Resident Interview: Downtown Dubai

"I've recently moved into Downtown Dubai and love how it is different to the rest of Dubai. It's pet and pedestrian friendly, has an amazing selection of shopping, restaurants, festivals, and pop-ups, so it's really for those who love urban city living. I love the energy and vibe that you can find in Downtown," says Aneesha Rai, an Indian, who has found her perfect home in Downtown Dubai. 

"Downtown Dubai is one of the most beautiful areas in the city that one can live in. It's called the 'centre of now' for a good reason - there's always something happening. I think its fast-paced lifestyle and close accessibility to arts and culture at the Opera was definitely one of the selling points for me. I love going to the Opera. Also, the Burj Khalifa views and Dubai Fountain never get old for me. I used to live in Deira before, and this is such a contrast, so I'm enjoying the change," added the Dubai based editor.

"As a Dubai kid, it makes me really proud to see how far Dubai has come as a city. It's truly a special feeling to see how Dubai has made progress over the years every day when I look up at the Burj Khalifa. Also, the fact that it's pedestrian friendly and that there is the Burj park close by to my home is great because I love to walk everywhere and enjoy the nearby metro access, even though the travelator is seemingly endless from Dubai Mall."

Talking about the advantages that she enjoys in Downtown Dubai, Aneesha says, "I think to some level, I do enjoy the prestige of being a Downtown Dubai resident. Besides this, I really liked the quality and layout of my current home. A nice floor plan is hard to come by these days, but I can say I'm lucky to find a place where space is evenly distributed in an open plan style. I stay in a building developed by Emaar, and my husband and I truly do make the most of the lovely facilities they have - we go to the gym every day, love the pool and use the BBQ area on cooler nights. Being close to great restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, and The Dubai Mall gives us the ability to walk everywhere and enjoy everything on offer. We avoid traffic during peak hours by just walking everywhere."

When asked whether there are any disadvantages about living in the area, Aneesha says, "There's a lot of construction going on, which can be quite annoying for those sensitive to noise. Besides that, we can totally forget about leaving home on New Year's Eve, the entire area shuts down till atleast 4 am. It's just an excuse now to have people over, I guess! Traffic during peak hours can be a pain."

"All of these amenities are located a short walk away. Even if you don't want to walk, most of these are available through apps. We use instashop to order groceries sometimes, & washmen for laundry. There are salons at Burj Views as well as Souk Al Manzil."

"The Dubai Opera is just next door, and there is a cinema, VR Park & ice rink at the Dubai Mall. Sometimes the Burj Park has some interesting art installations and festivals such as Dubai Food Festival and Market Out the Box."