Al Safa

Al Safa is in the Jumeirah part of Dubai, a few kilometres inland from the Arabian Gulf coast. Al Wasl Road runs along its coastal side and Sheikh Zayed Road along the inland side. Neighbouring districts include Al Wasl, Al Quoz, Umm Suqeim and the wider Jumeirah coast, with Business Bay and Downtown Dubai along Sheikh Zayed Road.

• By road. Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Wasl Road are the two main routes, with Al Khail Road and Jumeirah Street also used for crosstown trips. Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road is heavy at peak hours, so test your own commute.
• By metro. The nearest Dubai Metro Red Line station is on Sheikh Zayed Road beside the district (the station has carried the names Al Safa and Noor Bank, and is now branded Onpassive). Check the current name and bus links on rta.ae.
• By water. The Dubai Water Canal runs through this part of Jumeirah, linking Business Bay to the sea, and passes along the Al Safa side of Sheikh Zayed Road.

Dubai Municipality divides the area into two numbered districts, and listings use both names.

Al Safa 1

Al Safa 1 is the part closest to Al Wasl Road, with villa streets, small shops and several schools. Jumeirah College sits on Street 19 in Al Safa 1.

Al Safa 2

Al Safa 2 lies further towards Sheikh Zayed Road and the canal. It is the side where newer apartment and branded canal front projects are being built, next to the older villa blocks.

Streets in both districts are numbered, so an address such as "Street 19, Al Safa 1" tells you exactly which part you are in. When you view a villa, ask which street it is on, because noise and traffic differ between a street close to Sheikh Zayed Road and one deep inside the villa blocks.

Parks and the canal

• Safa Park. A large public park run by Dubai Municipality, on the edge of Al Safa and Al Wasl, with lawns, lakes, tree lined walking paths, jogging tracks, sports courts, children's play areas and barbecue spots. It is the reason many residents choose the area. See Visit Dubai's page on Safa Park.
• Dubai Water Canal. A waterside promenade with walking and cycling paths linking this part of Jumeirah to the sea. Our family communities guide covers parks and outdoor space across Dubai.

Shopping and dining

• City Walk. The open air shopping and dining district in neighbouring Al Wasl, a short drive away. See the City Walk guide.
• Jumeirah Beach Road cafés. The coffee shops, restaurants and independent boutiques of Jumeirah are a few minutes towards the coast.
• Everyday shops. Small supermarkets, pharmacies, bakeries and salons are spread through the villa districts, so most errands do not need a long drive.

Beaches and culture

• Kite Beach and Jumeirah's public beaches. About ten minutes by car from the middle of Al Safa. See the Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah guides for the beach side.
• Alserkal Avenue. The galleries and creative warehouses of Al Quoz are just across Sheikh Zayed Road. Read the Al Quoz guide.

Schools

• Jumeirah College, a GEMS British curriculum secondary school on Street 19 in Al Safa 1.
• Jumeirah English Speaking School, which has a branch on 7th Street in Al Safa.

Ratings, fees and places change each year. Check each school's current KHDA rating on khda.gov.ae, and compare the distance from the street you like to the school gate at drop off time.

Many older villas are original and have been renovated, rebuilt or extended, so condition varies a lot from street to street. If you are buying, check that any extension has permits, and check the age of the air conditioning and plumbing.

Off-plan projects in Al Safa

Five off-plan projects are currently selling in Al Safa on our live page: Safa Gate and Safa One by DAMAC, Canal Front Residences 9 by Nakheel, and Casa Canal and Casa AHS by AHS Properties. They are mostly canal front or premium residences and are aimed at buyers rather than tenants. Read the payment plan and handover date in the project's sales documents, and see our off-plan buying guide for the steps.

Al Safa is a calm, low rise district: villas rather than towers, with tree lined streets and a lot of walking and cycling in the evening around the park. Because it sits between the coast and Sheikh Zayed Road, you can be at the beach, in Downtown or at the Marina within a short drive, though journey times depend heavily on the hour.

What residents like: the park, the schools, the peace of the villa streets, and the central position.

What to weigh: peak hour traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Wasl Road, higher prices than most inland villa districts, and older villas that may need work. Public transport exists but most families rely on a car.

Al Safa is a premium Jumeirah address, and its villas and townhouses sit at the upper end of the market for central Dubai. We do not quote an average here because rents and prices vary widely by plot size, street and condition. For current figures, use the live listings and the Dubai Land Department data: dubailand.gov.ae publishes the official records.

• Renting. Agree the rent and cheque plan, check what the landlord maintains, and register the contract through Ejari. See our Ejari guide and tenant guide.
• Buying. Budget for the Dubai Land Department fees, set out in our fees guide, and read our guide to buying a villa.

See what we hold to rent and for sale. Stock in Al Safa changes, so use the form on this page and tell us the street, size and budget you want.

• Which street. Distance from Sheikh Zayed Road and from the school you want.
• Age and condition. Air conditioning, plumbing, roof and any extension permits.
• Plot and privacy. Overlooking, garden size and the pool.
• Peak hour drive. Test the route to work on a weekday morning.
• Canal projects. For apartments, ask about service charges and the handover date.

• Families. A villa with a garden, a large park and several schools within a short drive.
• Professionals who work along Sheikh Zayed Road. Downtown, DIFC and Business Bay are close by road, and the metro is nearby.
• Buyers who want a central villa. Plots here are limited, and the district is already built up, so choice is narrower than in newer suburbs.
• Not ideal for: anyone who wants a walkable street of restaurants right outside the door, or a low budget. Apartment seekers on a budget are usually better served in other districts.

If the choice is between a villa here and a newer suburban villa community, drive each route to work at rush hour and visit on a weekend morning. The right answer depends on whether central position or plot size matters more to you.

Mornings start with the school run, on foot or by car, depending on the street. Evenings and weekends centre on Safa Park, the canal walkway and the cafés of Jumeirah. Bigger shopping trips go to City Walk or the malls along Sheikh Zayed Road. Residents who commute usually leave before the peak to avoid queues on the main roads.