HIGHLIGHTS
ABOUT CENTRAL DISTRICT
Like the name suggests, Central District is a community in the centre of Al Ain. It is home to Al Ain Mall and Al Ain National Museum. The main road that links this community with the rest of Al Ain is Zayed Bin Sultan Street. This is a vibrant, well-planned community with modern infrastructure and several places of interest, some of which include lush green public parks. It is an ideal place for those thinking of living in Al Ain, as the area has all the amenities one would come to expect from a well-established town.
IN A NUTSHELL
- Home to several shopping complexes and entertainment venues
- Has several primary and secondary schools
- Not too far from Al Ain Zoo (The largest wildlife park in UAE)
- Less than 30-minute drive to major universities in Al Ain
- A few minutes away from Al Ain SportsPlex
- Clean, green well-planned community
- Very close to Al Jahili Fort
NEIGHBOURHOOD
COMMUNITY OVERVIEW
The area is mostly populated with a large Indian, Pakistani and Middle-Eastern expat community. There is also a high concentration of Emiratis and Khaleeji expats living here. To the south, there is the Al Mutaw'ah area. To the north there is the district of Al Qattara.
TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING SPACES IN CENTRAL DISTRICT
Those relying on public transportation in Central District will find bus stops that will require at least 27-minute travel time if residents are on foot, this is only true for the closest bus stop which is Al Madina Petrol Station bus stop. All other bus stops will require a travel time of 39-minutes or more on foot. Thus, it can be more practical to hail a taxi and be driven to these bus stops.
For those commuting in private vehicles or taxi, the area is well-connected, with Zayed Bin Sultan Street intersecting with Central District. Zayed Bin Sultan Street also intersects with Khalid Bin Sultan Street that leads to Industrial Areas.
Finding parking spaces in Central District is not a major concern for those living here. Due to low urban density, there are several parking spaces available for residents and visitors to the area.
AMENITIES, SCHOOLS AND HEALTHCARE
Supermarkets in Central District
There are a few supermarkets in the Central District. At a 7-minute walk, there is Lulu Centre - Al Ain. This is a large supermarket with a bakery where one could purchase ready to eat breakfast and lunch items. For those looking to grab and go, a mini-mart is just around the corner, which takes 8-minutes to reach on foot, this mart is known as Essamudden And Hayath Store Al Ain. For fresh fish, one can simply take a 6-minute drive and reach Al Ain Farm Shops - Fish Market.
Churches, Temples and Mosques in Central District
There are at least over 10 mosques in Central District. Some of the largest most visited include Abdullah Al Zarouni Mosque which is located on Zayed Bin Sultan Street, This is a medium-sized mosque that is 4-minutes away. Another nearby mosques which is much closer at a distance of 2-minutes is Sayyida/Shamsa Bint Ahmed Al Suwaidi Mosque. One of the larger mosques in Al Ain is 4-minutes away, this is the Sheikha Salama Masjid Al Ain that can accommodate several hundred worshippers during Friday prayers.
There is only one church in Central District, this is the Apostolic Revival House which is 3-minutes away. For other churches that fall outside the vicinity of Central District, residents will find Al Ain Evangelical Church and St. Mary’s Church situated in the district of Al Jahili.
Temples near Central District include Gurudwara Nanaksar Al Ain which is just 14-minutes away via car. For hindus, there are no temples in all of Al Ain, residents will have to drive to Al Fahidi Bur Dubai which will take a drive time of 1 hour 37 minutes to reach. Here, one will find various types of temples, each dedicated to specific Hindu gods such as Shiva, Krishna, Ganesha and Hanuman are to name a few.
Schools in Central District
There several schools in the Central District. Some of these include Future International School which is a 5-minute drive away. This is a co-education institute that delivers educational content according to the American curriculum standards. Also very close is Al Ain Academy which is a 4-minute drive. This school has received a rating of ‘Very Good’ by relevant authorities and follows a British curriculum. At a 12-minute drive, there is International Private School, this is a school that follows a curriculum laid out by the Ministry of Education and has received a rating of ‘Acceptable’. However, this school is perhaps the most affordable option out of the former two.
Clinics and Hospitals in Central District
Clinics near Central District include Sulaiman Medical Clinic which just a 3-minute drive. Here, residents will find basic OPD consultation at affordable rates. At a distance of 4-minutes, Emirates International Polyclinic. At a 3-minute drive, there is also Ghazal Mahri Clinic which is a women’s only clinic.
Hospitals near Central District include Mediclinic Al Ain Hospital which is just 5-minutes away. This hospital has an emergency ward, so residents experiencing an emergency can drive here. Other nearby hospitals include Oasis Hospital at 8-minutes away and Burjeel Royal Hospital at 7-minutes away.
NEARBY AREAS
To the south, residents will find Al Ain Industrial Area which is the logistical and commercial hub of Al Ain. To the north, there is the community of Al Hili which is home to Hili Fun City. To the west there the district of Al Mu'tadid and Al Jahili. To the east lies the neighbourhood of Hamsa.
LIFESTYLE
SHOPPING, DINING AND NIGHTLIFE
Residents will not feel like they are living in an isolated area, as Central District is one of Al Ain’s most developed and vibrant areas, as it has some of the best shopping, dining and entertainment venues.
Malls in Central District
One of the largest malls in Central District is the Al Ain Mall which is just 1-minute away via car. This mall first opened its doors in 2001 and contains 350 outlets, 60 restaurants and cafes. The entire mall comprises of 2.5 million sq. ft. of floor space offering shopping, dining and entertainment. Other nearby malls include Welcome Shopping Mall at 8-minutes away and Emirates commercial complex at 7-minutes away.
Restaurants in Central District
Restaurants in Central District include Shakespeare and Co. at a distance of only 2-minutes. Here menu options include coffee, healthy breakfast, lasagne, salad, tea, cheesecake and burgers. At a 1-minute drive, there is Applebee's - Al Ain Mall, where one can enjoy various American style steaks, pizzas, sliders, burgers and shakes. At a 3-minute drive, there is Ahlan wa Marhaba Restaurant which specializes in serving Middle-Eastern street food such as shawarmas, hummus, falafels and the like.
BEACHES NEAR CENTRAL DISTRICT
Al Ain is an Inland city, in other words, it will take around 1 hour 32 minutes to reach a public beach. beaches near Central District will be located in Dubai, which includes Open Beach at a distance of 1 hour 34 minute drive. This beach has a wide sandy shoreline with a park and a children's play area. Other popular beaches include Jumeirah Beach which is 1 hour 30 minutes away. Here, one will find amenities such as BBQ stations, lifeguards for swimmer’s safety, regular police patrol and a park for picnicking and other fun activities.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND NOTABLE LANDMARKS
At a distance of a 20-minute drive, there is Al Ain Zoo which is the largest Zoo in UAE. Not only is this a great destination to visit with the family, but is also quite an enriching experience as adults and children will get to learn a great deal about wildlife and conservation. At a 6-minute drive, there is Al Ain National Museum where residents can learn a great deal about regional stone age and lifestyles of the locals prior to discovering oil. Another popular destination worth visiting in Al Jahili Fort which is only 10-minutes away. This historic landmark offers a glimpse into the past of UAE and how the fort was designed for defense against enemies.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, FITNESS AND BEAUTY
There are several parks in Central District, just 8-minutes away, there is a park specifically for women, this is the Al Mudeef Ladies and Children’s Park. At 6-minutes away, there is another park for the general public which is simply known as ‘Public Park’. Just 1-minute away, there is Trampo Park where children can enjoy themselves on bouncy castles and trampolines.
Residents looking to stay fit on the regular will find several gyms in Central District. At a distance of 4-minutes, there is Man Top Gym which has several exercise equipment needed for cardio and strength training workout. At a 5-minute drive, there is another gym called AL MASA Men Fitness LLC. this gym also has all the latest equipment for a comprehensive workout.
For residents who are self-conscious about maintaining their looks, there are several beauty salons in Central District. The closest one is Nice Dream Salon which is only 2-minutes away. Here resident women will find basic beauty treatments such as hair care, nail care, skincare and other advanced beauty care services. Other nearby salons include Pink Marina Ladies Beauty Center. At a distance of 4-minutes away, there is High Life Beauty Salon Spa. All salons will offer services similar in nature with only minor differences in quality and creativity.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Life in Central District can be second to none for those who decide to move here. Apart from affordable rents, the clean air and several amenities make it an ideal place to live for those working in Al Ain. For those who have to commute to Dubai or other emirates for work, living here will be impractical for the most part.
LOCATION
- 26-minutes from Al Ain International Airport
- 1 hour 55 minutes to Downtown Abu Dhabi
- 1 hour 28 minutes to Downtown Dubai