11 streets and areas we'd love to have seen on the Dubai Monopoly board

If the game had been more area and road-focused, this is what we would have liked to have been included

1. Happiness Street, Dubai. Courtesy Google Maps

2. The entrance to Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz. Courtesy Alserkal Avenue

3. Meydan Racecourse is off Al Meydan Road. Alamy

4. K-pop boyband Exo's Dubai Star is seen on the sidewalk of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Dubai. Leslie Pableo / The National

5. A view across Dubai's Palm Jumeirah.

6. 2nd December Street in Satwa, Dubai at night. Alamy

7. Jumeirah Street in the Jumeirah 1 district is known for its many shops, cafes, restaurants and salons. Alamy

8. King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street with palm trees in Dubai. Alamy

9. Baniyas Road runs alongside the Dubai Creek in Deira. Paulo Vecina / The National

10. View over Dubai Water Canal towards Al Wasl Road, with Sheikh Zayed Road in the foreground, Dubai, UAE. Alamy

11. A peaceful corner of The Farm in Dubai's Al Barari. Courtesy The Farm Al Barari

The Dubai Monopoly board launched on Monday, November 5, and surprised people by being more about landmarks and hotels rather than roads and places, like traditional versions of the popular family game.

We love that the Burj Al Arab is in the top spot, but building a hotel on a hotel doesn't quite work, does it? That isn't to say we aren't happy about the places included – it's great to see Al Fahidi, Global Village, Al Seef and City Walk, to name only a few.

Now, it is true that many a Dubai road is numbered rather than named – I live on 5th Street for example, but which one? Oh, the confusion that has caused in the past. You can see how this could prove difficult on a Monopoly board. But in recent years, streets have started to be named more frequently.

Here are 11 streets or areas we'd love to have seen on the Dubai Monopoly board: 

1. Happiness Street 

Running through DIFC, Happiness Street provoked plenty a smile when it was unveiled in March 2017, on International Happiness Day no less. Dubai is proud of being one of the happiest cities in the world, so featuring the road would have made perfect sense.

2. Alserkal Avenue

Art lovers will be more than familiar with the Al Quoz area, Alserkal Avenue, packed full of warehouses that are home to galleries, art stores, record shops, an art house cinema, a vintage car showroom and a spinning studio.

3. Al Meydan Road 

Al Meydan Road leads to the richest horse race in the world, the Dubai World Cup. With views of the racetrack, stables and the oft-Instagrammed Meydan Bridge, it's also a pretty drive.

4. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard

Now home to the Dubai Stars walk of fame, Downtown Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard also has plenty of prime real estate – the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Opera, to name only two.

5. The Palm Jumeirah 

The tree-shaped, man-made The Palm Jumeirah is one of Dubai's most famous and impressive feats. Packed with apartments, villas, hotels, bars and restaurants, it offers something for pretty much everyone. The Palm Tower and Nakheel Mall are set to open on The Palm over the coming months, bringing with them Sushi Samba, a St Regis hotel and Din Tai Fung. The Palm Jumeirah is the backdrop to pretty much every Skydive Dubai photo.

6. 2nd December Street

Named after National Day, this hustling and bustling street leads down to the Etihad Museum and Union House Flag from Sheikh Zayed Road. With street art on the walls, some of the best shawarma places in town, tailors, shops and bars all off the road, it's busy almost every night of the week.

7. Jumeirah Street

Call it the Jumeirah Beach Road or Jumeirah Street, as it is now officially known, this predominantly residential road runs from Umm Suqeim's Madinat Jumeirah across the Dubai Water Canal end of Dubai Creek to Satwa. It runs parallel to the beach the entire way, and is always jam-packed with fancy cars. The road is home to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah and the famous Jumeirah Mosque.

8. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street

Renamed for King Salman for Saudi National Day in 2016, this road was previously known as Al Sufouh Street. It takes drivers from Madinat Jumeirah past a host of royal palaces and beaches, via The Palm Jumeirah all the way to the end of JBR.

9. Baniyas Road

Baniyas Road runs parallel to Dubai Creek on the Deira side, passing the spice and gold souqs, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and plenty of dhows and abras. Look across the creek from Baniyas Road to see Al Seef, the Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood and the Grand Bur Dubai Masjid.

10. Al Wasl Road

Al Wasl Road runs through Dubai, with cafes, malls and restaurants peppered among the many spacious villas. Half way down you'll encounter bridges that cross Dubai Water Canal and Boxpark Dubai. At some stage, most residents will have been tickled by Google Maps directing them down "Al W A S L Street"

11. Al Barari

Lush, green oasis Al Barari is located off Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road, and is home to a sanctuary of peaceful members clubs, restaurants, villas and apartments. There is the Greenworks Nursery, selling trees, The Farm eatery, playgrounds and regular outdoor festivals. Check out Nasab members club, and try contemporary restaurant Lowe.

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