Downtown Dubai buildings are both high and low-rise residential units. This is where you will find the famous Burj Khalifa (a city landmark), as well as the Dubai Opera and The Dubai Mall. Most of the buildings are high-end constructions. Downtown has shopping strips, hotels and residential towers with playrooms, barbecue areas, gyms and pools. 

Several nurseries are located here: Blossom Downtown, Canadian Nursery, Burj Daycare and Babilou Downtown. 

There is a large medical facility, Mediclinic Dubai Mall, but the closest is Medcare Hospital. More healthcare facilities can be found in Jumeirah, Umm Suqueim and Al Safa.

Jumeira and Umm Suqeim residential areas are located by the sea and are characterized by quiet streets, lined with large elegant villas and plenty of shops and restaurants. 

There are several nurseries, including Blossom Nursery, Dovecote, and the following schools: Jumeirah College, Horizon, GEMS Jumeirah Primary School, Emirates International School (the largest in Umm Suqeim) and JESS (Jumeirah English Speaking School). The area also hosts two Raffles International campuses. 

There are plenty of healthcare facilities, dentists and private doctors in Jumeira and Umm Suqeim. Hospitals nearby include Emirates Hospital, Medcare Hospital and Dubai London Specialty Hospital, among others.

The Dubai Marina features tall buildings and is bursting with restaurants, shops and cafés. It is very popular among young expats and small families. Certain areas have ongoing construction sites, resulting in heavy traffic. You will find healthcare facilities such as Medcare Medical Center, Aster Dubai Marina and Marina Medical Center.

There are several nurseries located here. More schooling, university and institute options can be found at Knowledge Village (KV) – all within a 10-minute drive. Dubai College is also located in KV. 

Dubai Marina is very well serviced by public transport,

with two Metro stops and a tram service.

Al Barsha is divided into two areas. While one offers large individual villas, the other tenders older apartment blocks. Properties here are typically three to five-bedroom villas, with some apartment buildings. New villas are available in Al Barsha South.

Al Barsha is home to popular schools: the Dubai American Academy, American School of Dubai, GEMS Wellington International School and Al Mawakeb. Other popular schools for expat families are nearby, such as JSS International School, Nord Anglia, Kings School Al Barsha, GEMS World Academy and Foremarke School. Saudi German Hospital and Al Zahra Hospital are located in Al Barsha 3, opposite the American School of Dubai. 

Mall of the Emirates (MOE) is also in Al Barsha. The mall adjoins Kempinski Hotel and Sheraton Dubai. It is also home to Ski Dubai and the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre.

Also known as JBR, Jumeirah Beach Residence is a waterfront community featuring several identical towers with communal pools, green areas and recreational facilities. JBR has several restaurants good for al fresco dining, and a shopping strip adjacent to the beach which makes it a popular residential choice.

The closest healthcare facilities are Medcare Medical Center, Lifeline Medical Center JBR, Marina Medical Center and Emirates Hospital. 

Several nurseries are also located in JBR: Monroe, British Orchard Nursery and Kidville, to name a few. Bluewaters Island (a man-made island) is being constructed opposite JBR.