Why Dubai's Jumeirah Village Circle is booming for renters and buyers


Patrick Ryan
  • English
  • Arabic

Rising rents have been driving legions of Dubai residents to move to the outskirts of the city.

One of the areas that benefits most from the migration right now is Jumeirah Village Circle.

The community is booming with a growing population and properties available for significantly less rent than that in other areas of the city.

“There’s a real neighbourhood feel to JVC,” said John Podaras, from Greece, who works in the hospitality industry and recently moved to the area.

The whole place is becoming much more lived-in and more complete
Simon Baker,
managing director, Haus & Haus

“There are a lot of little shops and supermarkets that are high quality and the staff is very friendly.

“They are all within a five-minute walking distance from where I live in District 14.

“I also love the mixed use nature of the place. You have young trendies in their first foray as expats as well as young families living in larger places with their children.”

He did have some gripes, though, mostly about the traffic.

________________________________

Renting and buying in Jumeirah Village - at a glance

According to the property search website Propertyfinder.ae, these are the average rents in the neighbourhood. The price depends on the building finish, location, high or low floor and the view.

Apartments

  • Studio - Dh40,000
  • One bedroom - Dh60,000
  • Two bedrooms - Dh83,000
  • Three bedrooms - Dh120,000

Townhouses

  • Three bedrooms - Dh130,000
  • Four bedrooms - Dh155,000

________________________________

“The worst thing about it by a long way is the traffic. They could really do with more access locations as it gets jammed up in rush hour,” he said.

“There are also lots of lads who love revving up their engines late at night as they travel 100 yards to the next red light.”

One of Dubai’s leading estate agents said, in addition to the affordability, a significant reason for JVC’s popularity is its growing maturity as a suburb.

“JVC is in high demand because it offers fantastic value for money and it’s a developing area that is improving all the time,” said Simon Baker, managing director of real estate firm Haus & Haus.

“There are some nice parks and green spaces and every week there are more food and beverage outlets opening.

“There are only a few remaining empty plots and the whole place is becoming much more lived-in and more complete, which makes it nicer for residents.”

Most sought-after

JVC was the second most sought-after location in Dubai last month, according to Dubai Land Department with sales totalling more than Dh500 million.

The only area with higher demand was Business Bay in the heart of the city centre.

According to the latest figures from the Property Monitor website, the average rent for a studio apartment in JVC is Dh46,500 while a one-bedroom costs about Dh68,000 and a two-bedroom Dh103,000.

One problem that many residents have about the area is the level of traffic, especially when accessing the nearby Hessa Street.

However, Mr Baker believes the situation is not necessarily that bad, especially compared to other parts of the emirate.

Simon Baker, managing director of Haus & Haus Real Estate, said JVC offers fantastic value for money. Photo: Haus & Haus
Simon Baker, managing director of Haus & Haus Real Estate, said JVC offers fantastic value for money. Photo: Haus & Haus

“Any city centre location is going to have traffic and the road infrastructure is getting better and better in JVC,” he said.

“Yes there is some traffic but the entry and exit roads really do provide good access.”

Kate Mullen, from England, has lived in JVC for the past eight years and said the community’s expansion has made life better for residents.

“It’s great value for money and it’s in proximity to so many places in Dubai,” said Ms Mullen, who works in the PR industry, and pays Dh36,000 in rent for a one-bed apartment.

“When I first moved there was nothing but now we’ve got a major mall (Circle Mall), supermarkets, bars and restaurants.

“It’s getting better all the time.”

However, she did say life in the area was not completely perfect.

“A lot of houses now have multiple occupants, which makes it very built up. The street lighting isn’t great in a lot of areas either,” she said.

“That means, as a single female I don’t always feel safe walking home late at night.

“I haven’t heard of any incidents of anyone getting hurt though.”

JVC resident Kate Mullen has lived there for the past eight years. Photo: Kate Mullen
JVC resident Kate Mullen has lived there for the past eight years. Photo: Kate Mullen

When French landscape architect Ludivine Marie was looking for a home after moving to the emirate last year, she looked at areas like Dubai Hills first.

“It was lovely but then I realised I could get a two-bedroom apartment for the price of a one-bedroom here,” said the 45-year-old.

“That was a big, big carrot to entice me to move here.”

She said the level of traffic was a hot topic of conversation among residents.

“I’ve heard about the traffic issues but it’s not so much a problem for me because I work from home a lot,” said Ms Marie, who pays Dh110,000 for a two-bedroom apartment.

“I work for myself and often start late and work until late so I don’t see the worst of it.”

Jarryd Van Eeden, 26, from South Africa lives in JVC with his wife after moving there last year. He said the advantages of living there far outweigh the negatives.

“I work in Motor City so it’s only a stone’s throw away from my work,” he said.

“It’s also pretty close to other locations such as Dubai Marina or the Palm.

“It has everything you could need in terms of shops as well.”

However, Mr Van Eeden, who works in the property sector, said the community was not without its disadvantages.

“The worst thing I can say about JVC is that it can seem like a bit of a construction site will all the work that’s going on,” he said.

“There are a lot of new developments. I understand why; it’s because of the area’s popularity.”

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

Miss Granny

Director: Joyce Bernal

Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa

3/5

(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
RESULT

Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1 
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’

Itcan profile

Founders: Mansour Althani and Abdullah Althani

Based: Business Bay, with offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India

Sector: Technology, digital marketing and e-commerce

Size: 70 employees 

Revenue: On track to make Dh100 million in revenue this year since its 2015 launch

Funding: Self-funded to date

 

Netherlands v UAE, Twenty20 International series

Saturday, August 3 - First T20i, Amstelveen
Monday, August 5 – Second T20i, Amstelveen​​​​​​​
Tuesday, August 6 – Third T20i, Voorburg​​​​​​​
Thursday, August 8 – Fourth T20i, Vooryburg

Five famous companies founded by teens

There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:

  1. Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate. 
  2. Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc. 
  3. Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway. 
  4. Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
  5. Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
LOVE%20AGAIN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Jim%20Strouse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Priyanka%20Chopra%20Jonas%2C%20Sam%20Heughan%2C%20Celine%20Dion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Non-oil%20trade
%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

Players Selected for La Liga Trials

U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian

Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco

Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French

Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian

U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco

THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.6-litre%2C%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E285hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E353Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh159%2C900%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Liz%20Truss
%3Cp%3EMinisterial%20experience%3A%20Current%20Foreign%20Secretary.%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DWhat%20did%20she%20do%20before%20politics%3F%20Worked%20as%20an%20economist%20for%20Shell%20and%20Cable%20and%20Wireless%20and%20was%20then%20a%20deputy%20director%20for%20right-of-centre%20think%20tank%20Reform.%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DWhat%20does%20she%20say%20on%20tax%3F%20She%20has%20pledged%20to%20%22start%20cutting%20taxes%20from%20day%20one%22%2C%20reversing%20April's%20rise%20in%20National%20Insurance%20and%20promising%20to%20keep%20%22corporation%20tax%20competitive%22.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

The specs: 2018 Peugeot 5008

Price, base / as tested: Dh99,900 / Dh134,900

Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 240Nm @ 1,400rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km

MATCH INFO

 

Maratha Arabians 107-8 (10 ovs)

Lyth 21, Lynn 20, McClenaghan 20 no

Qalandars 60-4 (10 ovs)

Malan 32 no, McClenaghan 2-9

Maratha Arabians win by 47 runs

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20ASI%20(formerly%20DigestAI)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Quddus%20Pativada%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Artificial%20intelligence%2C%20education%20technology%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%243%20million-plus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GSV%20Ventures%2C%20Character%2C%20Mark%20Cuban%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: February 20, 2023, 5:10 AM`