Living in Dubai: Five affordable areas to rent along Dubai Metro Route 2020

There has been a rise in interest from people looking to rent a home near the Expo 2020 Dubai site, say property experts

The average price for a home is not necessarily cheap, but you get a lot of space for your money in Jumeirah Golf Estates. Pawan Singh / The National

Connectivity to Route 2020 for Dubai Investments Park will certainly be viewed favourably by both tenants and buyers, says Chris Hobden. Antonie Robertson / The National

Al Furjan is a family friendly neighbourhood and offers a range of property types including townhouses and villas. Pawan Singh / The National

Discovery Gardens has always been a popular spot for tenants looking for a more budget-friendly place to live in the city. Pawan Singh / The National

A studio apartment in Discovery Gardens averages at about Dh25,000, but some units go for as little as Dh21,000. Ana Bianca Marin / The National

Related: Living in Dubai: Five areas that offer homes with gardens for under Dh100,000 rent

In just over six months, Expo 2020 Dubai will open its doors to the world and create hundreds of job opportunities.

In anticipation, a 15-kilometre stretch of Dubai Metro, called Route 2020, opened at the start of the year to ferry people to and from the expo.

Linking a handful of popular residential areas in the city to the world's greatest fair, the new metro route is a major draw for people considering renting a home near the Expo 2020 site in Dubai South.

Lewis Allsopp, chief executive of Allsopp & Allsopp, said the appeal of a shorter commute time for those working at the expo, better access to public transport and competitive rental prices have contributed to the demand.

"The Dubai Metro Route 2020 link, which has stops in communities such as Al Furjan and Jumeirah Golf Estates, has piqued the interest of more tenants," he told The National.

"For example, tenants registering their interest in Jumeirah Golf Estates rose by 30 per cent from Q1 2020 to Q3 2020 after the announcement of the metro links.

"The same can be seen in Al Furjan. An increase of tenants registering their interest in the community rose by 47 per cent from Q1 2020 to Q1 2021."

The Route 2020 metro track links seven new stations across a number of residential areas, including The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Investments Park.

Rents for a studio apartment in these communities start from as little as Dh21,000.

The National takes a look at five residential areas along Route 2020.

Discovery Gardens

Discovery Gardens has always been a popular spot for tenants looking for a more budget-friendly place to live.

While rents have remained attractively low here, one big issue was the lack of public transport.

Now, with the new Route 2020 linking commuters to both the green and red lines on Dubai Metro, connectivity has become Discovery Gardens’ newest string to its bow.

A 2020 report by property company Core showed that rents in the area fell by about 5.5 per cent, compared to the year before.

A studio apartment in Discovery Gardens costs Dh25,000 on average for the year, but some units go for as little as Dh21,000.

That rises to Dh34,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and Dh56,000 for a two-bedroom unit.

The Discovery Gardens Metro Station, which runs adjacent to The Gardens and Al Furjan stations, is within walking distance.

Al Furjan

This sprawling neighbourhood is more family friendly and offers a range of properties, including townhouses, villas and apartments.

According to property portal Bayut.com, the average yearly rent for a studio is Dh33,000. That rises to Dh54,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and Dh76,000 for a two-bedroom unit.

The average price for a three-bedroom villa is Dh120,000, rising to Dh123,000 for a four-bed property and Dh175,000 for five bedrooms.

The area is located between Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.

The community is made up of a shared network of pathways and amenities and has its own dedicated shopping centre. It also has its own metro station, called Al Furjan.

Chris Hobden, head of strategic consultancy at Chestertons Mena, said Route 2020 will serve to support demand and, in turn, maintain value across land and developed property within the catchment area of new stations.

"Ready access to transport infrastructure is often a key consideration when assessing a property, and we expect that connectivity to Route 2020 for The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan and, later this year, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Investments Park, will certainly be viewed favourably by both tenants and buyers."

Jumeirah Golf Estates

This neighbourhood ticks all the boxes when it comes to luxury, high-end living.

While property prices in this community are considerably higher than other areas along Route 2020, it is a popular choice for families, offering a mix of villas and apartments.

As its name suggests, there are two luscious green golf courses within the complex – the earth course and the fire course. The area also boasts a number of small parks, playgrounds and fitness centres.

A two-bedroom villa is available to rent for Dh93,000 per year, while a three-bedroom property, with a garden, is Dh141,000.

For those in need of something bigger, a six-bedroom villa costs Dh375,000 to rent per year.

Jumeriah Golf Estates metro station, which is an underground platform, will open later this year and will be the largest station along the Dubai Metro.

It is located close to the junction of E311 and D57, just west of Dubai Production City.

Dubai Investment Park

Dubai Investment Park is an up-and-coming residential area. It is made up of three phases: the industrial complex, a commercial district and seven eco-friendly residential communities.

The residential district offers a mix of apartments, townhouses and villas for rent, all at competitive prices.

The Dubai Investment Park metro station is set to open later this year, making the area better connected to the rest of the city, as well as the Expo 2020 Dubai site.

The average price for a studio is Dh25,000 a year, Dh37,000 for a one-bed apartment and Dh52,000 for a two-bed.

The Gardens

Nestled between Jebel Ali Village, Sheikh Zayed Road and Discovery Gardens is The Gardens.

A relatively small residential area, its metro station opened at the beginning of the year.

Noted as a pet-friendly and family centric neighbourhood, yearly rental prices for property is attractive, but the homes on offer are a little older than some in the surrounding areas.

Properties in The Gardens include clusters of Mediterranean-style villas and townhouses, as well as low-rise apartments.

According to Bayut.com, one-bedroom apartments cost Dh45,000. A two-bed flat is Dh55,000.