Highlights
- Renting Property
- Buying Property
- Popular Buildings
- Hotels in DIFC
- Getting around
- Schools & Hospitals
- Malls & Restaurants
- Upcoming Attractions
- Things to Consider
About Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
Filled with gourmet restaurants, high-end retailers and internationally acclaimed art galleries, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is a major global financial hub for South Asia, Africa and the Middle East markets. Known in its abbreviated form as DIFC, this leading financial hub is a 110-hectare district that is dubbed as the ‘gateway to growth’. Apart from being a thriving commercial destination, DIFC is also a great residential community that is vibrant, lively and perfect for those seeking modern living and city vibes.
In a Nutshell
- The leading financial hub for the Middle East, South Asia and Africa.
- A mixed-use community that houses a collection of residential apartments and hotels along with the commercial spaces and retail.
- Provides an array of world-class facilities and amenities.
- Known for being home to some of the most exceptional galleries in the city.
- Features an impressive collection of some excellent restaurants.
- Has accessibility with two metro stations located right next to it.
Neighbourhood
COMMUNITY OVERVIEW
With towering buildings, an exotic collection of retail and dining spaces, and as a community well-equipped with modern facilities, DIFC is the epitome of city life. With alluring art galleries and exciting events, DIFC has a very lively environment that leaves no room for boredom. Living in DIFC is especially ideal for working professionals due to its convenient location, easy accessibility and the overall vibe of a modern lifestyle.
Properties in DIFC
DIFC houses several apartments for rent and sale that can be perfect for singles, couples and working professionals in Dubai. Developed for a world-class modern living, almost all the buildings in the neighbourhood are of towering heights. It is one of the places in Dubai that is equipped with only the best of amenities and showcases the finer things in life. One of the evident benefits of living in DIFC is its very proximity to Downtown Dubai, making it easily accessible if you happen to work there, or just wish to get down to this quintessential neighbourhood of Dubai for shopping or leisure.
You can find a wide collection of apartments ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units and also some 4 to 5-bedroom luxury penthouse suites.
Rental Trends in DIFC
|
Apartment Type |
Average Rental Price in AED |
|---|---|
|
Apartment Type
Studio |
Average Rental Price in AED
66,000 |
|
Apartment Type
1-bed |
Average Rental Price in AED
98,000 |
|
Apartment Type
2-bed |
Average Rental Price in AED
137,000 |
|
Apartment Type
3-bed |
Average Rental Price in AED
180,000 |
|
Apartment Type
4-bed |
Average Rental Price in AED
394,000 |
|
Apartment Type
5-bed |
Average Rental Price in AED
436,000 |
- 1 BED
- |
- 2 BATHS
- |
- 1125 SQFT
- 1 BED
- |
- 1 BATH
- |
- 1273 SQFT
Those looking for rental apartments in DIFC, you can expect to pay a yearly price that starts at around AED 51k for a studio. The average rent for a 1-bedroom is AED 98k while rental 2-bedroom apartment can be attained for a year in a price range of AED 75k to AED 260k. The spacious 3-bedroom apartment for rent in DIFC is available in an average price of AED 180k per year.
Sales Trends in DIFC
|
Apartment Type |
Average Sales Price in AED |
|---|---|
|
Apartment Type
Studio |
Average Sales Price in AED
929,000 |
|
Apartment Type
1-bed |
Average Sales Price in AED
1,523,000 |
|
Apartment Type
2-bed |
Average Sales Price in AED
2,607,000 |
|
Apartment Type
3-bed |
Average Sales Price in AED
4,084,000 |
|
Apartment Type
4-bed |
Average Sales Price in AED
23,124,000 |
|
Apartment Type
5-bed |
Average Sales Price in AED
20,571,000 |
The starting price for a freehold studio starts from AED 750k and it can go up to AED 1.3M. The average sale price of 2-bedroom in DIFC is AED 1.5M while one is expected to pay AED 4M to purchase a 3-bedroom apartment.
ROI in DIFC
|
Apartment Type |
ROI |
|---|---|
|
Apartment Type
Studio |
ROI
6.3% |
|
Apartment Type
1-bed |
ROI
6.3% |
|
Apartment Type
2-bed |
ROI
5.4% |
|
Apartment Type
3-bed |
ROI
4.8% |
|
Apartment Type
4-bed |
ROI
3% |
|
Apartment Type
5-bed |
ROI
2.7% |
Studio and 1-bedroom units offer the highest ROI among other residential units which is 6.3%. On the other hand, 2-bedroom apartments offer the rate of return on investments of 5.4%. 3-bedroom units follow with 4.8% ROI. The large units, 4 and 5-bedroom apartments, round up the list with 3% and 2.7% ROI respectively.
DIFC Floor Plans
Interested tenants can browse through the DIFC floor plans and take a look at the floor plans available for popular communities/buildings in the neighbourhood.
Most Popular Buildings in DIFC
Residential towers in DIFC consists of studios, 1 to 4-bedroom apartments and 5-bedroom luxurious penthouses. Interested tenants can take a look at the most popular towers in DIFC before making a choice.
Park Towers is found to be the most popular building in DIFC. It is closely followed by Central Park Towers, Sky Gardens DIFC, Index Tower and Burj Daman.
Park Towers is a mixed-use complex of two buildings; Park Towers A and Park Tower B. It is developed by DAMAC Properties in the neighbourhood. There are 49 floors in each building, the residential units begin from 12th floor upwards while seven floors are dedicated for offices. Apartments for rent in Park Towers are available in an affordable price range whereas investors can buy offices in Park Towers as well.
The second-most popular building in the area is Central Park Towers. It is also a complex of two buildings jointly built by Dubai Properties Group and Deyaar Development. The apartments in Central Park Towers come in studios to 3-bedroom units with the yearly rent starting from AED 52k for studios. One is expected to pay AED 82k annually for a rental 1-bedroom unit, AED 104k for 2-bedrooms and AED 140k for 3-bedroom apartments.
Sky Garden DIFC is one of the popular towers for renting apartments in DIFC. The price range of rental apartments in Sky Garden DIFC is AED 53k to AED 160k per year.
Hotels in DIFC
The upscale commercial hub is home to multiple hotels that are equipped with modern amenities and facilities. These hotels near DIFC include:
- The Ritz-Carlton DIFC
- Four Seasons Hotel
- Waldorf Astoria Hotel
- Roda Al Murooj Hotel
The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre is a 5-star hotel located off Sheikh Zayed Road. It offers an array of five-star amenities including executive residences, dining facility, a spa and club.
Four Seasons Hotel DIFC is a boutique-style sanctuary in the area. Guests can take in stunning city views from the glass-enclosed rooftop pool or enjoy cocktails with friends at Luna Sky Bar. The modern suites feature everything you need for a relaxing stay.
Transportation and Parking Spaces in DIFC
As a popular commercial hub, the traffic is unsurprisingly high, especially during the rush hour. So, if you want to move from the area it is best to leave a little earlier or later. Most of the apartments in DIFC offer dedicated parking spaces for the residents, however, for visitors, finding public parking outdoors could be a problem as it costs around AED 10 for an hour.
Public Transportation in DIFC
DIFC is conveniently located with easy access to and from public transport. It is only a short walking distance from two metro stations – Emirates Towers and Financial Centre. There are also several bus lines in and near DIFC. You can also find plenty of taxis but since they have high demand, hailing them during rush hour can be challenging.
Amenities, Schools and Healthcare
DIFC has a myriad of amenities for a lavish single or professional living.
Supermarkets in DIFC
There are a handful of supermarkets in DIFC where you can go for your regular grocery shopping. A lot of these supermarkets are found on the ground floor of the different buildings in the community. Some of the supermarkets include the Spinneys Supermarket, BS Supermarket LLC, Fresh Mart Supermarket, Choithrams and Al Maya Supermarket.
Churches, Temples and Mosques in DIFC
To fulfil your religious needs, there is also a mosque in DIFC. You can also find Ramadan Juma Mosque a little further away and The DIFC Grand Mosque in Gate Avenue is set to open by 2019.
The nearest church is Dubai Seventh Day Adventist Church which is 15-minutes away and the Gurudwara, Shiva and Krishna’s Temples are just a 5-minute drive away from the area.
Schools in DIFC
For the younger kids, there are a few nurseries in DIFC. There is the Hummingbird Pre-School that is widely popular as well as the Grassland Daycare & Nursery. Babilou MENA is an option for parents looking for a school in DIFC. Other schools nearby include Hartland International School in MBR City and Horizontal International School in Umm Al Sheif. However, some educational institutions that offer specific courses include the Brighter Prep, the IE Centre, and the London Business School Dubai Centre.
Clinics and Hospitals in DIFC
You don’t have to travel far in search of hospitals or clinics in DIFC. There are several healthcare centres dotted nearby. The closest ones are the IMC Medical Centre, La Clinique DIFC and The Clinic. Al Zahra Medical Centre is also less than a 15-minute drive away from DIFC, and so is Interhealth Canada Limited. You can also reach Oriana Hospital in just around 20 minutes.
Nearby Areas
DIFC is situated right across from Downtown Dubai that houses the tallest building and the largest mall in the world. DIFC is also located along the same line as the World Trade Centre and Emirates Towers. Za’abeel 2 is located further into the opposite side of DIFC while the Al Satwa neighbourhood sits right behind.
Lifestyle
SHOPPING, DINING AND NIGHTLIFE
Malls in DIFC
Gate Avenue is a highly anticipated fashion and retail destination in DIFC. Although the project is underway, several shops are operating. These include Sacoor Brothers, Suit Supply, Black Amber, His and Hers, Fiori Jewels and Collars and Cuffs. Other than that, residents can have an unfulfilled shopping fix while living in DIFC as they are only 8-10 minutes away from the city’s expansive shopping and leisure complex – The Dubai Mall.
The community is not short of shopping spots at all as there are a handful of exciting retail outlets here. There is the Fendi Dubai Mall Flagship for some high-end Italian fashion and accessories. You can also find the Flower Boutique if you fancy purchasing some flowers and ornamental plants. There is also Momentum Dubai and Rivoli DIFC for watches and ALIEL for fine jewellery.
Restaurants in DIFC
One thing you will not run out of in DIFC is a place to dine. There is an abundance of restaurants in DIFC that can aid to a varied range of taste buds. You can choose from La Petite Maison for exquisite French cuisine, Gaucho Dubai for a taste of Argentinian steaks or Cipriani Dubai for some Italian flavours. For a range of Asian deliciousness, there is the Royal China Restaurant and the Japanese Zuma Restaurant. There are several more options to choose from among the restaurants in DIFC such as Beefbar, Al Mandaloun, Dusty’s, Peyote Dubai and more.
The lovers of coffee and the quaint vibes of coffee shops can also find a haven here. From Caffe Bateel, Costa Coffee and Caffe Nero to Mercato, Panifico and Caribou Coffee, there are several more cafes in DIFC to catch up with friends, get some work done or to simply relax.
Beaches near DIFC
Residents will have to travel a bit far to visit beaches near DIFC. Open Beach in Jumeirah Road is only a 15-minute drive away from the neighbourhood. You can also reach the JBR Beach in a 25-minute drive.
Leisure Activities and Notable Landmarks
The Gate is the most notable landmark in DIFC and the Gate Village located adjacent to it is the focus point of the various art galleries and fine dining outlets. The Marble Walk is another highlight of DIFC which is located right beneath The Gate and is focused on takeaway meals, essential services and retail convenience. There is also The Balcony which is a terrace surrounding The Gate featuring casual dining options.
When it comes to leisure activities in DIFC, you will be up for a treat as the region is known for housing some of the best galleries in Dubai. Starting from The Empty Quarter, a gallery exclusively for fine arts photography featuring internationally renowned and established photographers. Andakulova Gallery which showcases central Asia’s contemporary visual art, to Christie’s, a gallery of extraordinary art that conducted the most celebrated auctions; there are several more galleries in DIFC waiting to be explored. The most popular gallery in DIFC would probably be the spectacular and internationally established Opera Gallery.
Outdoor Activities, Fitness and Beauty
Community Park in Dubai Investment Park is just 9 to 10-minutes drive away depending upon which side of DIFC you are living in. You can also reach the Zabeel Park in just around 10-minutes by car. You will also only have to drive around 12-minutes to reach the Dubai Garden Glow.
For fitness enthusiasts, there is a good variety of gyms in DIFC. There is Fitness First, Barry’s Bootcamp, the Ultimate Performance Dubai (UP Fitness LLC) and the D5 Executive Gymnasium.
To relax your mind and body, there are also several spas in DIFC. You can choose from The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Mind & Sense Spa, Spa Cordon and many more. There is also a men’s hair salon; Hommage Atelier, a nail salon; Style Beauty Lounge, and several ladies’ salons such as Ladies First Beauty Salon and others.
Upcoming Attractions
DIFC will expand to triple its size by 2024. As per DIFC 2.0 plan approved by Dubai’s ruler His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2019, the expansion of the neighbourhood will be carried out in multiple phases. The expansion will include more residential projects, retail area, office space and leisure destinations.
DIFC Grand Mosque in Gate Avenue is another upcoming project in DIFC. The mosque has been designed to form a cube within a cube, it will have a space to accommodate 500 worshippers at a time.
Things to Consider
Living in DIFC has its own perks. However, one factor to consider if you are planning to move to DIFC is that the region is highly populated and may not be favoured as a residential community by people with families or people that do not like crowded places. The lack of options for schools nearby also makes it an undesirable choice for families with school-going children.
Location
- DIFC is located just next to Downtown Dubai within walking distance or a mere 8-minute drive from the community.
- You can reach Dubai International Airport from DIFC in a little less than 15 minutes by car.
- Sheikh Zayed Road may take up to 20 minutes to reach from DIFC.