Jumeirah Lakes Towers Area Guide
A sharp decrease in rents simply by crossing the road, Jumeirah Lake Towers rents are significantly cheaper than neighbouring Dubai Marina. A studio will cost you 55000 AED, a one-bedroom 75000 AED, two-bed 110000 AED, three-bedroom 150000 AED and four-bedroom from 160000 AED. Okay, not exactly cheap, but distinctly cheaper.
The area has 75 plus (it's hard to know the exact number, more are added daily) completed towers in 26 clusters, with 35,000 plus residents living within 200 hectares of land. The area is serviced by two Metro stations - Dubai Marina and JLT.
In addition to the residents, a further 15,000 workers commute into the area daily. JLT is home to a large number of companies and entrepreneurs who work in JLT's free trade zone.
The rapid construction was what was worst about the area - constant road works and constant dust, made the area frustrating and occasionally unpleasant to live in. Construction pollution however has largely abated, while traffic pollution is significantly better than the nightmare that greeted visitors at the height of the area's roadworks. The roads are still not perfect however - there is only one exit to Sheikh Zayed Road. Miss it, and it's back around the ring road for another spin.
However, even worse than the parking is what to do when you actually arrive at your destination. If newspaper reports are to be believed fisticuffs are not uncommon over the few car parking spaces that are available outside the towers. This has got better since the introduction of a maximum three hour parking rule.
As a community itself, the area lends itself to younger couples with younger families, and singles. In terms of facilities the area is said to have come on in leaps and bounds, and now has its own supermarkets, pharmacies, bars and good restaurants - Bonnington's said by many to be their favourite, a faux Irish affair with good outdoor seating that is very popular in the winter. It's not quite the Irish Village, but it's not too shabby either. Residents do warn others however - make sure you can walk to and from your destination - access roads will ruin a day or a night, no matter how good it has been.
Those that live and work in the area talk about a "great community" - a largely young and happy crowd. What will have helped is the gradual landscaping of the lakes that is giving the community a chance to escape their apartments and walk, jog and cycle around their own park. Note: JLT suffered as many of Dubai's developments have with a "re-scoping" of the project. As always, it's always less in the revised plan - four lakes became three, and 'plans' were announced to develop the reclaimed land into a park.
Tower construction is said to be of a decent-ish standard - in Dubai terms. Views can vary dramatically. The most affordable apartments will have a very limited view, facing another apartment. However there is the view directly across the Sheikh Zayed Road (a little loud for balconies) which gives partial sea views across the Marina, and those that look over Emirates Hills and the golf courses.
There are no schools of note actually in JLT, although there are in neighbouring Meadows and Springs and nearby, in The Views, and the Gardens. Once you're on Sheikh Zayed Road, the whole of new Dubai opens up, but that of course means getting past those pesky access roads...
Jumeirah Lakes Towers Ratings
Jumeirah Lakes Towers Pros & Cons
