Living in Serena

History

Serena is a Dubai Properties community in Dubailand, on an 8.2 million sq ft site next to the Layan and Al Waha communities, with direct access to Emirates Road. Sales opened in February 2016 with Bella Casa, the first phase, and Dubai Properties said the released homes sold out on launch day. Casa Dora followed in August 2016, with more units released that November. At launch, Dubai Properties expected Bella Casa to be finished in the third quarter of 2019.

The 2016 announcements described five phases. Dubai Properties’ project page now describes three: Bella Casa, Casa Dora and Casa Viva, the third. The homes are now lived in, resold and let: Dubai Land Department data on Property Finder show 75 sales and 629 rental contracts in the 12 months to October 2026.

What it’s like to live here

Homes are two- and three-bedroom townhouses, three-bedroom semi-detached villas and some four-bedroom homes in Casa Viva, built in a Spanish and Portuguese style. Bella Casa was laid out in landscaped rows of four to six homes. Bayut’s guide gives sizes of about 1,481 to 1,875 sq ft for two bedrooms, 2,155 to 3,014 sq ft for three bedrooms and around 3,004 sq ft for four bedrooms. Most have a maid’s room, and three- and four-bedroom homes have a garden and parking.

The 2016 plans promised three community centres, a central plaza, pools, a gym, play areas, a healthcare facility and about 100,000 sq ft of shops. Dubai Properties’ 2019 blog describes the Central Plaza with shops, cafés and restaurants, and Bayut mentions pools, gyms and jogging and walking trails. Property Finder counts nine restaurants and five fast-food outlets within 2 km. It is a quiet, car-based suburb, and Bayut’s guide warns that construction nearby can be a nuisance.

Who it suits

Families above all. Property Finder matches the area to families (78%) and retirees (70%), and much less to young professionals (25%). It suits people who want a townhouse with a garden, a school next door and quick access to Emirates Road, and who will drive most places. Bayut’s October 2026 rental guide calls Casa Viva the most popular part of Serena with renters.

For investors, recorded sales averaged AED 3.12 million over the 12 months to October 2026, and Property Finder puts the average rental yield at 5.48%. Sales volumes have fallen, though, so allow time if you may need to resell.

Getting around

Serena has direct access to Emirates Road (E611) and Academic City Road, and Dubai Properties says Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) is about five minutes away. Bayut adds Al Qudra Road (D63). There is no Metro station, and Property Finder’s area map shows no Metro or bus stations. Bayut’s guide says the nearest bus stop is at Al Salam Community Centre in Mudon, on RTA route F32; check the current route in RTA’s S’hail app. In practice you need a car.

Bayut puts Downtown Dubai about 25 minutes away by car, Dubai International Airport about 35 minutes via Al Khail Road and Dubai Miracle Garden about 16 minutes. Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is about 21 km away in a straight line.

Schools, healthcare and shopping

GEMS Metropole School – Al Waha is next to Casa Viva, about 400 m from the middle of Serena (British curriculum, rated Good by KHDA, AED 40,000 to 53,000 a year on Property Finder). Fairgreen International School (IB, Good, AED 54,004 to 92,302) and Ranches Primary School in Arabian Ranches 2 (British, Very good, AED 50,436 to 61,643) are within about 2 km, and Jumeirah English Speaking School in Arabian Ranches (Outstanding) is about 2.7 km away. Property Finder counts ten schools within 5 km, with average fees of AED 68,893 a year.

There is no hospital in Serena. Property Finder’s map lists a Medcare medical centre, about 6 km by road, as the nearest, and Bayut names Aster Clinic in Arabian Ranches 2, about 12 minutes’ drive, and Mediclinic Arabian Ranches. For food shopping, Property Finder lists a Geant Express about 650 m by road and OpenStreetMap shows a Spinneys in Casa Viva. The Ranches Souk is about 2.8 km by road, and Mudon Community Centre and Mall of the Emirates are about 2 km and 13 km away in a straight line.

Things to check before you rent or buy

• Check the title deed. Serena is in Dubailand, which Bayut lists as a freehold area (October 2026), but Serena is not named on that list by itself, so confirm the ownership type with the Dubai Land Department before you commit.
• Know the phase and type. Bella Casa, Casa Dora and Casa Viva have different layouts, so check the bedrooms, size, whether the home is a townhouse or a semi-detached villa, and what it backs onto.
• Check what is open. The 2016 plans promised three community centres and about 100,000 sq ft of shops, so visit to see which shops, pools and gyms are running now.
• Ask for the latest service charge statement before you buy.
• Compare new and renewal rents. New leases averaged about AED 154,000 a year in the 12 months to October 2026, 3.0% less than a year earlier, while renewals averaged about AED 144,800, up 6.3% (DLD data via Property Finder).
• Expect a slower resale market. Property Finder recorded 75 sales in the past 12 months, 42.3% fewer than the year before.
• Plan for a car. There is no Metro and bus links are limited.