Revealed: Top 5 neighbourhoods to raise a family in Dubai

Dubai is considered a safe and secure city for children but there are some areas in the city which are considered better to raise a family when factors such as the quality of schools in the area, the available amenities such as child day-care centers, recreation centers, green space, hospitals, shopping areas, parks, restaurants and safety are taken into account. Emirates 24|7 spoke with experts at Asteco and Landmark properties to list the best localities in the city to raise children.

Emirates Living is perhaps one of the most desired places to live-in for expat families in Dubai. With ease of access to Sheikh Zayed road, community shopping, schools and parks, this location is a much sought after area in the city. The smaller communities within the community are gated and secure with personnel.

With ample open spaces for children, this area has many good schools like Dubai International Academy, Emirates International School and Dubai British School to be considered. For families with younger children, there are many nurseries to choose from – Raffles, Jebel Ali nursery at Haya club etc. The American University in Dubai is also close by. Children's playgrounds and communal swimming pools are an added advantage. The area has many lakes and dogs are allowed.

Emirates Living residents have access to the Emirates Hills' Montgomerie Golf Course and its state-of-the-art Golf Academy. Residents of Emirates Hills also have access to the Montgomerie's clubhouse and all of its facilities.

With nearby convenience stores and shopping areas, big shopping malls like The Mall of the Emirates and Ibn Battuta are also in proximity.

The area has small clinics and a new Saudi German hospital close to The Greens is nearing completion.

Arabian Ranches, developed by Emaar is another community that offers lifestyle suited to families. For leisure and entertainment at Arabian Ranches, the village community center houses 20 retail outlets including supermarket, cafes and restaurants. Located within the Arabian Ranches is Jumeirah English Speaking School, one of the premier schools in Dubai and the popular Raffles Nursery.

The community of Arabian Ranches offers its residents a full range of services on their doorstep: a world-class golf course: the Desert Golf Course, designed by Ian baker-Finch/Nicklaus design; an equestrian centre with two polo fields, show jumping arena and boarding facilities for horses; gated community 24-hour security and maintenance; plenty of open spaces in the form of parks; pleasant streets are ideal for strolling or cycling; private gardens enclosed by boundary walls; membership opportunities at the golf course and equestrian centre; local neighbourhood centres for residents with swimming pools and children's play areas make it a popular choice.

The Palm Jumeriah is away from the hustle and bustle of the main city yet easy accessible. The various areas of the community are connected to the mainland via a bridge and undersea tunnels, so living in one of these homes does not make commuting into the city difficult.

The place has everything a person would need for a comfortable life, including marinas, dining options and shopping outlets. For little ones, Atlantis has many options to keep them entertained. The Oasis playhouse is a good option for early learning years. There are many nurseries and schools to choose from in the nearby Al Soufouh and Umm Sequim. The apartments provide pool and beach access.

Green Community is popular for secure community life which includes landscaped gardens, stone streets and a relatively traffic free environment. The area boasts of 67 lush hectares of residential, leisure, retail, and commercial properties.

Courtyard by Marriott Green Community Dubai is one of the prime properties in the area. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, children's pool, fully equipped gymnasium and jacuzzi.

As far schools and nurseries are concerned, The Children's Garden, a bilingual nursery caters to children from 2+ to 5 years. Greenfield Community School, an International Baccalaureate World School is also popular.

The Market shopping centre is located within walking distance of Green Community residences and offers a wide range of retail outlets and restaurants. It is self-contained, convenient and fully facilitated. The market has 86 retail units occupied by 54 retailers, from coffee shops to restaurants, supermarket, banks, entertainment outlets, gifts and book shop, hair salons, pharmacy and clinic.

Gated communities within Jumeirah 1,2,3 and Umm Suquiem are also good options for families with kids. Everything is easily accessible here. There are numerous clinics and hospitals in the area. Medcare Hopsital is the biggest one with all emergency services. There are also many smaller clinics such as The Wellbeing Medical Center and dentists such as The Standard Medical Clinic and also government health centres.

There are several schools in these localities - Emirates International School, Kings Dubai, Raffles International School and Jumeirah Primary School - are all reputed names. For the little ones, there are numerous nurseries to choose from - Wisdom International Nursery, Tiny Home Montessori Nursery, Small World Nursery, Royal Beach Nursery, Raffles Umm Suqeim South Campus Nursery, The Palms Nursery, London & Paris International Nursery, Little Wonders Nursery, Kangaroo Kids Nursery and many more.

Prominent hotels like Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah add to the charm of the place. There are many dining options as well – Lebanese, Indian, Asian, Italian, Moroccan – all kinds of restaurants can be found here. There are many parks in the area and the beach is also close-by.

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