Mirdif and neighbouring Rashidiya used to be the last outposts of Dubai – a clutch of villas, mostly occupied by Emirati families, with the desert stretching beyond.
The area began attracting expatriate families as early as 2000, who found it a tranquil yet affordable haven – villas were still available at rents that did not equal the GDP of a small country, schools and parks were nearby and people got used to the fact that there was also a busy international airport in their backyard.
Developed by Union Properties (the same folks who gave us Green Community), Uptown Mirdif is a 23-hectare gated community that began the gentrification of this suburb.
Designed like an Italian spa town, Uptown – as it is called – now has the feel of an ideal suburban community with a perfectly sized shopping district (the Grand Piazza) at its heart. As it has expanded, so has its lively retail area that has everything from restaurants, cafés, lifestyle stores and boutiques to gyms, pharmacies and salons.
Promising upcoming developments include the Mirdif City Centre shopping mall.
Indian expat couple, Zerasteen (Zera) and Farrokh Dhanbhoora, chanced upon Uptown Mirdif and decided to buy their home in this development, which is perfect for young families (their daughter Sanaya is five-years-old). Farrokh has been in the UAE since 1991 and Zera since 1997. They purchased a three-bedroom semi-detached townhouse, a house that Zera says "has plenty of love and happy memories."
"It is a lovely area. It has everything from leisure facilities to shopping and eateries. Our daughter's school (Uptown Primary) is just adjoining our compound wall and school is less than a five-minute walk. That is a real luxury for Dubai," says Zera.
"Mirdif is also much more central and accessible than most of the developments in the New Dubai area. The only problem here is the close vicinity to the airport. Since we are right under the flight path, the aircraft noise can be quite a nuisance. Of course, most of the houses here have double glazing and it is quite peaceful indoors," she adds.
When it went on the market, Uptown Mirdif's main USP was that it was an affordable alternative in a newly minted suburb of Dubai. Prospective residents could choose from villas, townhouses and apartments. The Dhanbhooras decided to buy into the scheme when faced with ever increasing rentals combined with the attractive return on property investments.
They never went house hunting. "We were just lucky to come across this opportunity and decided to invest," they say.
Ready-made home
Uptown Mirdif is a Union Properties (UP) development and the Dhanbhooras are very happy
with its work.
"One of the good things we did – again by pure chance – is that we invested in a UP property. UP is well known for its high quality work and we were not disappointed at all. We did not have to do much by way of home improvement, except for some simple landscaping," says Zera.
The housing available at Uptown Mirdif includes a choice of three-bedroom townhouses and row houses, each with front and back yards on quiet streets and cul de sacs.
The shopping area is adjacent to apartment blocks where you can choose from Garden and Terrace apartments with two bedrooms that offer the outdoor space of living in a villa, or Gate and Courtyard apartments that have studio, one- and two-bedroom options.
"The best thing about living in your own accommodation is that it brings a sense of stability and permanency in your life. Of course, watching your investment value double every two years is also not too bad," says Zera.
On the negative side, she says they're both unsure
of some of the legalities governing their home and
the development.
"In terms of ‘bad experiences' I believe the lack of clear laws and proper regulation is the main drawback. We are still not very clear about our rights as homeowners and landlords. That can be quite daunting to the individual investor, especially in the sort of financial climate we are currently going through."
As bankers, the Dhanbhooras advise prospective homeowners to buy sooner rather than later. "The earlier in life you buy your home, the earlier you will achieve financial freedom. Even in these times of massive market corrections, property is still the best long-term investment."
Prices
Currently, Uptown Mirdif properties are in the range of approximately Dh1 million for one-bedroom apartments and Dh1.6 million for two-bedroom apartments. Townhouses and villas are in limited supply for sale which could explain their prices – three-bedroom townhouses (area 2500 ft²) available for sale now are in the Dh5 million range, while rentals are Dh200,000 upwards for four bedrooms and more. All units are sold on a 99-year lease.
Community life
Uptown Mirdif is a self-contained community whose residents do not really have to venture outside, unless it's for their jobs. When it comes to shopping, they are spoilt for choice – there's Uptown, nearby Festival City, Arabian Plaza opposite Mushrif Park and the upcoming Mirdif City Centre.
Similarly, they also have a choice of well-maintained public parks nearby: Rashidiya Park, Garhoud Park, Mushrif Park and Mirdif Park. For good schools, residents can choose from the Uptown schools located within their community. They also have access to several good schools in Sharjah, Ghusais and Garhoud.
