Why Dubai's Jumeirah Village Circle is booming for renters and buyers

Residents and experts on why so many are opting for life in JVC

View of the Nakheel Villas in Jumeirah Village Circle. All photos by Antonie Robertson/The National

Commonly known as JVC, the district is home to more than 25,000 residents. Construction of some buildings are ongoing, but completed ones quickly attracted people

This is one of the newer buildings in the neighbourhood. There is a mix of developers, so rents vary from each residential structure

Rents for a one-bedroom apartment start at Dh25,000, but ones in newer buildings like this can cost between Dh65,000 to Dh75,000

Flats in new buildings come with equipped kitchens, wooden flooring and a more modern look

Most buildings in JVC have their own swimming pool and gymnasium

A view of a living room in a one-bedroom flat

Halfa park is one among many other parks in JVC

Most of them have a running track and kids play area

JVC is also known for its unique townhouses and villas

This is a three-storey townhouse that comes with its own private lift

This is the signature structure in JVC -- the Five hotel. It has 269 infinitey pools - nearly one for each room

Rising rents have been driving legions of Dubai residents to move to the outskirts of the city.

One of the areas that benefits most from the migration right now is Jumeirah Village Circle.

The community is booming with a growing population and properties available for significantly less rent than that in other areas of the city.

“There’s a real neighbourhood feel to JVC,” said John Podaras, from Greece, who works in the hospitality industry and recently moved to the area.

“There are a lot of little shops and supermarkets that are high quality and the staff is very friendly.

“They are all within a five-minute walking distance from where I live in District 14.

“I also love the mixed use nature of the place. You have young trendies in their first foray as expats as well as young families living in larger places with their children.”

He did have some gripes, though, mostly about the traffic.

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Renting and buying in Jumeirah Village - at a glance

According to the property search website Propertyfinder.ae, these are the average rents in the neighbourhood. The price depends on the building finish, location, high or low floor and the view.

Apartments

• Studio - Dh40,000
• One bedroom - Dh60,000
• Two bedrooms - Dh83,000
• Three bedrooms - Dh120,000

Townhouses

• Three bedrooms - Dh130,000
• Four bedrooms - Dh155,000

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“The worst thing about it by a long way is the traffic. They could really do with more access locations as it gets jammed up in rush hour,” he said.

“There are also lots of lads who love revving up their engines late at night as they travel 100 yards to the next red light.”

One of Dubai’s leading estate agents said, in addition to the affordability, a significant reason for JVC’s popularity is its growing maturity as a suburb.

“JVC is in high demand because it offers fantastic value for money and it’s a developing area that is improving all the time,” said Simon Baker, managing director of real estate firm Haus & Haus.

“There are some nice parks and green spaces and every week there are more food and beverage outlets opening.

“There are only a few remaining empty plots and the whole place is becoming much more lived-in and more complete, which makes it nicer for residents.”

Most sought-after

JVC was the second most sought-after location in Dubai last month, according to Dubai Land Department with sales totalling more than Dh500 million.

The only area with higher demand was Business Bay in the heart of the city centre.

According to the latest figures from the Property Monitor website, the average rent for a studio apartment in JVC is Dh46,500 while a one-bedroom costs about Dh68,000 and a two-bedroom Dh103,000.

One problem that many residents have about the area is the level of traffic, especially when accessing the nearby Hessa Street.

However, Mr Baker believes the situation is not necessarily that bad, especially compared to other parts of the emirate.

“Any city centre location is going to have traffic and the road infrastructure is getting better and better in JVC,” he said.

“Yes there is some traffic but the entry and exit roads really do provide good access.”

Kate Mullen, from England, has lived in JVC for the past eight years and said the community’s expansion has made life better for residents.

“It’s great value for money and it’s in proximity to so many places in Dubai,” said Ms Mullen, who works in the PR industry, and pays Dh36,000 in rent for a one-bed apartment.

“When I first moved there was nothing but now we’ve got a major mall (Circle Mall), supermarkets, bars and restaurants.

“It’s getting better all the time.”

However, she did say life in the area was not completely perfect.

“A lot of houses now have multiple occupants, which makes it very built up. The street lighting isn’t great in a lot of areas either,” she said.

“That means, as a single female I don’t always feel safe walking home late at night.

“I haven’t heard of any incidents of anyone getting hurt though.”

When French landscape architect Ludivine Marie was looking for a home after moving to the emirate last year, she looked at areas like Dubai Hills first.

“It was lovely but then I realised I could get a two-bedroom apartment for the price of a one-bedroom here,” said the 45-year-old.

“That was a big, big carrot to entice me to move here.”

She said the level of traffic was a hot topic of conversation among residents.

“I’ve heard about the traffic issues but it’s not so much a problem for me because I work from home a lot,” said Ms Marie, who pays Dh110,000 for a two-bedroom apartment.

“I work for myself and often start late and work until late so I don’t see the worst of it.”

Jarryd Van Eeden, 26, from South Africa lives in JVC with his wife after moving there last year. He said the advantages of living there far outweigh the negatives.

“I work in Motor City so it’s only a stone’s throw away from my work,” he said.

“It’s also pretty close to other locations such as Dubai Marina or the Palm.

“It has everything you could need in terms of shops as well.”

However, Mr Van Eeden, who works in the property sector, said the community was not without its disadvantages.

“The worst thing I can say about JVC is that it can seem like a bit of a construction site will all the work that’s going on,” he said.

“There are a lot of new developments. I understand why; it’s because of the area’s popularity.”