Abu Hail

Abu Hail sits a little inland from the creek, in the part of Deira closest to Sharjah. It is bordered by Al Baraha to the west, Hor Al Anz to the south and Al Waheda to the east, with the Sharjah border a short drive to the north. Al Qusais and Al Nahda are the next residential districts along the line. Dubai International Airport lies just south.

For the bigger picture of the area, including the souks and Corniche, read our Deira guide.

Abu Hail is known for its low rents by central Dubai standards, its metro station and its position on the Sharjah side of the city. It is a long term resident district: ground floor shops, small restaurants and a settled population who have often lived there for years. It is not built around one mall or one landscaped centre, so most of what residents need is spread along the main roads.

Long before the apartment blocks, an 1830 British survey described a small village here of about 250 people, mostly fishermen. The settlement was shelled by British forces in January 1820 during the Gulf campaign that led to the General Maritime Treaty later that year, one of the agreements behind the formation of the UAE in 1971. By the early twentieth century the village was largely abandoned outside the date harvest season, so today's dense residential grid sits on a much older place name.

The district is small, about 1.27 square kilometres, with a recorded population of around 21,400.

Parks and beach

• Al Mamzar Beach Park: the Dubai Municipality beach park on the coast north of Deira, with several beaches, swimming pools, gardens, playgrounds and barbecue areas. Entry rules and times are on dm.gov.ae.
• Hor Al Anz Park: a neighbourhood park next door in Hor Al Anz, handy for walks and children.

Shopping and everyday needs

• Abu Hail Centre: a local shopping centre by the metro station.
• Retail along Abu Hail Road and Salah Al Din Street: supermarkets, pharmacies, bakeries and small restaurants at ground level.
• Reef Mall: on Salah Al Din Street in Deira, next to Salah Al Din metro station, a few stations along the line.

Schools and health

• Pearl Wisdom School Dubai: close to Abu Hail metro station. Check ratings and fees on the KHDA site.
• Clinics and pharmacies: spread throughout the district and in neighbouring Al Qusais and Hor Al Anz. See the DHA site for hospital services.

Abu Hail station on the Green Line opened in September 2011 and sits on Salah Al Din Street. Al Qiyadah and Abu Baker Al Siddique are the neighbouring stations, and you can change to the Red Line at BurJuman or Union. By road, Sharjah is a short drive, which is why many residents choose the area. Parking is tight in the older blocks. Check bus and metro details at rta.ae.

A typical weekday starts early. Commuters walk to Abu Hail station or drive out along Salah Al Din Street, shops open their shutters and school buses collect children from the building entrances. During the day the side streets are quiet, while the main roads stay busy with deliveries and shoppers. In the evening small restaurants and cafes fill up, and the streets stay lively until late.

Because the district is compact, most errands are on foot. A supermarket, a pharmacy, a bakery and a barber are usually within a few minutes of any building. For bigger shopping trips residents head to Reef Mall or into Deira, and for a day out they go to Al Mamzar Beach Park. Weekends are a mix of park visits, family trips across to Sharjah and shopping.

Most buildings are low and mid rise and are known by the owner's name. Facilities such as a gym or pool are uncommon, so the rent buys location rather than amenities. Rents depend on the building, the floor and the distance to the station, so compare several flats on the same street before you negotiate. For more on how rent increases are limited, see our rent increase guide.

One reason people choose Abu Hail is the Sharjah side of life. The border is a short drive, so residents with family, shops or work in Sharjah can cross regularly. Traffic on the Dubai and Sharjah roads is heavy at peak hours, which is why the metro matters here: the Green Line gives you a way into Deira, Bur Dubai and the Red Line interchanges without the road queues. Try the journey at your own commute time before you sign.

People working in Deira, Al Qusais, Sharjah or along the Green Line who want a lower rent and a short commute. Most tenants are single workers or small households, which is reflected in the mix of studios and one and two bedroom flats. Larger family apartments and villas exist but are a smaller share of the stock than in newer suburbs further out.

It suits buyers looking for freehold and new build amenities less well, since this is largely an older rental district.

• The specific building, since age and management vary widely street to street.
• Parking, the most common problem in this part of Dubai. See our parking guide.
• Air conditioning and water pressure, particularly on the upper floors of older blocks.
• Whether chilled water is billed separately, and what that typically costs in summer.
• How many cheques the landlord expects, which is usually where the price is negotiated.
• Ejari registration, which protects you and is not optional. See Ejari explained.

Freehold ownership options in Deira are limited, so buyers attracted by the central location generally compare it with freehold districts a similar distance from the centre, notably Al Jaddaf. Check the title deed type for any building before you commit.

We may not have an Abu Hail listing today. Use the form on this page to tell us what you are looking for and we will come back to you. You can also see everything we currently hold to rent, or read our tenant guide.