Living in Al Mizhar

History

Al Mizhar is a villa district on the eastern edge of Dubai, close to the Sharjah border and next to Mirdif and Muhaisnah. The name is Arabic for “blossom”. It lies between Tunis Road (D93) to the north and Al Khawaneej Road (D89) to the south, and Mushrif Park is just beyond.

Bayut calls it an older part of Dubai, but published sources give no firm date for when the first villas were built. Unlike the freehold communities, it was not laid out and sold by one master developer: homes stand on individual plots, and Property Finder lists every sale in the past year as land. The Arabian Center mall on Al Khawaneej Road opened in March 2009.

The main area is Al Mizhar 1 and Al Mizhar 2, about 11.2 sq km in all. Dubai Statistics Center figures put the population at 17,498 in Al Mizhar First and 11,967 in Al Mizhar Second in 2022. Al Mizhar 3 and 4 lie north of Tunis Road, next to Oud Al Muteena.

What it’s like to live here

Almost all homes are standalone villas. Bayut lists three-, four- and five-bedroom villas of 7,000 to 15,000 sq ft, each with parking for one or two cars, and says there are no apartments to rent. Recent rent contracts on Property Finder cover three- to six-bedroom villas, and plots sold in the past year ranged from 9,800 to 23,375 sq ft.

It is quiet and low-density, with wide roads and generous plots. Mosques are spread through the area, and there are small neighbourhood parks such as Al Mizhar 1 Park. Mushrif Park, next door, has a large public pool, play areas and shaded green space. There are no churches or licensed bars in the area: Bayut puts the nearest churches in Oud Metha, about 22 minutes away, and licensed venues in Al Garhoud, about 19 minutes away.

Who it suits

Families above all. Property Finder matches the area to families (100%) and retirees (100%), but only 25% to young professionals. UAE nationals are the largest renter group at 42%, followed by Pakistani (10%), Indian (9%) and Iranian (6%) renters.

Buying is limited. Al Mizhar is not a freehold area, so only UAE and GCC nationals can buy here (MyBayut, October 2026). Other expatriates can rent. It is a small market: Property Finder recorded 114 rent contracts and 26 sales in the past 12 months.

Getting around

There is no Metro station. The nearest are e& (formerly Etisalat), Centrepoint (formerly Rashidiya) and Al Qusais on the Red Line, which Bayut puts 13 to 15 minutes away by car. RTA buses stop around the edges of the area, and Property Finder says routes link it to Rashidiya Metro station and Mirdif. Bayut recommends a car.

Al Khawaneej Road and Tunis Road run along the area, and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) is close by. Bayut puts Dubai International Airport about 13 minutes away, City Centre Mirdif about 10 minutes, the Sharjah border about 10 minutes and Downtown Dubai about 25 minutes.

Schools, healthcare and shopping

Property Finder counts 19 schools within 5 km, with an average fee of AED 33,411 a year, and American is the most common curriculum. In Al Mizhar 1 are GEMS Founders School Mizhar (British, rated Good by KHDA, AED 25,000 to 38,000), GEMS Royal Dubai School (British, Very good, AED 40,000 to 77,000) and Al Mawakeb Al Khawaneej (American, Good, AED 36,000 to 70,000). Mirdif American School (American, Good) and Uptown International School (IB, Very good) are nearby. Ratings and fees are KHDA 2026 data shown on Property Finder.

Al Mizhar Health Centre, a Dubai Health Authority clinic, is on 42 Street, and Prime Medical Centre on Al Khawaneej Road offers family medicine, paediatrics and dentistry. For hospital care, Bayut lists Dubai Medical University Hospital in Muhaisnah, under 10 minutes away.

Arabian Center has a Lulu Hypermarket, a cinema and an indoor play area. Al Mizhar Mall and the Aswaaq supermarket on Khartoum Street cover day-to-day shopping, and City Centre Mirdif is about 10 minutes’ drive away.

Things to check before you rent or buy

• Check who can buy. Al Mizhar is not freehold, so only UAE and GCC nationals can own here. Confirm the status of the specific plot with Dubai Land Department before you pay anything.
• Know what the price covers. Property Finder records every sale in the past year as land, with no built-up area, so its AED 365 per sq ft is per sq ft of plot, not of house. Ask for the built-up area, plans and completion certificate.
• Check the condition. Homes stand on individual plots, so age, layout and finish vary from villa to villa. Look closely at air conditioning, roofs, plumbing and any extensions.
• Compare like with like. The average new lease of AED 225,547 mixes three- to six-bedroom villas. In October 2026 single new 12-month leases in Al Mizhar 1 were registered at AED 140,000 for a three-bedroom and AED 280,000 for a four-bedroom (Property Finder).
• Expect a thin sales market. Property Finder recorded 26 sales in the past 12 months, 25.7% fewer than a year earlier, and showed only nine homes for sale in October 2026.
• Plan on driving. There is no Metro and buses stop only around the edges. Large villas also mean larger cooling and upkeep bills, so ask to see recent DEWA bills.