If you want a central, walkable neighborhood where your daily life runs on convenience, Al Barsha 1 (also called Al Barsha First or Barsha 1) delivers. You’ll have two Dubai Metro Red Line stations, Mall of the Emirates on your doorstep, and an easy mix of apartments, serviced residences and everyday amenities. This complete area guide covers lifestyle, transport, real estate trends, ROI, and the practical tips you need to decide if Al Barsha 1 is your next home—or your next investment.

Al Barsha 1 in a nutshell

• Where it is: Central west Dubai, straddling Umm Suqeim Street with swift access to Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), Al Khail Road (E44), Hessa Street (D61) and First Al Khail Street.
• Vibe: Lively, cosmopolitan and convenience-first; a dense, mixed-use pocket anchored by Mall of the Emirates.
• Property mix: Predominantly mid-rise apartments with serviced apartments, hotel suites, a handful of villas/townhouses, plus busy commercial strips.
• Who lives here: Families and young professionals who want metro connectivity, schools, parks, shopping and dining close by.
• Why it’s popular: Two Red Line metro stations, diverse housing, abundant amenities, and quick access to beaches and business hubs.

Location and connectivity: metro, buses and road links

• Metro (Red Line): Mall of the Emirates station sits inside the community; a second station on Sheikh Zayed Road—signed at various times as Mashreq, Sharaf DG or Insurance Market—edges Al Barsha 1 and Barsha Heights.
• RTA buses: Expect dense feeder coverage: F30, F32, F33, F35, F36, F37, plus routes 81, 84 and 93 linking surrounding districts. The main hub clusters around the Mall of the Emirates Metro Station.
• By car: SZR interchanges make life easy: use Junction 39 for Mall of the Emirates and Junction 36 for parks/inner Barsha. Ride-hailing via Careem/Uber and taxis is plentiful.
• On foot/bike: Sidewalks are solid around the mall and main spines; Al Barsha Pond Park offers a flat loop for walking and cycling.

Typical drive times (traffic permitting): Dubai Internet/Media City 10–15 min; Dubai Marina/JBR 12–18 min; Downtown 15–20 min; Al Sufouh/Jumeirah Public Beach 10–15 min; DXB T1/T3 25–30 min.

Homes and buildings in Al Barsha 1

The core is a grid of mid-rise blocks (often 8–12 floors) with ground-floor retail and basement parking. Density peaks near Mall of the Emirates and softens a few streets inward where you’ll also find pockets of townhouses and occasional villas.

• Unit mix: Studios through to roomy 3-bedroom apartments; some with balconies and maid’s rooms.
• Amenities: Many towers offer gyms, pools, saunas/steam rooms and kids’ play areas.
• Parking: Allocated basement parking is common; on-street visitor parking is paid in many areas.
• Noise: Expect a livelier urban feel near the mall and SZR; it calms several blocks back.

Popular buildings and serviced apartments

• Al Murad Tower by Emaar (a notable freehold building in Barsha 1)
• Zee Zee Tower
• Palacio Residence (Dania)
• Heritage Building (mixed-use)
• Al Salam Tower
• Rose Garden, Saratoga Complex, Barsha Valley/Barsha Oasis, Dania Building
• Serviced and hotel residences: Sheraton Mall of the Emirates, Kempinski Hotel MoE, Novotel Suites MoE and others add furnished, short-stay-friendly options.

Property market: rental trends, sales prices and ROI

Al Barsha 1 is one of Dubai’s most liquid, practical apartment markets thanks to metro access, everyday convenience and established schools/clinics. Here’s an at-a-glance snapshot to frame your search for apartments for rent and apartments for sale in Al Barsha 1.

Property type	Typical annual rent	Indicative sale price	Gross ROI (typical)
Studio	AED 50,000–60,000	AED 750,000–800,000	Up to 8%+ in well-located buildings
1 bedroom apartment	AED 90,000–100,000	AED 1.0M–1.1M	~6–7%
2 bedroom apartment	AED 115,000–130,000	AED 1.6M–1.7M	~6–7%
3 bedroom apartment	AED 150,000–170,000	Building-dependent	~5.5–6.5%

• Villas/townhouses: Scarce in Barsha 1; larger 3–5BR homes typically exceed AED 200,000/year. Wider choice exists in Al Barsha 2/3 and Al Barsha South.
• Community average: Wider Al Barsha returns often sit in the high-6% range (~6.9%).
• Ownership: Most of Al Barsha proper is non-freehold; selected Barsha 1 buildings (notably Al Murad Tower) offer freehold titles. Wider freehold choice is in Al Barsha South (e.g., Villa Lantana). Always verify title early.

Search tips: “Studio for rent Al Barsha 1,” “1 bedroom apartment Al Barsha 1,” “2 bedroom apartment Al Barsha 1” and “serviced apartments Al Barsha 1” are high-demand categories with strong rental liquidity.

Lifestyle and amenities: shopping, dining and daily services

Supermarkets and shopping

• Mall of the Emirates: 600+ stores, luxury to high-street, VOX Cinemas and Ski Dubai.
• Hypermarkets: Carrefour (inside MoE) and LuLu Hypermarket (next to MoE) for weekly shops.
• Neighborhood options: Grandiose, West Zone Fresh, VIVA, Al Rayan, Al Barsha Madina and countless mini-marts with delivery.

Dining and cafés

• Inside MoE: The Cheesecake Factory, Din Tai Fung and a broad casual lineup.
• Around Barsha 1: Nom Nom Asia (Chinese/Thai), Allo Beirut & Foul W Hummus (Lebanese), Mr Crab (seafood), plus Indian/Pakistani favorites like Spinzer—along with local cafés and bakeries tucked into side streets.

Healthcare

• Hospitals: Al Zahra Hospital (within Al Barsha 1); Saudi German Hospital (nearby in Al Barsha 3).
• Clinics: Aster Clinic, TruCare Clinics, Al Noor Polyclinic and specialty practices; Al Barsha Health Centre offers 24-hour services.

Schools and nurseries

• K–12: GEMS Dubai American Academy, American School of Dubai, Dubai National School, Dubai International Academy (DIA) Al Barsha, King’s School Al Barsha, Nord Anglia International School (nearby), Safa Community School (nearby), Al Arqam Private School.
• Early years: Multiple nurseries dotted across the grid.
• Enrichment: Young Scientists Centre, language institutes (Polyskills, Happy Mandarin), and the Safe Center for Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.

Places of worship

• Mosques: Al Barsha Mosque, Fatemah Marzouq Al Rashdan, Shareefa Al Attar, Fatima Abdullah Mohammed Rasheed and more.
• Church: Emirates Baptist Church (in-community).
• Temples/gurudwara: Hindu temples in Zabeel/Al Fahidi and Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara in Jebel Ali within a 15–30 minute drive.

Parks, beaches and leisure near Al Barsha 1

• Al Barsha Pond Park: Lake views, pedal boats, playgrounds, tennis courts, outdoor gym equipment and seasonal markets—great for running and cycling.
• Beaches near Al Barsha: Al Sufouh (Black Palace) Beach, Jumeirah Public Beach and JBR Beach typically 10–20 minutes by car.
• Landmarks & leisure: Ski Dubai and VOX Cinemas (MoE), Emirates Golf Club, Jebel Ali Racecourse, Skydive Dubai—all within easy reach.
• Hotels & lounges: Sheraton MoE, Kempinski MoE and Novotel Suites MoE add fine dining and nightlife options.

Nearby areas and typical drive times

• Next door: Barsha Heights (Tecom), Al Quoz Industrial Area
• Very close: Al Sufouh, Dubai Internet City, Knowledge Park
• A short hop: Dubai Marina, JLT, Media City, Downtown Dubai

Expect 10–20 minute cross-city hops in off-peak hours thanks to E11, Umm Suqeim Road, First Al Khail Street and Hessa Street connectivity.

Who Al Barsha 1 suits—and what to consider

• Best for: Car-free or car-light living; families wanting strong school options and a big central park; first-time buyers and investors seeking high-demand rentals and reliable ROI.
• Things to consider: Peak-time traffic and a lively urban soundscape near MoE; building age and maintenance vary; freehold inventory is limited (verify title status early).

Cost of living snapshot (indicative)

• Rents: Studios roughly AED 2,500–7,000/month depending on building and location; 2BR rents vary widely—expect more near MoE/SZR.
• Utilities & internet: DEWA for a family home can average ~AED 750/month across the year; broadband packages ~AED 300–500/month.
• Groceries & dining: Smart family grocery budgets from ~AED 1,500/month; casual chains ~AED 60–80 pp; business lunches ~AED 100–150 pp; quick bites far less.
• Transport: Metro + buses keep costs down; taxis are plentiful; mall parking is typically free and street parking is paid but modest.
• Schooling: ~AED 30,000–100,000 per child per year depending on curriculum and brand.

Note: Figures are community-typical ranges shared by residents and market data; your costs will vary with lifestyle and building choice.

Getting around: practical tips for car-free living

• Use the RTA app for live timings on F30, F32, F33, F35, F36, F37, 81, 84 and 93; tap into the Red Line at Mall of the Emirates.
• Combine metro + taxis (or Careem/Uber) for door-to-door efficiency.
• Leverage free Mall of the Emirates parking for quick errands; watch paid street parking timings to avoid fines.
• For quieter evenings, choose routes via Junction 36 instead of SZR’s busiest exits when feasible.

Buyer and investor tips for Al Barsha 1

• Near-metro advantage: Homes within a short walk of Mall of the Emirates command deeper tenant pools and resilient yields.
• Inspect building services: Shortlist towers with recent MEP upgrades and strong service track records—comfort and running costs improve materially.
• Yield sweet spots: Studios and 1-beds typically deliver the highest gross ROI; larger family units rent best near schools and Al Barsha Pond Park.
• Freehold check: Confirm freehold vs. non-freehold early (e.g., Al Murad Tower is freehold; broader freehold sits in Al Barsha South).
• Leasing strategy: Serviced apartments near MoE appeal to short/medium-stay tenants; traditional annual leases dominate the wider grid.

Need a tailored plan? Tell us your budget, commute and lifestyle preferences and we’ll shortlist the right buildings and units—plus run a rent and ROI sensitivity check—so you can move fast and buy with confidence.

FAQs about Al Barsha 1

• Is Al Barsha 1 freehold? Mostly no. Select buildings (such as Al Murad Tower) are freehold. Many buyers look to Al Barsha South for wider freehold choice.
• Which metro station serves the area? Mall of the Emirates station, plus the SZR-side station signed as Mashreq/Sharaf DG/Insurance Market depending on naming rights.
• Is Al Barsha 1 good for families? Yes—strong school options, a central park, plentiful clinics and quick access to beaches and attractions.
• What are average rents? Studios ~AED 50k–60k; 1BR ~AED 90k–100k; 2BR ~AED 115k–130k; 3BR ~AED 150k–170k (building and finish vary).
• Are there villas in Al Barsha 1? A few, but the main villa stock sits in Al Barsha 2/3 and Al Barsha South.
• How’s parking? Most buildings provide basement spaces for residents; visitor parking is paid on-street in many areas.
• What ROI can investors expect? Community averages often sit in the high-6% range, with studios reaching 8%+ in prime, near-metro buildings.
• Beaches nearby? Al Sufouh (Black Palace), Jumeirah Public Beach and JBR Beach within 10–20 minutes by car.

Why Al Barsha 1 stands out

Few neighborhoods bundle a flagship mall, two Red Line stations, schools, clinics, parks and everyday retail this tightly together. That convenience underpins consistent rental demand, healthy yields and a diverse, welcoming community. If you value connectivity and an active, walkable lifestyle, Al Barsha 1 is one of Dubai’s most dependable addresses—whether you’re renting, buying your first home or targeting solid, income-led ROI.