.3 km | Good |
| The Westminster School - DUBAI BRANCH | UK | 9K - 18K | 4.3 km | Good |
| Pakistan Education Academy | Pakistani | 7K - 9K | 4.3 km | Acceptable |
| Crescent English School | Indian | 3K - 10K | 4.5 km | Acceptable |
| Capital School L.L.C | UK | 40K - 67K | 4.5 km | Not inspected due to COVID 19 |
| St. Mary Catholic High School - Dubai | UK | 7K - 16K | 4.5 km | Good |
| Lycee Francais International | French | 29K - 62K | 4.5 km | Outstanding |
| The Indian High School | Indian | 6K - 10K | 4.5 km | Very good |
| Dubai English Speaking School | UK | 43K - 53K | 4.7 km | Outstanding |
| The Apple International Community School | UK | 19K - 26K | 4.7 km | Acceptable |
| Al Rashid Al Saleh Private School | Ministry of Education | 9K - 19K | 4.7 km | Good |
| Al Diyafah High School L.L.C | UK | 10K - 20K | 4.8 km | Good |
| The National Charity School for Girls (Br of The National Charity School for Boys L.L.C) | Ministry of Education | 5K - 9K | 4.9 km | Acceptable |
| The National Charity School for Boys L.L.C | Ministry of Education | 5K - 9K | 4.9 km | Acceptable |
| Cambridge International School | UK | 24K - 37K | 4.9 km | Good |
| New World School Private L.L.C | Ministry of Education | 20K | 4.9 km | Not inspected due to COVID 19 |
| Dubai Gem Private School | UK | 14K - 28K | 5.0 km | Good |
| Pristine Private School | UK | 12K - 29K | 5.0 km | Good |
| The Central School | Indian | 4K - 7K | 5.0 km | Acceptable |
Deira sits in old Dubai and connects to the rest of the city through a tight grid of local streets. Abu Baker Al Siddique Road forms part of its southern edge. Metro access is the area's real practical advantage: stations on both the Green and Red lines sit inside the district, so daily commuting works without a car.
Deira is one of the best-connected districts in Dubai for metro access, with stations on both lines. On the Green Line, Al Rigga, Salah Al Din, Abu Baker Al Siddique, and Abu Hail all sit inside the district, and most residential pockets are within a five to fifteen minute walk of one of them. Baniyas Square and Gold Souq cover the older commercial core near the Creek. Other nearby metro stations include Stadium, Al Qiyadah and Al Garhoud.
Union Station is the interchange between the Green and Red lines, which puts Downtown Dubai, DIFC, and Dubai Marina within a single connection. Which station you end up using comes down to your sub-community: Al Rigga and Salah Al Din serve Al Muraqqabat and Al Rigga, while Abu Hail Station covers Abu Hail and Hor Al Anz.
Bus coverage is extensive, with 27 stops across the neighborhood. Hor Al Anz Roundabouts 1 and 2 are the nearest, within a two-to-three-minute walk from the center of the community. Other commonly used stops include Hor Al Anz Turnoff 1 and 2, Abu Baker Al Siddique Road 1 and 2, Al Baraha Mosque 1, and Hor Al Anz Street.
These routes run south toward Deira City Centre, west to the Gold Souq, and north to Abu Hail and Al Nahda. Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Careem and Uber are also easy to use from the main through-roads.
I lived in Al Muraqqabat from May 2023 to November 2024. Pros: - Diversity in culture = food and retail convenience - Many malls around - Excellent public transportation and walkability (Metro and plenty of bus stops) - Low cost of living Cons: - Parking nightmare if you own a car - High noise levels from people and vehicles - Super crowded, high density of people - Aging public areas (sidewalks and alleys) - Lack of greenery
8 months ago
Zeenah Building
good but expesv
a month ago
Al Etihad Building
Nice location and view, well maintained by the landlord.
2 months ago
Al Rigga
Nice building, but overpriced.
2 months ago
Sultan Residences
I am extremely disappointed and frustrated with the condition of this building. There is a severe cockroach infestation here, and despite multiple complaints and repeated pest control sprays, the issue remains completely unresolved. The situation has become unbearable for my family. I have small children, and this unhygienic environment is affecting their health and making them sick. The worst part is that even while eating food at home, cockroaches can openly be seen moving around. This is the harsh reality we are forced to live with every single day. Honestly, living in these conditions feels like hell. We came to Dubai with hopes of a clean, safe, and healthy environment for our family and better facilities for our children, but unfortunately, this has turned into one of the worst experiences we have ever faced. I have been living in Dubai for almost one year now, and this is by far the most horrible living experience I have had. What is even more shocking is that I honestly do not understand how such serious hygiene and maintenance issues are allowed to continue in a residential building like this. The management only gives temporary excuses and false promises, but there is absolutely no proper or permanent solution being provided. Not only pest control, but the overall maintenance and facilities of this building are also extremely poor. If a technician comes and you request them to return later because you are busy, they never come back. Complaints are repeatedly ignored, and residents are left to suffer without support. The truth is, the level of discomfort, stress, unhygienic conditions, and poor living experience I am facing here — even after paying money to live in this home — is so bad that I honestly cannot fully express it in words. What I am writing here is only a small part of the reality my family and I are going through. I strongly advise families, especially those with children, to think many times before taking a room in this building. Please be extremely careful before moving here because the reality is completely different from what is shown or promised.
6 months ago
Sultan Residences
Aapka point add karke maine isko aur strong aur emotional but professional bana diya hai: I am extremely disappointed and frustrated with the condition of this building. There is a severe cockroach infestation here, and despite multiple complaints and repeated pest control sprays, the issue remains completely unresolved. The situation has become unbearable for my family. I have small children, and this unhygienic environment is affecting their health and making them sick. The worst part is that even while eating food at home, cockroaches can openly be seen moving around. This is the harsh reality we are forced to live with every single day. Honestly, living in these conditions feels like hell. We came to Dubai with hopes of a clean, safe, and healthy environment for our family and better facilities for our children, but unfortunately, this has turned into one of the worst experiences we have ever faced. I have been living in Dubai for almost one year now, and this is by far the most horrible living experience I have had. What is even more shocking is that I honestly do not understand how such serious hygiene and maintenance issues are allowed to continue in a residential building like this. The management only gives temporary excuses and false promises, but there is absolutely no proper or permanent solution being provided. Not only pest control, but the overall maintenance and facilities of this building are also extremely poor. If a technician comes and you request them to return later because you are busy, they never come back. Complaints are repeatedly ignored, and residents are left to suffer without support. The truth is, the level of discomfort, stress, unhygienic conditions, and poor living experience I am facing here — even after paying money to live in this home — is so bad that I honestly cannot fully express it in words. What I am writing here is only a small part of the reality my family and I are going through. I strongly advise families, especially those with children, to think many times before taking a room in this building. Please be extremely careful before moving here because the reality is completely different from what is shown or promised.
6 months ago
Emaar Tower B
It's very nice place and it's children friendly building.
6 months ago
Ask Local Experts
Browse answers from top community agents about living, buying, renting, and investing in this area.
Most homes in Deira are apartments, usually in low-rise and mid-rise buildings dating from the 1980s through to newer projects along the corniche. The main residential pockets include Al Muraqqabat, Hor Al Anz, Port Saeed, Al Muteena, Riggat Al Buteen, and Abu Hail. Because much of the stock is older, extras like gyms and swimming pools aren't standard. There are some villas in Abu Hail, Al Baraha, and Hor Al Anz, but apartment living defines the area.
Deira is not a freehold area. Dubai Islands, the Nakheel-developed archipelago off Deira's northeastern coast, is the exception nearby, with freehold apartments, townhouses, and villas across five islands open to overseas buyers.
Studios to 3-bedroom apartments for rent in Deira make up most of the available homes. In Al Rigga and Al Muraqqabat, for example, Al Ghurair Apartments, Jood Residence Plaza, and Dar Al Buteen 1 offer one-bedroom to three-bedroom layouts with fitted kitchens and balconies.
Sizes start at roughly 280 sq ft for a studio and go up to around 3,000 sq ft for a large three-bedroom in the Deira Enrichment Project towers such as Osha Plaza, Sherina Plaza, and Al Zaina Plaza.
If you're looking for one of the rarer buildings with extra amenities, Emaar Towers in Riggat Al Buteen includes a gym, pool, and covered parking. Developed by Emaar Properties, it offers one-bedroom to three-bedroom units of approximately 920-3,100 sq ft on a freehold basis restricted to GCC buyers.
Rents across Deira are among the lowest in Dubai, which is why many tenants start with apartments for rent in Deira. If you're looking to buy from the limited resale stock, you can check apartments for sale in Deira.
Villas are limited and mostly found in Abu Hail, Al Baraha, Al Wuheida, and Al Mamzar. Most are two-storey homes with three to eight bedrooms, plots of roughly 2,000-17,000 sq ft, and features like maid's rooms, marble flooring, and private parking.
3-bedroom villas for rent in Abu Hail range from around AED 83,000 to AED 140,000 per year. In Al Mamzar, larger plots can carry asking prices upward of AED 10 million. Ownership of villa land in Deira is generally limited to GCC buyers.
Compared with neighboring Bur Dubai, villa supply is tighter here, but rental rates remain competitive. You can explore current options for villas for rent in Deira or villas for sale in Deira.
Deira is famous for its traditional markets, historic trading hubs, and its scenic waterfront views of the Dubai Creek. The most popular attractions in Deira are Dubai Gold Souk, Dubai Spice Souk, and traditional abra boat rides.
Deira is a good place to stay if you want to be close to Dubai's historical attractions and enjoy an authentic cultural atmosphere that's harder to find in newer areas. It has various hotels and amenities such as restaurants and supermarkets, ensuring everything you need is within reach.
It's especially suited to budget-conscious renters, working professionals, and families who value walkability and easy public transport. It's less ideal if you want modern building amenities like swimming pools and gyms, quieter residential streets, or dependable private parking, since parking can be limited and competitive.
Take a scenic abra ride across the Dubai Creek, explore local culture in the Gold and Spice Souks, or shop for perfumes at the Perfume Souk. For a wholesome meal, indulge in fresh seafood at the Waterfront Market. If you're interested in culture, learn about Dubai's history at museums like Heritage House or Bait Al Banat Women's Museum. As for swimming, Al Mamzar Beach Park is the nearest beach.
Deira itself is not a freehold area, and most properties are offered on a leasehold basis. However, the nearby Dubai Islands project, developed by Nakheel off Deira's coast, offers freehold ownership for foreign buyers.
Deira is served by multiple stations on both the Green Line and the Red Line. Key stations include Union, Baniyas Square, Gold Souq, Al Rigga, Salah Al Din, Abu Baker Al Siddique, and Abu Hail, all within the district or along its borders. Most residential pockets are within walking distance of at least one metro station, so commuting without a car is realistic.
Deira sits on the northern bank of the Dubai Creek, while Bur Dubai occupies the southern bank. Both belong to Old Dubai, but Deira is more closely tied to traditional commerce, with souks for gold, spices, and textiles. Bur Dubai has a broader mix of museums, the historic Al Fahidi neighbourhood, and the Meena Bazaar shopping district. Abra water taxis connect the two sides across the Creek in a few minutes.
No. Deira and Bur Dubai lie on opposite sides of the Dubai Creek and have distinct characters. Deira sits on the northern bank of the Dubai Creek, while Bur Dubai occupies the southern bank. Both belong to Old Dubai, but Deira is more closely tied to traditional commerce, with the Spice Souk, Gold Souk, and wholesale markets highlighting its commercial character.
Bur Dubai has a more modern and residential vibe and is home to attractions such as Dubai Museum, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, and the Meena Bazaar shopping district. Abra water taxis connect both neighborhoods across the Creek in a few minutes.
Yes, parking can be difficult in Deira. Many older apartment buildings don't have dedicated resident spaces, so tenants often compete with visitors and shoppers for street parking. Paid RTA spots are available at hourly rates, but finding a space during busy periods can take time. If you depend on a car, check parking availability with the landlord before signing a lease.
Yes, Deira is one of several districts that make up what's locally called Old Dubai, alongside Bur Dubai, Satwa, and Karama. Deira specifically refers to the area on the northern bank of the Creek.
