Month: August 2011

Jumeirah Islands is a family-oriented, gated community built by the developer Nakheel. Covering around 300 hectares inland from the coast, it turns desert land into a green landscape of canals, lagoons and waterfalls.

Layout

The scheme is divided into 46 clusters of man-made islands. Each cluster contains 16 individually styled villas, adding up to 736 homes, all with four or five bedrooms. The homes are detached, and each has its own garden and swimming pool. Footbridges, cycle paths and mature planting link the clusters.

Four design themes

The architecture follows four core themes, which gives the estate a mix of looks reminiscent of different parts of the world:

• Oasis
• Islamic
• European
• Mediterranean

Facilities

A residents’ clubhouse and a small retail area provide everyday services. The archive listed a supermarket, a coffee shop, a cash machine, a laundry, a flower shop, a health club with restaurants and a gym, parks, tennis courts and a children’s play area.

According to the text, the villas go through a feedback process in which a dedicated team of craftsmen addresses homeowners’ concerns and completes any adjustments.

The water

Water is a defining feature. The community was said to have one of the highest ratios of water to land anywhere, at 77 per cent water to 23 per cent land. The lakes are fed with sea water, whose salinity helps prevent larvae and insect growth. Underground pipes keep the water circulating and it is recycled each day.

Location

Jumeirah Islands sits east of Sheikh Zayed Road between Interchanges 5 and 6, making it convenient for journeys within Dubai or towards Abu Dhabi. The archive quoted drive times of about five minutes to Ibn Battuta Mall, and ten minutes to the beach, Dubai Marina and the main shopping malls.

Further reading

For a comparison with a neighbouring luxury area, see Emirates Hills. This profile is informational and does not advertise any home for sale or lease.

Emirates Hills is a gated residential enclave in Dubai that is often compared with Beverly Hills because of its size of plots, privacy and prestige. It belongs to the Emirates Living group of communities and has long been seen as one of the most exclusive addresses in the emirate.

What makes it distinctive

The estate is made up of custom-built villas rather than a catalogue of repeated designs. Owners finished their homes to their own specification, and the houses typically feature private pools and views across the Montgomerie golf course. The archive described the community as aimed at very wealthy residents, with every house reflecting the lifestyle of its occupants.

Round-the-clock security, landscaped gardens and recreation facilities add to the sense of privacy, though the community is also described as family-friendly.

Developer and land

Emaar Properties was the master developer and is credited with pioneering the sale of freehold land in Dubai. Emirates Hills was unusual because it was offered as plots, ranging from about 12,000 to roughly 60,000 sq ft, rather than ready-built units. Buyers then built their own villas overlooking the fairways of what is now the Montgomerie.

The 18-hole championship course was designed by Desmond Muirhead together with the golfer Colin Montgomerie, a multiple winner of the European Order of Merit. Two golf clubs are found within the area: the Montgomerie and the Emirates Golf Club.

Neighbouring communities and schools

Residents can use the facilities of the sister communities The Meadows, The Lakes and The Springs, which have shops, cafes and schools set among lakes and quiet streets. Each has a recreation area with a pool. The archive also mentions several international schools serving these districts: the British school in The Springs, plus Emirates International, Regent International and Dubai International Academy in The Meadows, The Greens and The Lakes respectively.

Location

Emirates Hills lies east of Sheikh Zayed Road between Interchanges 5 and 6, giving access to central Dubai and to Abu Dhabi. The archive listed approximate drive times of ten minutes to Ibn Battuta Mall, five minutes to the beach and Dubai Marina, and ten minutes to Mall of the Emirates.

Notes

This is background information drawn from a 2011 page. It does not advertise any specific home or price. For other communities, browse the project information section, including Jumeirah Islands.