Al Salam Mosque, one of the 5 most beautiful mosques at Al Barsha, Dubai.-Photo by Neeraj Murali
Dubai - If you're after that laid-back Dubai life in a neighbourhood with easy access to the rest of the emirate, Al Barsha is the ideal place for you.
Published: Wed 3 Apr 2019, 6:00 PM
Updated: Sun 7 Apr 2019, 10:14 AM
Dubai's Al Barsha - which means 'plenty' in Arabic - is living up to its name.
Residents and visitors, who are looking around for their next home, are spoilt for choice in the neighbourhood. From stand-alone or row-house villas to medium and high-rise buildings, Al Barsha's got it all.
Restaurants and eateries are also aplenty. You can go high-end at a certain caféteria one day, and try the hole-in-the-wall eatery around the corner the next day. Whatever food you crave - Italian, Thai, Chinese, Lebanese, Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Afghani and Nepalese - you are sure to find something that will satisfy your taste buds.
Hotels and hotel apartments of local and international brands have chosen to build their premises in Al Barsha.
Schools are scattered all over the district, and parents of children of determination can choose between the Rashid Centre for People of Determination and Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs.
And, of course, fun, leisure and shopping are always available on this side of the town - from a mall with the region's first indoor ski slope to bazaars and thrift shops.
Getting fit is made more convenient with several indoor gyms in the neighbourhood, while those who prefer the outdoors can always go to Al Barsha Pond Park, which is popular among residents because of its giant ponds that are surrounded by walking and running tracks. The park also hosts weekly basketball tournaments organised by local hoopsters.
But Al Barsha hasn't always been like this.
"Fifteen years ago, Al Barsha was mainly a vast, sandy area. There were only dust, dirt and minimal roads, which were often used by student-drivers to hone their driving skills," Lebanese expat Hassam Suleiman, who migrated to Dubai in 2002, told Khaleej Times.
"It (old Barsha) had only few residential areas and, when you ask the old-timers, Barsha was even thought of as located in the outskirts of the city," he added in jest.
"The transformation of Al Barsha happened in around 2005 with the opening of Mall of the Emirates (MoE)."
"The MoE project, which was announced in October 2003, was highly anticipated and we were really very curious about how the developers will put up an indoor ski facility in the middle of the desert," he added.
Hussain Moosa, director for the Mall of the Emirates at Majid Al Futtaim-Properties, told Khaleej Times: "Al Barsha, at the time, was an upcoming community with a strong local population. As one of the region's first shopping resort and flagship destination, we contributed to making this lively neighbourhood a true melting pot of nationalities who came together to shop, dine, stay and play."
Fast forward to the present, Al Barsha has become a major commercial and residential hub, as well as the preferred location for tourists looking for affordable but accessible accommodation in Dubai.
Young professionals and expat families also prefer to live in Al Barsha for its relatively cheap rent.
Filipino expat Jericho Santillan, who works at a hypermarket in Al Barsha and used to live in Deira, said he decided to move near his workplace because it saved him money for transportation, and his monthly rent for a shared accommodation was just the same.
"Since Al Barsha is a relatively new residential hub, many apartments are newly built and almost all the buildings have gyms and swimming pools. I really enjoy my off days," Santillan added.
Another plus factor is the accessibility of public transport. Even tourists who stay in Al Barsha can find it easy to navigate around Dubai because the place has two Metro stations: Sharaf DG and MoE Metro stations. For those who are driving, the district is accessible via Al Khail road and the Sheikh Zayed Road.
Winter destinations, like Dubai Miracle Garden and Global Village or the year-long Butterfly Garden, are also well-connected to Al Barsha via the special bus routes of the Roads and Transport Authority.
There are also several mosques in the area, and the most famous of them is Al Salam Mosque, which was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on July 25, 2014.
Al Salam Mosque has multiple domes seemingly arranged in a pyramid. Its interior design and its Islamic collections reflect the spirit of Emirati tradition, mixed with Andalusian and Ottoman architectures.
On the downside, however, Al Barsha - which is divided into zones, including Al Barsha I, Al Barsha II, Al Barsha III and Al Barsha South - is still a work in progress, and some residents may easily get irritated by the ongoing construction and inner road diversion.
But for people who are looking for a laid-back residential area with easy access to other destinations in Dubai, Al Barsha would be an ideal place, one that caters to the "many" needs of Dubai residents and visitors.
Must know
1-Getting fit is easy
Maintaining an active lifestyle is not that hard for those who live in Al Barsha. There are several indoor gyms in the neighbourhood, while those who prefer the outdoors can always go to Al Barsha Pond Park, which is popular among residents because of its giant ponds that are surrounded by walking and running tracks. The park also hosts weekly basketball tournaments organised by local hoopsters.
2-Shopping haven
It is home to the region's first shopping mall with a ski resort. But for those who are after some good bargains, it's also easy to find bazaars and thrift shops around the area. Through the years, Al Barsha has become a lively neighbourhood where people from all over the world come together to shop, dine, stay and play.
3-A famous mosque
Inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in 2014, Al Salam Mosque is the most distinctive mosque in the district. It has multiple domes seemingly arranged in a pyramid. Its interior design and its Islamic collections reflect the spirit of Emirati tradition, mixed with Andalusian and Ottoman architectures.
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