Al Karama

• Community overview
• Renting property
• Getting around
• Popular areas
• Popular hotels
• Schools & clinics
• Malls & restaurants
• Zabeel Park
• Community events
• Things to consider

Al Karama is one of the older areas of Dubai widely considered as a residential development but also offers many commercial projects. The name of the area is inspired by the Arabic word, Karama – meaning: ‘dignity’. Al Karama occupies an ideal location with Zaa’beel Street as the main thoroughfare of the central area, giving way to numerous commercial units. It is one of the most accessible places from all of the city.

Part of Bur Dubai and close to the Dubai Creek, Al Karama has a unique vibe home to many low-rise residential buildings. Most visitors think Dubai is the home of gigantic skyscrapers while that’s not the case with Al Karama. Made on a tight grid system, the area spans a meagre 2 km, yet houses thousands of people, leading it to be one of the most populated areas in Dubai.

The community consists of many consulates, official buildings and the famous Zabeel Park that separates Al Karama from the main Sheikh Zayed Road leading to the Trade Centre. You can also find the renovated Burjuman Mall at the edge of the community, it is one of the oldest malls in the emirate.

• Part of Bur Dubai, located on the western banks of Dubai Creek
• Securing a prime location in the centre of the city
• One of the oldest communities in Dubai
• Home to Karama Park, shares border with the famous Zabeel Park, while Creek Park is nearby
• Offers convenient access to all the major hotspots and landmarks
• Comes with great housing options suitable for all income brackets
• Houses multi-cultural residents in low-rise residential apartments
• Zaa’beel Street (D84) and Kuwait Street (D77) act as the thoroughfares of the area

Al Karama is a structural change beyond the concrete and glass skyscrapers lined up in Dubai; giving way to wide public boulevards and the steady pace of recurring low-rise buildings pinned on each side of the roads. It has sub-communities which also are quite well-known, such as the Wasl Hub, Sheikh Hamdan Colony and Karama Centre. Since it is the most populated areas to rent apartments in Bur Dubai, the community is a self-sufficient one, housing some well-reputed hospitals, shopping centres and entertainment venues.

Al Karama is not a tourist area, but the community is known for its bargain shopping, with many thrift shops and souvenir stores in the vicinity. Since it is chiefly a residential community, one of the major entertainment spot next to Al Karama is Zaa’beel Park. It is a landscaped park that feature many playing grounds for children plus the green spaces and barbecue spots invite families to come and spend a refreshing day at the park.

The wide range of restaurants in the locale are also what makes the area so well-known. The community is mostly occupied by expatriates that come from different Asian nationalities, including Filipinos, Pakistanis and Indians so they enjoy many oriental cuisines that reminds them of home, which is precisely what the community offers**.** You will even find authentic dishes native to Thailand, Sri Lanka, China, but some stores also offer Arab delicacies in the area.

Most of the residential properties in Al Karama are flats for rent whereas, commercial real estate is also abundant in the area. The area accommodates thousands of people, offering a number of housing options in the perfectly synchronised rhythm of low-rise buildings. But due to its cultural richness and affordable rents, the rental properties in Al Karama are high in demand and are usually rented pretty quickly. However, compared to other areas in Dubai, you will find the apartments to be rarely furnished and will have to buy your own furniture to settle in.

Tenants will find the flats in Al Karama to be consisting of studios, 1, 2 and 3-bedroom types. The size of an average studio apartments starts at 300 sq. ft. and go up to 610 sq. ft. and for the 1 and 2-bedroom flats, the size ranges between 700 sq. ft. to 1,800 sq. ft. As for the larger 3 BHK units, the area size goes upward of 2,000 sq. ft. For further details take a look at the rental trends in Al Karama:

The neighbourhood has several sub-communities consist of mid-rise residential buildings. Interested tenants can take a look at the most popular communities in the area before making a choice.

Being in a great spot, where you can enjoy sunsets from the balcony of your spacious suites, there are several hotels in Al Karama that offer greatly discounted family packages from time to time. Offering amazing opportunities for family members of expatriates who come to visit them from faraway lands. The hotels in Al Karama are:

• Ramee Royal Hotel
• Regent Palace Hotel
• President Hotel
• Fortune Karama Hotel
• Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel

Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel is an excellent 5 star hotel conveniently located on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, opposite the Burjuman Centre and a few minutes of walking distance from Dubai Metro. It is easily within reach from many of the city’s business establishments. The hotel features 385 deluxe rooms with VIP room facilities, along business centre. The high-end amenities in hotel include free parking, outdoor pool, a fitness centre and a nightclub. You will also find an extravagant banquet that can accommodate up to 220 guests.

Ramee Royal Hotel is a 4-star hotel located on Khalid Bin Waleed Street. Featuring over 100 furnished rooms, 96 standard rooms and 6 luxury suites, the hotel also offers quality guest services. You can get a room according to your preference of smoking rooms, non-smoking rooms or family rooms, each of them equipped with a mini bar and a flat-screen TV. Furthermore, the hotel has a rooftop pool, a sports bar equipped with a 55 inch flat-screen TV and a dance floor. You will also find five top-notch themed restaurants here, along with a beauty parlor, a sauna, gym room, massage centre, a laundry room and free private parking.

Regent Palace Hotel is a 3.5 star hotel, located on the World Trade Centre Road. Here you will will find non-smoking rooms and luxury suites on mid-range prices. The hotel is mainly booked by businessmen so naturally it features a business centre, executive suites and conference facilities. Each room has a separate seating area is designed to conduct private meetings along with basic room services and a minibar. Other services in the hotel includes an outdoor pool and a fitness centre with gym.

The average 3-star hotels in the area include President Hotel – set in an Italian-style building with spacious 60-serviced rooms and Fortune Karama Hotel that features 130 suites and deluxe along with a balcony that offers an overview of a swimming pool. Only 10-minutes away from the Dubai International Airport, there is RASA Restaurant in the Fortune Karama Hotel, known for serving authentic dishes from Goa, Kerala and Mangalore.

Mostly because this is a heavily populated area, parking in Al Karama may pose an issue. It can be challenging to find parking with the increase of each property ownership in the area. Some buildings offer basement parking but the older buildings do not offer this. Residents will then have to find street parking which can be difficult at times, especially since visitors will be using those same spaces.

As the area is situated at a great location, right in the centre of the city, commute to and fro from Al Karama is not much of a hassle. People renting in Al Karama can quickly reach the community via the ADCB and BurJuman Metro Stations that connect to key points of the city. Al Karama can also be easily reached via a short walk from the Oud Metha Metro Station if you live towards the outskirts of the neighbourhood. The area is also serviced by many bus routes, thus commuting through public transport is not an issue for those who do not own vehicles.

There are many supermarkets in Al Karama to cater to the day-to-day necessities of residents. There is a Lulu Supermarket near the Emirates Post office, right next to the Karama Park, and there’s a Lulu Hypermarket across the road from Zabeel Park in the vicinity of the community. People can also find valuable goods at the Karama Centre, or if you are a seafood lover, you can head over to the Al Karama Fish Market, which is across the road from the massive Spinneys supermarket.

Residents from all over the world call Karama home, this leads to a melting pot of different cultures in one neighbourhood.

For Muslim residents, there is the large Al Karama Grand Mosque right next to the Lulu Supermarket. The neighbouring, Oud Metha Mosque is just a 9-minute drive away, right next to St. Mary’s Catholic Church. You will also find a lot of other churches in Oud Mehta, such as St. Matthew’s Chapel, The Dubai City Church, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church.

The nearest temples are Shiva Temple, Sri Krishna Temple and Shiridi Sai Baba Mandir which has a gurudwara attached. These are all located towards the north of the Bur Dubai district, near Dubai Museum and the souk area.

What makes Al Karama family-friendly is the high number of schools and educational establishments located around town. In the immediate area and along the borders of the community, residents will toddlers find a number of nursery schools. Some of these are Cambridgeshire Nursery, British Orchard Nursery and Chubby Cheeks Nursery.

Neighbouring Oud Mehta is also known to be a school district, it houses St. Mary’s Catholic High School, Dubai Gem Private School and GEMS Winchester School for those looking for British curriculum options. The Indian High School follows the National Curriculum of India and Lycee Francais International follows the French curriculum.

There are two universities near Al Karama, with the first being the Al Dar University College across the Dubai Creek and the Canadian University Dubai at an 11-minute drive near Downtown Dubai, on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Al Karama is fortunate in the sense that there is an array of health-care establishments in and all around the community. Rashid Hospital and Metropolitan Medical Centre are located near the Oud Metha Metro Station, alongside the American Hospital Dubai nearby next to the Iranian Club Dubai. One can also head over to the Aster Hospital Mankhool near Al Raffa or the International Modern Hospital just 6 minutes away by car.

There are many clinics in Al Karama such as the Aster Clinic Karama (UMC), Al Raas Private Medical Clinic and the New Apollo Polyclinic. Other clinics nearby include Kaul Clinic, Aster Clinic, Star Poly Clinic, Lifeline Medical Centre and the Primacare Clinics are located at a short drive near the Burjuman and Al Fahidi areas.

The community of Al Karama sits next to Oud Metha and near Bur Dubai. Whilst Deira and most of its subsequent areas are to the east of the community, bustling areas like Al Satwa, Jumeirah and Dubai Marina are to the west. Downtown Dubai and Business Bay are at a short 15-minute drive away.

The residential community is known for housing a plethora of recreational facilities. Al Karama Market, Karama Centre and Gift Tent Karama are a few of the popular markets in Al Karama.

As far as the shopping malls are concerned, they are in high numbers in Al Karama. In the bounds of the community, residents can head over to any one of the malls in the community. If you are looking for a bargain there is Al Attar Shopping Centre, Al Karama Old Market and Ansar Gallery.

A more conventional shopping mall in Al Karama would be Burjuman, it is located on the edge of the neighbourhood. Due to its many retail and dining options, it is favoured by both residents and visitors. There is also a Vox Cinemas, Magic Planet and 12 Cinemas as entertainment options in the mall.

If there is one thing that Al Karama is famous for, it has to be the vast dining options. From casual alfresco eateries to high-end restaurants, Al Karama has got you covered. A few of the city’s favourite eateries are Ravi Restaurant, Saravana Bhavan, Rasoi Ghar, Biryani Royale and Swades Vegetarian Restaurant. There are also more options around the community like Aryaas Gourmet, MTR 1924, Blue Ginger and many others. Other restaurants in Al Karama include Chowking, Kebab Bistro, Kerala Kitchen and Canara Restaurant.

One of the top-rated restaurants in the area is China Bistro near Park Regis Hotel. It is a casual restaurant that serves Asian cuisines including Thai, Chinese and Japanese dishes, with popular dishes including Nasi Goreng, Khao Suey, Fish, Sushi, Dumplings and Noodles. The most popular Indian Restaurant in the area is Maharaja Bhong. Some of the must-try dishes of this restaurant suggested by the locals include Amras Puri, Palak Paneer, Farsan, Khichda and Rajhasthani and Veg Thali as vegan-friendly dishes.

For those who go looking for a caffeine fix, can visit the brilliant cafés around. For their tea and coffee residents often frequent Filli Cafe, The Bhukkad Cafe, Al Khawater Coffee, FnS Cafe, Shakespeare & Company and Jus T Cafe.

Although the beach is not in proximity to the neighbourhood, residents or people passing through can surely check out the many public spots along the Dubai Creek. If you wish to make a day trip, there are several open beaches near Jumeirah and its neighbouring communities.

Most options are roughly 20-minutes away, this includes the Jumeirah Public Beach, Umm Suqeium Beach and Kite Beach. Towards the emirate of Sharjah, you can find Al Mamzar Beach.

Al Karama enjoys easy access to a lot of major landmarks and leisurely activities. Zabeel Park is a large, beautifully landscaped park located right next to the community. One of the first tech-driven green spaces in Dubai, Zabeel Park is one of its kind. As large as the size of 45 football fields combines, the park is no short of attractions. Besides featuring many green spaces and barbecue spots, it is home to a Children’s City. A Place dedicated to activities for children. You will also find many wide paved walkways and jogging tracks that runs amidst the lush green gardens of the park. Visitors can enjoy a jog amidst nature and can take a break and rest on one of the many benches spotted along the lines. There are several other attractions in Zabeel Park including The Dinosaur Park, Dubai Garden Glow, boat rides, Zabeel Cricket Ground, a flea market and much more.

Next to Zabeel Park, a world of art awaits in Dubai Garden Glow, it houses a mesmerising Dinosaur Park, Glow Park, Art Park and an Ice Park. You will also find Creek Park nearby and Al Karama Park right within the area. There is also the Dubai Dolphinarium in the neighbourhood, at a distance of 10 minutes from the area, which regularly features dolphin shows.

If you want to catch a break from all the fun-filled activities and want to enjoy a rather sporty activity, you can head over to the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, once you could cross over the Dubai Creek.

There are many parks close to Karama, you can find Karama Park in the community. Whereas the larger Creek Park and Zabeel Park are a short drive away, these are massive parks with many activities and facilities for visitors to enjoy.

Al Karama is one of the communities in Dubai, which is brimming with state-of-the-art gyms and fitness centres. Right in the enclave of the community, there are many world-class gyms such as Champions UAE, Eagle Gym, Body Fitness, Power Gym and Ichiban Fitness Club to name a few.

For much-needed me-time, one can head over to any one of the spas in Al Karama such as Perfect Match Spa, Magic Spa and Golden Sun Spa.

One could argue that Karama in itself is a community event since the area is constantly buzzing with activity. You will see every holiday celebrated to the max in the community. There are many on-going events in the Burjuman Mall for both adults and children. Family-friendly events will be found in Karama Park.

Living in Karama has many benefits but since the area mainly consists of apartments it is suited for singles and small families. However, if you are planning to move to this neighbourhood, you should take a look at the pros and cons of living in Al Karama. While the area is well-connected through its road network and public transportation system there still is a parking and traffic problem at peak hours in the morning and evening.

• Dubai International Airport is just 12 minutes away
• The Dubai Mall and Downtown Dubai district are 15 minutes away
• The Mall of Emirates sits 22 minutes away
• Jumeirah Beach can be reached at a 15 to 18-minute leisurely drive
• A 23-minute long drive from Dubai Marina