Barsha Heights

Barsha Heights, which most people still call TECOM, is a dense cluster of apartment and office towers between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Barsha. It is one of the cheapest genuinely central places to rent in Dubai, and it sits close to the metro.

The area was built as a free zone district, which is why offices and homes share the same towers and why so many residents work within walking distance. It is one of five sectors that make up the wider Al Barsha area, alongside Al Barsha 1, 2, 3 and Al Barsha South, which itself grew from under 1,300 residents in 2000 to well over 180,000 across all five sectors today as Dubai expanded west along Sheikh Zayed Road.

Older residents and most landlords still default to "TECOM" out of habit, a name that comes from the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone the area was originally built to house, so the two names are used interchangeably in listings, on maps and in conversation.

Getting around

Dubai Internet City metro station, on the Red Line, serves Barsha Heights directly along with neighbouring Dubai Internet City, Al Sufouh and Dubai Knowledge Park, and the tram at Al Sufouh gives a further short connection towards Dubai Marina. The One Tower, a 47 floor building on Sheikh Zayed Road, is one of the area's best known landmarks and sits inside Barsha Heights itself.

Shopping and leisure

Barsha Heights sits a short drive from Mall of the Emirates, one of Dubai's largest malls, with more than 700 retail outlets, VOX Cinemas, Magic Planet and the indoor Ski Dubai slope. Within the district itself, daily needs are covered by supermarkets and cafes on the ground floors of the office and residential towers rather than by a single retail centre, which fits the area's working, free zone character.

Who does Barsha Heights suit?

Young professionals and couples who want a central address, a short commute and a lower rent than Dubai Marina or Downtown. It also suits people working in Media City, Internet City or Barsha Heights itself, who can walk or take one metro stop.

It suits families less well: there is little green space and few villa options, though Al Barsha's schools are close, including Repton School, Dubai American Academy, the American School of Dubai and Global Indian International School, among several others in the wider Al Barsha sectors.

What is nearby?

• Dubai Internet City metro station on the Red Line, plus the tram at Al Sufouh.
• Mall of the Emirates a short hop away, with everyday retail inside the district.
• Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City and Dubai Knowledge Park, which supply much of the tenant demand.
• Hotels including the Atana Hotel Barsha Heights, for visitors and relocating tenants staying short term.
• Dubai Marina and Al Barsha as immediate neighbours.

What should you check before renting?

• Which tower, and which floor. Towers here sit close together, so views and daylight vary a lot.
• Whether the building is mixed use, since offices in the same tower change the lift traffic and the feel.
• Parking, which is tight and often paid.
• Chilled water billing, which is usually separate.
• Building management, the single biggest difference between two identical looking flats here.

Is it a good investment?

Yields have historically been among the better ones in central Dubai, because purchase prices are moderate while tenant demand from the neighbouring free zones is steady. The trade off is that the stock is uniform, so a specific flat rarely commands a premium: this is a yield play rather than a capital growth one. Buyers comparing it with other central, metro connected districts tend to look at it alongside Dubai Marina for lifestyle or Al Barsha's other sectors for a lower rise, more residential feel.

Frequently asked questions

What is available now?

We may have nothing listed in Barsha Heights today. Use the form on this page to tell us what you need and we will come back to you when something fits. You can also see everything we currently hold to rent and for sale, or compare it with Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City next door.