The Gardens

The Gardens is a low rise apartment community by Nakheel next to Ibn Battuta Mall, on the Jebel Ali side of the city. It is one of the oldest and most heavily planted residential areas in new Dubai, and it looks nothing like the towers around it.

The buildings are four storeys, arranged in named clusters around mature gardens and courtyards. It is leasehold rather than freehold, so it is overwhelmingly a rental market.

Why is it also called Jebel Ali Gardens or Nakheel Gardens?

The Gardens is sometimes searched for as Jebel Ali Gardens or Nakheel Gardens. Both refer to the same development: it sits in the Jebel Ali area of Dubai and was built by Nakheel, the same master developer behind Discovery Gardens next door and Palm Jumeirah elsewhere in the city.

Who does The Gardens suit?

Families and long term residents who want space, greenery and quiet at a rent well below the marina towers, and who value a metro station and a large mall on the doorstep. There is a settled community here, with many households staying for years.

It suits people who want new build finishes or high floor views less well. The buildings are established and low rise by design.

What apartments are available in The Gardens?

The Gardens is made up entirely of low rise apartment buildings arranged in named clusters, from studios up to larger family units, built around shared courtyards and mature planting. There are no villas or townhouses here, which is one of the clearer differences between The Gardens and newer freehold communities nearby.

What is it like day to day?

• Mature landscaping and courtyards between the blocks, which is the main reason people choose it.
• Ibn Battuta Mall next door, with a cinema, supermarkets and its own metro station.
• Schools and nurseries in and around Discovery Gardens and Jebel Ali. Confirm current places directly.
• Red line metro access, which makes a car optional for some households.
• Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan and Jebel Ali as neighbours.

What should you check before renting?

• Which cluster and which floor, since there are no lifts in some blocks and the top floor is a walk up.
• Condition of the flat, especially air conditioning, kitchens and bathrooms, as the community is well established.
• Parking, which is shared and can be tight in the denser clusters.
• What is included in the rent, particularly chilled water and maintenance. See our guide to who pays for what in a Dubai rental if you are unsure.
• Ejari registration, which is not optional. See Ejari explained.

Can you buy here?

Not in the way you can in a freehold district, since The Gardens is leasehold Nakheel stock and rarely trades. Buyers who like the location usually end up looking at Al Furjan or Discovery Gardens instead, both freehold and minutes away.

What about rent increases at renewal?

If your landlord proposes a higher rent at renewal, use the RERA rent increase calculator to check whether the increase is within the legal limit before you agree to it, and see how Dubai rent increases are calculated for how that limit is set.

What is available now?

We may not have a listing in The Gardens today. Use the form on this page to tell us what you need and we will come back to you. You can also browse everything we hold to rent, or read our tenant guide, or compare the best areas to rent a house in Dubai if you are still deciding on a location.