A Detailed Comparison Between Al Reef and Hydra Village
Abu Dhabi features a variety of residential communities, each presenting unique benefits. For residents seeking accommodations close to Yas Island, both Al Reef and Hydra Village provide diverse housing choices alongside convenient highway access and essential local services. To highlight their key differences, this comparison explores the amenities, price trends and overall features of Al Reef and Hydra Village.
Al Reef or Hydra Village: Where Should You Live?
The choice between living in Al Reef and Hydra Village depends on individual preferences and requirements, as factors that suit one household may not necessarily suit another. Al Reef and Hydra Village both offer residential properties, amenities and access to major roads, but they differ in terms of property types, available facilities, connectivity and overall community setup.
Location
Al Reef has two residential areas: Al Reef Downtown and Al Reef Villas. It is located at the intersection of the E11 Highway (Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road) and the E12 Highway (Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Highway). The development is situated directly north of Zayed International Airport and south of Al Shahama.
Hydra Village, spread across ten zones, is developed by Hydra Properties LLC. It is located in Rawdat Al Reef, about 3 kilometres northeast of Al Reef. Hydra Village is connected to Al Shahama Road and Al Reef Road, with access to the E11 highway via nearby interchanges.
Public Transport
Al Reef has several bus stops located within the development, serving the Contemporary, Arabian, Desert and Downtown communities. These include:
- Al Reef, Al Adaed Street / North Entrance
- Al Reef, Al Adaed Street / Arabian Community
- Al Reef, Al Adaed Street / Contemporary Community
- Al Reef, Yaw Khannour Street / Desert Community
- Al Reef, Yaw Khannour Street / Downtown
Note: Stop names may vary by bus route.
On the contrary, there are no bus routes for Hydra Village. The area is served by taxis and is largely car-dependent.
Shops, Supermarkets and Mosques
For everyday needs, Al Reef has several supermarkets, including Select Market branches in Downtown Al Reef, Arabian Village and Desert Village. Residents can also find a Carrefour Market in addition to larger supermarkets and hypermarkets in nearby areas, including Shahama and Al Shamkha and other shopping destinations around Yas Island.
Mosques within Al Reef include Al Reef Mosque and Masjid Jama Al Reef.
Hydra Village has fewer in-community shopping options. Local grocery options near the development include Silver Supermarket, Zakariya Grocery and Ain Al Madeena Supermarket.
Shahama Green Market in Al Shahama is another option for fresh produce and household goods. For larger shopping trips, residents can visit Deerfields Mall in Al Bahia, which includes a Carrefour hypermarket and a wide selection of retail outlets. It takes about 10 minutes to reach these places by car from Hydra Village.
Residents can find one mosque within the community. Mosques in the surrounding areas include Mosque Samaha, Ahmed Al Mansoori Mosque and Shakhbut Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque.
Schools
For early education, there is Maple Bear Nursery, located in Al Reef Downtown. Moreover, parents can find several schools in nearby communities. Al Salam Charter School and International Community Schools – ICS are located in nearby Al Falah, a drive of around 10-15 minutes by car.
Other options include Ryan International School and Raha International School’s Gardens Campus in Khalifa City and GEMS Founders School in Masdar City. Depending on the route and traffic conditions, these schools are generally within a 15-minute drive of Al Reef.
Yas Island also offers several options, including Yas American Academy, Noya British School and Yas School. These schools are approximately 12 to 20 minutes away by car from Al Reef under normal traffic conditions, although the commute time can be longer during school-run hours.
Hydra Village does not have any major schools within the community. However, residents can access nearby options, including Aspen Heights British School and Al Basma British School in Al Bahia, Al Shahama School in Al Shahama and Al Salam Charter School in Al Falah. These schools are at an approximate drive of 10-20 minutes from Hydra Village, depending on the destination, route and traffic conditions.
Lifestyle
Al Reef and Hydra Village both offer recreational activities, with leisure destinations nearby.
The Al Reef community consists of landscaped parks and swimming pools. The development is also close to popular attractions on Yas Island, including Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld. The beaches at Al Raha Beach and Yas Beach are also at a drive of around 15 to 20 minutes.
As for Hydra Village, the area offers a range of shared recreational facilities, including swimming pools, fitness facilities, a gym, a squash court and a billiards club. Depending on the zone, residents can find community parks, playgrounds, outdoor gyms and other green spaces.
Healthcare Facilities
Al Reef is home to Ibn Sina Medical Centre – Al Reef, located in Al Reef Downtown. The centre provides outpatient services including family medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology and obstetrics, dermatology and dentistry.
For more specialised care, residents can access NMC Royal Hospital and Mediclinic Khalifa City. Both facilities are located in Khalifa City. NMC Royal Hospital is a multispecialty hospital with 24-hour emergency services, while Mediclinic Khalifa City provides primary and specialist outpatient services. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to reach these facilities, depending on the traffic conditions and the starting point within Al Reef.
Hydra Village does not have a major hospital within the community. However, residents can access NMC Royal Medical Centre in New Shahama, which is approximately a 10-minute drive away under normal traffic conditions.
Property Choices in Al Reef vs Hydra Village
Al Reef offers apartments, villas and townhouses for sale and rent, with apartment configurations ranging from studios to 3-bed units and villas available in 3-, 4- and 5-bed configurations. Townhouses are also available in the 3-bed configuration. Among the property types in Al Reef, apartments offer the highest ROI of 8.75%. Meanwhile, Hydra Village primarily comprises villas, with 3-bed units offered for both sale and rent.
Sales Trends
Apartments for sale in Al Reef offer an ROI of 8.75%.
Bed Type | Average Price (AED) |
|---|---|
Bed Type Studio | Average Price (AED) 686,000 |
Bed Type 1-Bed | Average Price (AED) 908,000 |
Bed Type 2-Bed | Average Price (AED) 1,215,000 |
Bed Type 3-Bed | Average Price (AED) 1,660,000 |
Villas for sale in Al Reef have an ROI of 6.11%, while the ROI for villas in Hydra Village stands at 8.29%.
Bed Type | Average Price (AED) in Al Reef | Average Price (AED) in Hydra Village |
|---|---|---|
Bed Type 3-Bed | Average Price (AED) in Al Reef 2,129,000 | Average Price (AED) in Hydra Village 1,350,000 |
Bed Type 4-Bed | Average Price (AED) in Al Reef 2,719,000 | Average Price (AED) in Hydra Village – |
Bed Type 5-Bed | Average Price (AED) in Al Reef 3,162,000 | Average Price (AED) in Hydra Village – |
Townhouse sales in Al Reef record an ROI of 6.32%, with 3-bed units averaging AED 2,158,000.
Rental Trends
Prospective tenants can find a range of apartments for rent in Al Reef.
Bed Type | Average Annual Rent (AED) |
|---|---|
Bed Type Studio | Average Annual Rent (AED) 56,000 |
Bed Type 1-Bed | Average Annual Rent (AED) 75,000 |
Bed Type 2-Bed | Average Annual Rent (AED) 90,000 |
Bed Type 3-Bed | Average Annual Rent (AED) 113,000 |
Both areas offer rental villas. Those considering villas for rent in Hydra Village can compare their options with the ones available in Al Reef.
Bed Type | Average Annual Rent (AED) in Al Reef | Average Annual Rent (AED) in Hydra Village |
|---|---|---|
Bed Type 3-Bed | Average Annual Rent (AED) in Al Reef 130,000 | Average Annual Rent (AED) in Hydra Village 107,000 |
Bed Type 4-Bed | Average Annual Rent (AED) in Al Reef 157,000 | Average Annual Rent (AED) in Hydra Village – |
Bed Type 5-Bed | Average Annual Rent (AED) in Al Reef 170,000 | Average Annual Rent (AED) in Hydra Village – |
For townhouses, the average annual rent for a 3-bed unit in Al Reef is AED 129,000.
FAQs
Does Hydra Village offer apartments?
No, Hydra Village does not offer apartments. It is a villa community with landscaped areas, children’s play spaces, shared pools and fitness facilities.
Are pet-friendly properties available in both communities?
Yes, pet-friendly properties are available in both Al Reef and Hydra Village, especially villas and townhouses with gardens. However, pet policies for apartments vary by building.
What additional costs should tenants consider when comparing the two areas?
Tenants should compare annual rent, utility deposits and usage, any community or service charges, parking fees and moving or agency fees when comparing Al Reef and Hydra Village.
Both Al Reef and Hydra Village offer essential residential amenities, but their community setups differ. Al Reef provides a broader and more integrated range of everyday facilities with property types including apartments, villas and townhouses. On the other hand, Hydra Village primarily comprises villas and offers recreational facilities, green spaces and access to everyday amenities in nearby areas.
The choice of living in Al Reef or Hydra Village ultimately depends on individual preference and requirements. Comparing both communities can help prospective residents decide which area better suits their needs.
Stay tuned to MyBayut for more on different areas and what they offer.
Disclaimer: This article uses property listing prices advertised on Bayut.com by real estate agencies on behalf of their clients. Figures represent advertised prices only and do not reflect actual transaction prices unless stated. Reported metrics use a trimmed mean to provide a more robust market summary.
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