ABU DHABI When Mari Wilcock and her husband moved to Abu Dhabi last October, they checked out a number of living options.
But it was not difficult for the young couple from Wales to settle for Mangrove Village – an exclusive gated community with splendid boulevards and brick-coloured townhouse villas inspired by Arabian architecture.
“We kept coming back to this place. It was like our hearts were already set here,” Wilcock told XPRESS.
Dream place
“We have a baby and we wanted to have a play area, lots of open spaces and a pool. This place has everything we were looking for. It’s like a village within a city,” said the young mother.
In a way she is right.
The lush green, peaceful and serene atmosphere here is in striking contrast with the downtown city that is not far away.
Located at the Officers City (Abu Dhabi Gate City), Mangrove Village is just a 20-minute drive from the city centre. An impressive boulevard lined with trees greet you as you enter the compound.
The community is made up of a cluster of 313 four- and five-bedroom villa complexes. Rents range from Dh230,000 to Dh450,000.
At the far end of the road is a well-equipped health club and two outdoor pools. Beyond the pool is a beautiful waterfront from where you can see the port.
There is a tennis and basketball court on the sides and a seafront café with pristine white furniture.
“It is hard to believe we are living a desert country,” says British expat Sandra, who lives here with her husband and two children.
Her spacious five-bedroom villa has private pool, spacious backyard and balconies, maid’s room, separate laundry and storage space and multiple parking places.
“There is even a Spinney’s supermarket right at the gate, and they home deliver. Pet care, laundry, maid service – everything is just a call away. What else can you possibly ask for?” said Sandra.
The community features a range of urban facilities like indoor and outdoor swimming pools, beach access, business lounge, sea front café, health club with sauna, tennis and basketball courts, a football pitch, plenty of parking, children’s play area, daycare and nursery for infants, supermarket and 24-hour security.
“The place is a bit cut off from the city. But that is not a disadvantage because you get world class facilities right at your doorstep,” said an American resident.
A business consultant and father of two school-going kids, William reckons Mangrove Village is one of the most family and pet-friendly places in Abu Dhabi.”
All that you wanted to know about this community
Distance: 20 minutes drive from the City Centre
Location: Abu Dhabi Gate City at the Maqta Intersection
Rents: Dh230,000 to Dh400,000
Type of villas: four and five bedroom
Total number of villas: 313
Amenities: Health club, Business lounge, outdoor and indoor pools, Beach access, Waterfront café, tennis courts, Football pitch, Spinney’s supermarket
Services: Daycare, housemaid, laundry, pet care, car wash, gardening, limousine booking, supermarket deliveries
