For parents in Dubai, the presence of high-quality schools within a community is an important influencing factor when choosing a property.
For parents in Dubai, the presence of highquality schools within a community is an important influencing factor when choosing a property, offering them a convenient lifestyle and greater peace of mind.
Mirdif has emerged as one of the most affordable areas in Dubai for families with school-going kids, according to a report by dubizzle Property on communities in close proximity to schools. The area, which houses five schools, has an average annual rent of Dh79,500 for a two-bedroom villa, Dh110,000 for a three-bedroom villa and Dh120,000 for a fourbedroom villa. For buyers, Mirdif offers the most affordable threebed villa for sale for an average of Dh2.35 million, the report adds.
“For families, proximity to a good school is a significant factor when choosing the right home, for both renters and buyers. For parents in particular, choosing a property close to their child’s school can make a considerable difference in their day-to-day lives, for everything from morning drop-offs to class plays to sports practice,” says Samer Abdin, general manager at dubizzle Property.
Al Barsha 1 and 2 combined provide house-hunters with schoolgoing children the most options with 19 schools to choose from, according to dubizzle Property. Schools in the community include Dubai National School, Gems Dubai American Academy and Kings School Al Barsha with average rents for three-bedroom villas in these communities at Dh160,000 and Dh198,000 for four-bed villas.
“The most preferred areas to buy or rent near schools are the locations where most schools are concentrated around. These locations are Nad Al Sheba, Jumeirah Village Circle [JVC], Al Sufouh, Jumeirah and Emirates Living. Most families will look at the accessibility routes, convenience, traffic flow in and out from the location to the school and amenities in the location,” observes Abdul Kadir Faizal, co-founder, Smart Crowd.
Emirates Living, Arabian Ranches, Victory Heights, Jumeirah Golsf Estates, Green Community and Jumeirah Village Triangle are all communities that are very popular with families and in close distance of a school.
“Families want an area where they feel their children are safe and secure, where there are parks, playgrounds and pools, where there are shops, cafes and restaurants and where there are going to be lots of other families living there. On top of that, they are looking for a community with either a good school located within it, or within easy travelling distance of their child’s school,” says Lewis Allsopp, CEO of Allsopp & Allsopp.
Second-tier locations such as JVC, Motor City and Sports City provide affordable areas to rent and buy for families. To go a little further out, but still be within easy travel time there is Arabian Ranches 2, Mira, Townsquare and Damac Hills. For instance, properties in JVC are much more affordable than those in Nad Al Sheba and Emirates Living. The annual rent for 2-bedroom apartments averages at Dh70,000 in JVC in comparison to a 2-bed townhouse in The Springs which rents out for an average of Dh110,000, Faizal points out.
Umm Suqeim 1 and 3 offer residents close access to seven schools, including Kings School Dubai and Raffles International School. Three-bed homes in Umm Suqeim 1 are available at an average rent of Dh190,000, while Umm Suqeim 3 three-beds can be rented for Dh196,000. However, the area is the most affordable area for fourbed homes, dubizzle said.
For parents, choosing a property close to their child’s school can make a considerable difference in their day-to-day lives Samer Abdin, GM at dubizzle Property
While Mirdif is the most affordable community to buy a property with good access to schools, according to the dubizzle report, other areas in that category include The Springs with three-bed villas averaging Dh2.4 million, followed by Al Barsha at Dh3 million, Jumeirah Park and The Lakes at Dh3.5 million.
For larger families with schoolage children, four-bedroom villas in The Springs are the most affordable with an average price of Dh3 million, followed by Jumeirah Park at an average of Dh4 million and Barsha at Dh4.35 million.
Meanwhile, more families with school-going children are looking to buy. “Families with school-going kids who have a long-term intention of staying in Dubai and making the city their home are taking the opportunity to buy now as prices have fallen substantially. Developers have been offering post-handover payment plans with waivers on Dubai Land Department fees and initial deposits being reduced. However, families who have less certainty on their job positions are holding off for now until market confidence and the business environment improves closer to Expo 2020,” reckons Faizal.
“The majority of parents who we talk to, who are putting their child into education here in Dubai are committing to at least two to three years in the city. Parents want their children to be settled at school, maybe thinking that if they’re going to move, it will be after certain stages of their child’s education. It is then natural to purchase a property and put money towards paying their own mortgage rather than paying rent,” concludes Allsopp.
Second-tier locations such as JVC, Motor City and Sports City provide affordable areas to rent and buy Abdul Kadir Faizal, Co-founder, Smart Crowd