Marina: A property hotspot for residents of Dubai

Photos by Dhes Handumon

There is no shortage of selfie-friendly hangouts around Dubai, but if we're talking official titles, Dubai Marina was selected as one of the Top 10 most Instagrammable spots in the city this year, by Bayut.com.
Ask any resident in the city, and they'll tell you its impressive skyline unofficially marks the 'end' of Dubai. It took that crown from the old Hard Rock Café back in 2003, when the development first sprouted up from the ground.
Taking in its first residents in 2003, this waterfront promenade development may be one of the new kids on the block when it comes to sub-communities across the city, but age is merely a number when it comes to Dubai Marina. With more than 52,000 residents housed within the Marina's vast 4km2 area, this is a community that has well and truly established itself as one of the property hotspots in Dubai.
Now home to one of the most iconic skylines in Dubai, it has become a second home for many expatriates over the years, and it's not hard to see why.
When asked to sum the area up in one sentence, Selini Bishop, an expatriate in her 20s said it's "an intoxicating mélange of experiences".
"Marina, quite simply, just seemed like the place to be. Especially with the city's hottest restaurants, as well as having the beach right on your doorstep. Being surrounded by towering skyscrapers and such a beautiful landscape was of course the biggest attraction," she told Khaleej Times.
Located in the heart of new Dubai, Dubai Marina stretches from the city's busy Shaikh Zayed Road to the shore, which lines Jumeirah Beach Residence.
By name, it is one of the best known spots in the city - for both residents and tourists alike - and it is also home to the first Dubai Tram.
Back in 2014, Dubai Marina saw the launch of what the city called the "future of public transport". And while ridership on the Dubai Tram isn't quite on par with the Dubai Metro, which began operations in 2009, ridership numbers on the tram touched 3.2 million in the first half of 2018, similar to the figure reported in 2017.
But aside from the public transport offerings, what residents love about Dubai Marina is the endless opportunities to walk here, there and everywhere.
Famed for its walkway, the Visit Dubai website says that residents and visitors can "mingle, shop and dine along the 7km of palm tree-lined walking paths bordering the emerald-hued waterway".
And for seven year Dubai Marina resident, Reka Halasi, its what attracted her to the area.
"You can find everything here within walking distance; supermarkets, malls, saloons, the beach, playgrounds."
But more than just a convenient living location, Halasi said Dubai Marina has marked a number of firsts for her and her family.
"It is the first home for my two sons and it was the first apartment which my hubby and I bought together."
For Bishop, Dubai Marina is the third spot she's lived in since moving to Dubai. And she now hopes it will be more of a long-term settlement for her. "I've moved around a little since being here. First being in Al Sufouh, then I moved to the true desert that is JVC, but I'm happy to say Marina has been my home since June of this year.
"The skyline here is one of the most jaw-dropping views in the city in my opinion, especially when illuminated at night. Even better than simply looking at it, however, is walking around it. From my experience, it is very rare in Dubai to be able to walk around an area that has so much to offer."
Home to around 325 buildings, the Dubai Marina plots have been snapped up by many developers, including Emaar. 
As one of its first "integrated mega-developments", an Emaar spokesperson told Khaleej Times that a key contribution of Dubai Marina is that it serves professionals working in Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Knowledge Village and Jebel Ali Free Zone, in addition to the other business hubs.
"Dredging the canal that links Dubai Marina with the Arabian Gulf in 2000 was indeed a momentous occasion with a large central waterway, excavated from the desert, running a length of 3.5km. With 7km of landscaped public walkways, Dubai Marina today features several high-rises with luxury apartments as well as villas set against the backdrop of the Marina."
With yachts moored along the Marina and some of the city's best dining and leisure facilities in one spot, it is easy to see why Dubai Marina is regarded among the first choice for residents here.
Marking her eleventh year in Dubai Marina, Deepika Gupta said the outdoor lifestyle is what keeps her family there.
"The proximity to the beach, that's what's unique about this area. You can parasail, cycle, build sandcastles, rent a jet ski, all in your backyard."
kelly@khaleejtimes.com