Dubai Marina is a very popular place for Western expats to live, and a very popular area for tourists to frequent. The marina itself is man-made (canals cut into the sand, fed by the Arabian Gulf) and is extremely picturesque in places. The area that is Dubai Marina is made up of tall towers, winding streets, and lots of boutique shops. It’s served by the appropriately named Dubai Marina Mall, which houses everything from a large Waitrose supermarket to high-end fashion stores, a cinema and a hotel.
Dubai Marina’s residents are fortunate to have access to the new Dubai Tram service as well as the now established Dubai Metro. It’s also the place to find Dubai’s supercar police cars (Ferrari, Lamborghini etc – you must have seen the pictures), and this is because Dubai recognises that tourists to the area will leave with a memory. There are few more memorable moments than seeing a Bugatti Veyron draped in police colours cruising past on a sunny day.
It is not the cheapest place to live, but public transport and the availability of apartments – and its close proximity to areas such as Dubai Internet City, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, and indeed Abu Dhabi – make it a decent choice for many expat professionals.
Dubai Marina
Image source: World Travel.