As more and more towers reach completion and cafés lining the neighbourhood’s lakes and parks open, Jumeirah Lakes Towers – or JLT, as it is known – has become one of the city’s most in-demand places to live, work and play.
Read the updated JLT Area Guide on getthat.com.
Its popularity has been aided significantly by the off-putting congestion in nearby Dubai Marina, as well as the draining of one of its lakes to be replaced by a family park – and the modest haven of flora has been packed to the rafters since even before it officially reached completion. Much like the Marina, JLT benefits from a pedestrian-friendly network of footpaths that surround its waterways, popular with dog walkers, joggers, rollerbladers and kids learning to ride their bikes. These footpaths have over time grown to host a huge number of cafés and restaurants serving an extraordinary range of cuisines, from American diner-style burger bars to thali shops, pizzerias, Thai eateries and even organic food specialists – the choice is little short of staggering.
With only two hotels in the community, the number of licensed premises are limited to just a handful – Irish bar McGettigan’s and Healeys in the Bonnington are among the most popular, alongside the Movenpick Jumeirah Lakes Towers’ UBK and neighbouring Jazz@PizzaExpress.
In all, this is a highly family and pet-friendly part of town – with greater accessibility than the likes of its most comparable neighbourhood, Dubai Marina, albeit further away from attractions such as the beach.
Where Jumeirah Lakes Towers is located in New Dubai, sandwiched between Shaikh Zayed Road and the Jumeirah Islands/Emirates Living developments. Dubai Marina, across Sheikh Zayed Road, is easily accessible by foot over the pedestrian bridges at the two Metro stations serving the area.
Good for Dining - JLT is absolutely crammed full of restaurants and cafés serving cuisine from around the world.
Kids – there’s a park and plenty of pedestrian-only areas where your little ones will be safe to play away from cars.
Choosey apartment hunters – almost every building has been erected by a different developer, so expect a lot of variety between finishes and prices (though the downside is that some places are vastly better laid out than others).
Bad for Parking – the situation for car owners in the neighbourhood has become increasingly dire, so it’s well worth considering if you’re able to get by without a vehicle if you want to live here.
Nightlife – the options are limited to just a handful, but that said, you will rarely find any of the licensed outlets here wanting for custom.
Transport Accessible from both Dubai Marina Metro Station at the north end and Jumeirah Lakes Towers Metro Station from the south end. BusF37, Marina Metro Station.
Taxi Normally easy to find outside Metro stations and podium-level entrances to buildings.
Traffic While previously pretty dire, the traffic situation in JLT has been improving since the addition of new bridges and routes flowing rush-hour traffic directly onto Shaikh Zayed Road. There are still some roadworks towards the south end of the development, but these rarely cause major congestion.
Rent As of May 2014, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in JLT was Dh120,000-150,000 per year, according to the Dubai Land Department’s rent calculator.
Five to try in JLT
Jazz@PizzaExpress Perhaps New Dubai’s most reliably popular Thursday night hangout, expect live music from Abri & Funk Radius, a buzzing atmosphere and great food (try the Romana-style pizzas).
Cluster A, next to Movenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers (04 441 6342).
McGettigan’s Much-loved contemporary Irish pub with regular live music and plenty of sports show every week. Gets particularly busy on a Friday with the post-brunch crowd. Bonnington Hotel, Cluster J (04 356 0560).
Highway 311 Highway 311 is a quaint little restaurant serving up some fresh grills with African, Asian, European and South American flavours. It’s quick and easy and the food is genuine. It is open for lunch daily, from 11am to 3pm and for dinner from 5pm to 11pm with free parking at the Ground level outside MAG214 Tower, Cluster R. The restaurant is a short walk along the park level from DAMAC Metro Station on Sheikh Zayed Road – Shops P12/13. Must try: Arabic 7 spice grilled chicken | (04 552 0188) Highway 311
Spice Kraft Tuck into mind-blowing vegetarian thali at wallet-friendly prices – Spice Kraft is a great mid-range option with welcoming staff and a mean mango lassi. Cluster I (04 363 5239).
Yoga Room Escape the hustle and bustle at JLT’s dedicated ashtanga yoga centre. The weekly schedule features classes for everyone, from introductory to mysore (self-guided) sessions. Swiss Tower, Cluster Y (050 518 9966).
