An Overview of Dubai’s Business Bay
Go big or go home! Dubai’s Business Bay is a central business district where skyscrapers, notable landmarks, and all sorts of entertainment meet. It’s an ideal location for expats looking to have an ultimate cosmopolitan lifestyle while enjoying downtime away from the city’s bustling Downtown.
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From five-star hotels to high-rise apartments and luxurious villas, Business Bay offers a wide variety of housing options with amenities to choose from regardless of whether you’re moving to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) alone, with your family, or staying in the area for a fixed period of time.
If you’re wondering where you should settle down in Business Bay and how to choose the right type of property for your specific needs, you’ve come to the right place. Pacific Prime Dubai has compiled a list of pros and cons of the properties in Business Bay and their prices for you in this article!
Why Business Bay?
Business Bay is located in the southern area of Downtown and Old Town neighborhoods in the constituent emirate Dubai. The district stretches along the Dubai Water Canal, a marvelous three-kilometer-long waterway connecting Old Dubai with the Arabian Gulf, allowing for a serene yet vibrant lifestyle.
This business center is home to numerous luxury hotels, trendy eateries, top-ranked schools and nurseries, recreational areas, diverse architecture, as well as dazzling attractions that are only a few minutes away, including but not limited to:
- Dubai Bowling Center: 7 minutes away
- Dubai Creek: 8 minutes away
- Dubai Ice Rink: 9 minutes away
- Souk Al Bahar: 9 minutes away
- Downtown Dubai: 10 minutes away
- Dubai Mall: 10 minutes away
- Bay Avenue Mall and Park: 11 minutes away
- Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo: 11 minutes away
- Emirates Mall: 12 minutes away
- Dubai International Airport: 16 minutes away
- The Palm Jumeirah: 20 minutes away
What are the Transport Options in Business Bay?
Situated among five-star hospitality and residential buildings, commuting in Business Bay and reaching UAE’s top attractions are as easy as pie. The district offers a modern way of life with a wide range of transport options. From cars and taxis to buses and metro, everything is at your service.
1. Business Bay Metro
Have you ever wondered how often people make the trip to and from Business Bay? The answer is that there’s a whole metro station dedicated to the district. The Business Bay Metro Station is located southwest of the Escape Tower, taking passengers to key destinations in Dubai via the Red Line.
2. Business Bay Buses
The UAE Public Transport Agency has been making transportation inside the emirates more accessible than ever with a fleet of 1,518 buses for public bus services throughout every district, and Business Bay is no exception.
Apart from the key places in the UAE, you can reach Business Bay’s most-loved skyscrapers and streets by hopping on one of the following feeder buses:
- F14: the U Bora Towers, Mayfair Residency, Bay Square, Burj Views, and South Ridge
- F19A: the Lillian Tower, U Bora Towers, and Capital Golden Tower
- F19B: East Height Towers, Lake Central Towers, South Ridge, Burj Views, and Bay Square
- F20: Business Bay Seaside Metro Bus Stop, Emarat Headquarters 2, Street 35Al Wasl, Street 35, Al Ittihad Health Center, Al Wasl, Street 35, and Al Ittihad Health Center, Al Wasl, Street 35A
- F41: the Binary Towers, Canal Views Hotel Apartments, Mayfair Residency, and U Bora Towers
3. Business Bay Taxis
Business Bay offers you a taxi experience like no other with advance booking services via phone number +971-4-208-0808 and the Careem mobile application with small additional fees. You can find taxis available at your service on every corner of the streets and, better yet, rivers too.
Dubai water taxis let you enjoy the calming scenery of the Dubai Water Canal while traversing the commercial area of Business Bay with an average ticket price starting at AED 50 (approximately USD $14). You can also book these floating taxis for your family tour at AED 400 (~USD $109) per hour.
4. Business Bay Rental Cars
If you’re an adventurous soul planning to explore Business Bay on your own, renting a car is an optimal option for you. Car-sharing companies like Uber and UDrive offer car rental services that allow you to share a ride, arrange for a pick-up and drop-off, or even lease a car.
What to do in Business Bay?
Despite the name, Business Bay isn’t always suits and ties. Whether you’re an expat spending your time out of the office alone or with your family and friends, this business hub offers a wealth of recreational activities that is guaranteed to never disappoint anyone.
With the goal of establishing “a city within a city,” numerous commercial industries have been developed in Business Bay along with facilities to cater to the needs of the entrepreneurs and businesspeople. Let’s take out your bucket list and add in Business Bay’s top three activities listed below.
1. Enjoy the Views at Dubai Water Canal
Running through the UAE’s most reputable highway Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Water Canal has been proudly holding the title of one of the longest waterfront promenades in the emirates since it opened with a boom of fireworks under Dubai’s starry sky in 2016.
You can enjoy the views of glistening water and colorful decorative lights while strolling down the canal with your friends or indulge yourself in the finest cuisines and a breathtaking sunset with your loved ones on a cruise that lets you explore different parts of this beautiful business district.
2. Take Your Children to Bay Avenue Park
Bay Avenue Park is a community park offering the residents of Business Bay the refreshing smell of fresh air, greenery landscapes, and diverse physical activities. Apart from a vast green lawn coupled with running tracks and outdoor gyms, the park also features two playgrounds for your children.
3. Get Yourself Pampered at Luxury Spas
Dubai’s Business Bay wouldn’t be the Business Bay we know today without hotels adorning the district’s skyline, and with luxury hotels comes luxury spas. Spas and massage parlors, such as Wishah Spa, Dreamworks Spa, and Maison Privee Arabia, are known for their relaxing vibes and top-notch services.
What are the Residential Options in Business Bay?
If Business Bay’s accessibility and diverse activities are tempting you to come to this vibrant hub, you might want to find a place to settle down. Whether you’re considering staying in a studio, apartment, villa, or hotel room, Pacific Prime Dubai has listed everything you need to know below.
Studio Apartments
Similar to other apartments in the emirates, studio apartments in Business Bay mostly have one room or an open living space, making them an ideal choice for students or those working in the business hub as this type of property requires less furnishing and maintenance.
Depending on your preferences and budgets, the average prices for renting and purchasing studio apartments in Business Bay differ as follows:
- Rent: AED 65,000 (~USD $17,700)
- Buy: AED 100,000-905,781 (~USD $27,225-246,600)
Please note that the prices may vary depending on your contract, certain commodities the property offers, and whether your apartment is fully-furnished or not.
Apartments
Apartments in Business Bay are considered one of the most comfortable and elegant places of residency in the emirates. Since the competition in Business Bay’s property market is high, most apartments come in well-serviced buildings and multiple accommodation.
This type of property makes a great choice for expats looking for a higher quality of living as well as families and investors. No matter how many bedrooms you prefer, the apartments here can cater to your needs with varied average prices:
Rent
- 1-bedroom apartment: AED 90,000 (~USD $24,500)
- 2-bedroom apartment: AED 140,000 (~USD $38,115)
- 3-bedroom apartment: AED 180,000 (~USD $49,005)
- 4-bedroom apartment: AED 399,999 (~USD $108,900)
Buy
- 1-bedroom apartment: AED 1,362,407 (~USD $370,920)
- 2-bedroom apartment: AED 1,850,000 (~USD $503,670)
- 3-bedroom apartment: AED 2,550,000 (~USD $694,245)
- 4-bedroom apartment: AED 14,555,000 (~USD $3,962,650)
- 5-bedroom apartment: AED 41,550,330 (~USD $11,312,215)
Please note that the prices may vary depending on your contract, certain commodities the property provides, and whether your apartment is fully-furnished or not.
Villas
The villas in Business Bay come with different facilities. You can choose a villa with a lavish swimming pool for your children, a villa overlooking an evergreen garden where you can plant your favorite flowers, or even a floating villa that washes your worries away with the calming sound of waves.
As the prices of villas are higher than those of apartments, this type of property is recommended for families or those who plan to house guests regularly. Still, the average prices are a little more affordable than the prices of properties in other major districts like Dubai Marina and Downtown:
Rent
- 1-bedroom villa: AED 90,000 (~USD $24,505)
- 2-bedroom villa: AED 105,499 (~USD $28,720)
- 3-bedroom villa: AED 232,500 (~USD $63,300)
- 4-bedroom villa: AED 349,999 (~USD $95,290)
Buy
- 1-bedroom villa: AED 1,498,500 (~USD $407,980)
- 2-bedroom villa: AED 1,850,000 (~USD $503,675)
- 3-bedroom villa: AED 2,550,000 (~USD $694,255)
- 4-bedroom villa: AED 5,411,755 (~USD $1,473,390)
Please note that the prices may vary depending on your contract, certain commodities the property provides, and whether your apartment is fully-furnished or not.
Hotel Rooms
If you’re staying in Business Bay for a short period of time, you may enjoy an exclusive experience that comes with full room services, state-of-the-art facilities, and picturesque views from luxury hotels lined up elegantly across the district.
You can also find a room that aligns with your budget as there are diverse types of rooms for you to choose from. The hotels ranked among the must-visits in Business Bay are:
- Damac Maison De Ville Breeze
- Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown, an IHG Hotel
- Hyde Hotel Dubai
- DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai
- Grand Millennium Business Bay
What Else Should I Consider Before Moving to Business Bay?
Living in Business Bay isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. While the business hub offers a more affordable housing cost compared to the exquisite residential buildings in Dubai Marina, its cost of living is still on a higher side. Your wallet can be emptied because of a simple health check-up.
According to statistics from Immigrant Invest, people living alone in Dubai normally spend AED 3,700 (~USD $1,000) on average every month, while families of four spend AED 13,000 (~USD $3,540) on average monthly. These averages don’t include the costs of rent, so you can expect a much higher sum.
Planning your budget ahead of time helps you estimate your monthly spending, but unexpected events and accidents can happen anytime. It’s normal to see an expat fall ill because of Dubai’s scorching heat and unfamiliar food, and healthcare in the UAE can cost as much as AED 51,410 (~USD $14,000).
Furthermore, residents of Dubai are required to have health insurance or they’ll be subjected to a monthly fine of AED 500 (~USD $140). UAE will also refuse to renew visas or grant residency to those who are unable to provide proof of health insurance, so you should secure coverage beforehand.
Conclusion
Business Bay is Dubai’s biggest business hub that offers diverse housing options at reasonable prices. You can easily commute with different vehicles, and there’s plenty of exciting activities awaiting you. We also recommend that you safeguard your finances with the right type of health insurance.
As health insurance is mandatory for everyone living in Dubai, it’s more essential than ever to secure a plan that meets your requirements and budget. At Pacific Prime Dubai, we’ve been well-versed in the art of sourcing out the right insurance plans for our esteemed clients for over 20 years.
No matter what your questions before relocating to Business Bay are, Pacific Prime Dubai is more than happy to assist you in finding out the answers through impartial advice and comprehensive plan comparison service free of charge. We’d love to hear from you soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Business Bay a good area in Dubai?
Business Bay is one of the most prestigious commercial and residential neighborhoods in Dubai. As it’s located near Downtown, you can have some time away from the hustle and bustle while enjoying a cosmopolitan lifestyle and convenient access to key destinations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Is Business Bay a free zone?
Business Bay offers free zone and freehold areas, designated business zones where businesses are exempted from taxation, making it an ideal choice for foreign companies looking to establish a regional manufacturing facilities or distribution base in the UAE.
How many people live in Business Bay?
Business Bay is home to a multicultural population with residents from diverse backgrounds. This vibrant business hub has an estimated population of 191,000 with a density of 110,000 per square mile.
After graduating at the top of her class and earning her Bachelor’s Degree in English from Thammasat University, Natthachamon has been practicing her writing skills and making education more easily accessible for Thai children as an Educational Content Creator and English Curriculum Developer for various educational facilities and organizations across the country.
Natthachamon is also a mother of two cats, a board game enthusiast, and a big bookworm who enjoys everything and anything sweet.
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