Suburbia

A residential building set inside a commercial zone

Suburbia holds an unusual position in Dubai: it is one of the first apartment complexes built inside Downtown Jebel Ali, an area otherwise dominated by offices and Free Zone logistics. DAMAC Properties handed over two towers here in November 2013, each with two basement levels, a ground floor, a mezzanine, a three-storey podium and fourteen residential floors. The project faces Gate 5 of the Jebel Ali Free Zone and looks directly onto Sheikh Zayed Road. The facade departs from the developer's usual contemporary style, drawing instead on Moroccan design: bright colours, geometric patterns, open terraces. The result is a visual identity that stands apart from the industrial landscape around it.

Three minutes from Life Pharmacy Metro Station

Transport links are the main selling point of the location. Life Pharmacy Metro Station is three minutes away, connecting residents to the red line without depending on a car. Ibn Battuta Mall, one of the city's largest themed shopping centres, is a ten minute drive. Dubai Marina, JBR, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Expo City Dubai and Dubai Parks & Resorts all sit within a fifteen minute radius. Palm Jebel Ali is twenty minutes away, and Al Maktoum International Airport, set to become one of the largest in the world, is twenty five minutes away. Jebel Ali brings together a major road, a port and a metro line in one spot, making it a logistics hub that is hard to match elsewhere in the emirate.

Duplexes built to feel like villas

The unit mix ranges from studios to standard three bedroom apartments, but the real distinction lies in the duplexes, offered in two, three and four bedroom layouts. These two level homes combine the convenience of an apartment with the comfort of a house, thanks to private terraces and landscaped areas. Living rooms in the family layouts clearly separate lounge and dining areas. Studios, by contrast, come with a breakfast bar and stools rather than a full dining space. This broad range suits both a single professional and a family looking for generous living space close to work.

Delivered furnished, ready to move in

Suburbia stands out for its thorough turnkey handover. Apartments are sold finished and equipped, an approach that is not common in this segment. Every unit comes with a fitted kitchen (hob, oven, refrigerator, washing machine with drying option), central air conditioning, double glazing, fitted wardrobes in the bedrooms and tiled bathrooms. Furniture is included too: a double bed with mattress in studios and one bedroom units, combinations of double and single beds in the two and three bedroom layouts, plus a sofa, dining table, coffee table, television, crockery and kitchen utensils. In practice, a buyer or tenant can move in without further spending, which shortens the time needed to get a unit rented out.

Temperature controlled pool, sauna and gym

Amenities are concentrated on the podium and shared floors. There is an outdoor temperature controlled pool, usable despite the heat, along with a gym fitted with modern equipment and a sauna for recovery. The podium includes a walking path and open terraces for relaxing at the end of the day. The complex also has a children's play area, a landscaped garden, a restaurant, lounge spaces and shared common areas. The overall approach favours practical daily use over decorative extras.

Built with Free Zone professionals in mind

Suburbia's positioning answers a specific demand. The Jebel Ali Free Zone is home to more than 7,000 companies, including around a hundred from the Fortune 500, and accounts for roughly half of Dubai's exports. The apartments are aimed primarily at executives, employees and guests of companies based there, looking to cut out long commutes into the city centre. For an owner, being right next to this employment hub makes renting easier, whether through a long term lease or short stays for visiting staff. DAMAC Properties, active in the Middle East since 2002 and with close to 32,000 units delivered, applies here a furnished apartment formula tailored to this professional clientele.