Mirdif

Mirdif is a residential district in eastern Dubai, close to Dubai International Airport, bordered by Al Mizhar to the north and Al Warqa to the south. It is one of the most established suburbs in the city, built mostly of villas rather than towers.

The district covers about 9.2 square kilometres and has a population of roughly 37,500, a density that reflects its villa and low rise character rather than apartment towers. It is one of Dubai's older suburbs by local standards, developed well before the newer Dubailand communities further south, and it reads that way: mature trees, established schools and a settled population rather than a construction site in progress.

Sub-communities: Uptown Mirdif, Shorouq, Ghoroob and Mirdif Hills

Mirdif is not one single estate but several distinct communities under the same name. Uptown Mirdif is a gated development by Union Properties with more than 2,000 villas and flats, restaurants, shops, play areas, a health centre and a primary school, and is also home to the 4 star Millennium Place hotel. Shorouq is a villa community of 668 homes next to Mushrif Park, and Ghoroob is its sister community nearby. Mirdif Hills, towards the airport side of the district, was the first freehold development in Mirdif, built across roughly a million square metres with more than 1,500 residential units plus hotel and retail space; it is still the exception rather than the rule, since most of Mirdif is not freehold.

Parks, shopping and getting around

Al Mushrif Park, on the eastern side of the district, is one of Dubai's largest parks and was among the first built in the city. It has biking tracks, playgrounds, picnic and barbecue spots, an aerial play area, running tracks and an equestrian centre, along with miniature traditional houses from different countries. A separate public park on 26B Street adds sports courts and a 300 metre walking track.

Mirdif City Centre, which opened in 2010, is the district's main mall, with around 465 shops anchored by a large Carrefour, and Uptown Mirdif has its own Spinneys supermarket and a smaller cluster of cafes and restaurants. There is no metro station inside Mirdif itself; the nearest is Al Rashidiya station on the Red Line, and residents otherwise rely on buses and cars. Parking is straightforward for villas, which usually have their own garage or driveway, though apartment residents are generally limited to one space per unit.

What is nearby?

• Al Mizhar borders Mirdif to the north and Al Warqa to the south, both older residential suburbs with a similar villa character.
• Dubai Festival City is a short drive away, with its mall, the InterContinental and Crowne Plaza hotels, and well known venues such as the Belgian Beer Café, Trader Vic's and the city's Hard Rock Café.
• St Mary's Catholic Church in Oud Metha and the Hindu temples in Bur Dubai are both within reach for residents who need them, a drive rather than a walk.
• Several mosques serve the community directly within Mirdif.

Who does Mirdif suit?

Families who want a villa, a garden and a quiet, established suburb rather than a tower, and who do not need to be in central Dubai every day. It suits a slower pace of life: wide streets, community parks and a settled, long term population rather than a transient one.

It suits anyone needing a daily commute into DIFC, Downtown or Dubai Marina less well. Without its own metro station, that commute depends on the car or a longer bus journey through Al Rashidiya.

The housing mix is mostly three, four and five bedroom villas, with a smaller number of townhouses and flats concentrated in Uptown Mirdif and Mirdif Hills. That makes it a natural comparison for families who have also looked at Al Warqa or Al Mizhar, both similar in character and price.

What should you check before renting or buying?

• Which sub-community you are looking at. Uptown Mirdif, Shorouq, Ghoroob and Mirdif Hills are different in age, layout and price, despite sharing the Mirdif name.
• Freehold status. Only Mirdif Hills is freehold; the rest of Mirdif is not, which matters if you are buying rather than renting.
• Commute time to work, measured at rush hour rather than on a map, since the district has no metro of its own.
• Villa age and maintenance, which varies a great deal between the older original streets and the newer gated sections.
• Ejari registration for tenants, which protects you and is not optional. See Ejari explained.

Frequently asked questions

What is available now?

We may have nothing listed in Mirdif today. Use the form on this page to tell us what you are looking for and we will come back to you, or browse what we currently hold to rent and for sale.