Silicon Oasis: Discover an oasis of peace in Dubai

One of the emerging suburbs boasting tech and innovation in Dubai is the Silicon Oasis locality, which was recently featured as one of the most popular neighbourhoods in a couple of market surveys. The landmark of Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) can be seen from the highways along the area and at once catches your eye - it is a unique, pineapple-shaped building.

A sprawling, mixed-purpose locality in the northeastern quadrant of Dubai, DSO formally opened in 2004 with the main aim of being a hub of innovation and technology, which is why it's called Silicon Oasis. With over a thousand companies located here, DSO is the only free zone where you can live and work. It soon gained popularity among families and professionals, and among students due to its proximity to the Academic City.

The thriving Dubai district situated at the crossroads of the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road offers residents a 'community vibe' along with a green and serene experience as it is home to mostly new apartment buildings with low rents and equipped with pool and gym facilities. A couple of villa communities were also built here.

Calling it 'a city within a city', Lubna Khan, DSO resident for over six years, said: "I moved here from Sharjah and people warned me that it is a very quiet place, and that I may find it difficult to adjust here after moving from a buzzing place. It was, indeed, very quiet, with just a handful of grocery stores around, but the buildings caught my eye. They were well planned and spacious, with low rents. Most importantly, it would reduce the commute time for my husband as he was getting stuck in Sharjah-Dubai traffic for two hours or more every day."

Khan said the rate at which DSO has developed in just a few years was incredible. "Within a couple of years, we have seen rapid development of roads, recreational areas, department stores, restaurants, cafes, mosques, schools, walking tracks and parks with excellent maintenance. This is my oasis of peace where it offers a complete package of 'things to do' for me and my family, well connected to the main city, and at the same time offers us a green refuge by surrounding us with green places, a lake and a number of recreational classes. I would never want to move from DSO as the people and culture of this place are also quite pleasant."

Another resident, Shubha Bhargavi Ganesan, who has been living in DSO since 2009, said: "I have seen this place from a nascent stage and have literally witnessed how each and every building had been built here.

"One thing that has always appealed to me about this place is that it is a safe area that accommodates the needs and likes of so many different communities. Also, I feel that it is a very healthy place to live in as the whole DSO is constructed in the form of a concentric circle and has a cycling track around it. Connectivity from DSO to other parts of Dubai is also a big advantage as you can easily reach places such as Global Village, Downtown and beaches."

Ganesan said she is also impressed with the various initiatives the DSO authority comes up with, such as the community farms. "DSO residents get free plots where we can grow our own fruits and vegetables on a small scale, which not only helps us get fresh products but is also a great way to bond with family and get to know others who go there to sow seeds and take care of their farms."

Talking about a couple of issues in the area, Ganesan said: "We have very few exits to the main road, which poses an issue sometimes, considering that the population of DSO is picking up and new retailers are opening up stores here. Due to the increase in population, traffic seems to build up now and we have frequent bottlenecks."

The DSO community is spread over three main parts: An innovative technology park, sub-communities of villas within the technology park, and residential towers dotted across the area.

The neighbourhood has witnessed rapid development over the years. Roads, recreational areas, department stores, restaurants, cafes, mosques, schools, walking tracks and parks have been built in just a few years. DSO now offers a complete package of 'things to do' for the entire family, who can also enjoy its green spaces and a view of the lake.