Nadd Al Sheba

Nad Al Sheba (also written Nadd Al Sheba, Nad Al Shiba or Nadd Al Shiba) is a mainly residential district of Dubai on the inland side of the city, next to Meydan, Ras Al Khor and the Al Khail Road corridor. It is known for its large family villas, its gated communities, the Nad Al Sheba Cycle Park and its link to horse racing: the district is named after the old Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, which has since been replaced by the Meydan Racecourse.

The area is divided into numbered sub-areas, Nad Al Sheba 1, 2, 3 and 4, and official records and school listings use names such as Nad Al Shiba First and Nad Al Shiba Third. People searching "nad al sheba" usually want to know what the district is like, which developments are there, and how far it is from Downtown Dubai and Business Bay.

Nad Al Sheba is quiet by Dubai standards. It has wide roads, villas with gardens, a cycling park and a handful of schools, and it is minutes from the busier centres of Meydan, Downtown Dubai and Business Bay. It is not a tourist area, and it has no metro station of its own.

Nad Al Sheba sits south-east of Downtown Dubai, beside Meydan and the Meydan Racecourse. Meraas describes Nad Al Sheba Gardens as within two to fifteen minutes of the Meydan track, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Hills Mall, Dubai International Airport and Al Ain Road. Nearby districts include Meydan, Dubai Hills Estate, Business Bay and Ras Al Khor.

Roads and getting around

• Al Khail Road and the roads around Meydan are the main links to the rest of Dubai.

• Nad Al Sheba Road serves the district's own streets.

• Public transport: there is no Dubai Metro station inside Nad Al Sheba. Use the RTA journey planner at rta.ae to check bus links. Most residents drive.

Sport and outdoors

• Nad Al Sheba Cycle Park: a family cycling park near the Meydan Racecourse on the site of a former camel racing track, with loops of different lengths. The Dubai Sports Council includes the Nad Al Sheba tracks in its work on cycling in Dubai.

• Meydan Racecourse: the home of the Dubai World Cup, next to the district. The old Nad Al Sheba Racecourse hosted the world cup in its early years before Meydan replaced it. The racing season runs through the cooler months; check meydan.ae for fixtures.

• The district's wide, quiet streets suit walkers, runners and cyclists, and many gated communities have their own pools, parks and play areas.

Shopping and dining

• Meydan: the neighbouring district has the Meydan Racecourse, a hotel and several dining options. See our Meydan page and Meydan One.

• Dubai Hills Mall in Dubai Hills Estate, and the malls and restaurants of Downtown Dubai and Business Bay, are a short drive away.

Parks across Dubai

For green space across the city, read our guide to the best parks in Dubai.

Nad Al Sheba is a district families choose partly for its schools. KHDA's Education Directory at khda.gov.ae lists Repton School Dubai in Nad Al Sheba Third. Other schools in or beside the district include GEMS Modern Academy, Kings' School Nad Al Sheba and Dubai Schools Nad Al Sheba. Inspection ratings change every year, so check the current KHDA report before you choose, and check the school's admissions policy and waiting list as well as its curriculum.

Nad Al Sheba 1

The part of the district most associated with the villa communities of Meraas. Nad Al Sheba Gardens is described by Meraas as a gated community with large plots and low-density streets. Our off-plan page for Nad Al Sheba 1 lists current projects.

Nad Al Sheba 2, 3 and 4

The further sub-areas carry the district's schools and the older villa streets. Because the numbering is used on official records, you will see it on Dubai Land Department data and school listings, so it helps to know which number you are looking at when you compare homes.

Nad Al Sheba Gardens is the best known development in the district. Meraas describes it as a gated community with low-density layouts and large plots, and the architecture runs from Mediterranean and European inspired to Arabian and contemporary. Phase 10, for example, includes three-bedroom townhouses from 3,291 sq ft and four to seven bedroom villas from 4,795 sq ft to 8,705 sq ft, with a swimmable lagoon, a wave pool, fitness centres, kids' play areas and restaurants listed among the amenities. Newer phases, such as Nad Al Sheba Gardens 7, are marketed on our off-plan pages.

Nad Al Sheba was once the edge of the city, an area of open desert and a racecourse. The Nad Al Sheba Racecourse staged the Dubai World Cup for many years, and the name stuck to the district even after the races moved to the larger Meydan Racecourse next door. Since then the open land has been filled in by planned villa communities, schools and cycling tracks, while the city centre has grown out towards it. That history explains the district's character today: large plots, wide roads and an equestrian and sporting identity.

Daily life here is built around the car and the community. Gated communities have their own security, pools and play areas, and children cycle in the park or attend one of the nearby schools. For groceries, restaurants and entertainment, residents drive to Meydan, Dubai Hills Estate, Business Bay or Downtown Dubai. Weekends tend to revolve around the cycle park, the racecourse in season, family gatherings at home and trips to the beach.

• Meydan: more urban, with apartments, townhouses and the Meydan Racecourse. Nad Al Sheba is quieter and more villa-led.

• Dubai Hills Estate: a larger master community with a mall and a golf course. It has more amenities within the community, and it also has apartments.

• Business Bay: a high-rise district next to Downtown Dubai. It suits people who want apartments and walkable restaurants rather than a villa.

• Downtown Dubai: the city centre, a short drive from Nad Al Sheba.

People choose Nad Al Sheba for space, privacy and a family setting close to the centre. Typical homes are villas and townhouses of three to seven bedrooms with gardens, and many are in gated communities with shared facilities.

Who it suits

• Families who want a large villa and a quiet street, close to Downtown Dubai and Business Bay.

• Cyclists and runners who want the cycle park on their doorstep.

• Residents who work in Meydan, Business Bay or Downtown Dubai and prefer to drive.

What to weigh up

• There is no metro station in the district.

• Large villas and plots are priced accordingly; compare sizes and plot positions carefully.

• Some phases are still being completed, so ask what is built around the home you are considering and the handover date.

Our guide to villa communities for families and our guide to buying a villa in Dubai help with the wider decision.

As of November 2026, our live pages show 3 off-plan projects currently selling in Nad Al Sheba, from AED 1,590,000:

"From" prices describe the entry unit in a project, so the price of the home you want will differ. For the transfer costs on a purchase, see our Dubai Land Department fees guide. Nearby, Meydan and Dubai Hills Estate are the communities buyers most often compare with Nad Al Sheba.

Before you buy

1. Confirm the sub-area (1, 2, 3 or 4) and the exact plot.

2. For off-plan, confirm the escrow account, payment plan and handover date.

3. Ask for the service charge in writing.

4. Time the drive to school and work at peak hours.

Most rentals are villas and townhouses, many of them in gated communities. Annual rent is usually paid in cheques, and the tenancy contract should be registered through Ejari. Check which maintenance and community fees the landlord covers, and whether the villa has a maid's room and covered parking.