One of the most defining trends in Dubai’s prime real estate market this year has been the shift toward long-term family living. While high-rise apartments still hold strong appeal, many of the most in-demand homes today are found within gated communities – the kind with tree-lined streets, landscaped parks, and space to breathe. From the sweeping golfside mansions of Dubai Hills Estate to the contemporary villas lining the lagoon in District One, these masterplanned neighbourhoods represent not only the height of residential living, but often the most valuable homes on the market. Read on as we take a closer look inside some of Dubai’s most exclusive gated addresses.
1. Dubai Hills Estate
Few communities in Dubai have been planned at the scale – or with the foresight – of Dubai Hills Estate. Spread across more than 11 million square metres, this vast masterplan in Mohammed Bin Rashid City was built as a full lifestyle destination from the outset, with its own mall, business park, hospital, schools, and an 18-hole championship golf course at its centre. It’s green, quiet, and increasingly end-user led, with families settling in for the long term.
Among its most desirable enclaves is Emerald Hills – a gated stretch of 189 custom villas along the golf course edge. Many homes here span upwards of 30,000 square feet, with private pools, skyline views, and fully customised interiors. A few streets away is Hills Grove, known affectionately as the ‘Street of Dreams’. With just 26 plots and some of the highest-value transactions in real estate, this is where you’ll find those mansions that make headlines.
A newer gated community in Dubai Hills Estate is Eden Hills, a low-density neighbourhood set beside the parkland. Developed by H&H, the community is designed around a lush central wadi with 329 contemporary villas and 29 plots – a rare opportunity for those looking to build a generational home from the ground up in one of the city’s most future-facing areas.
2. Emirates Hills
The original address for super prime living in Dubai, Emirates Hills is often described as the UAE’s answer to Beverly Hills – a polished, upscale enclave built around the fairways of the Montgomerie Golf Course. Developed by Emaar in the early 2000s, it was one of the first neighbourhoods in the city to offer freehold ownership to international buyers, setting the tone for everything that followed.
What sets Emirates Hills apart is its architectural individuality. In a city of master-planned villa communities, every home here is entirely unique and custom-built – from palatial Arabic estates with gilded interiors to sleek, glass-and-steel mansions framed by manicured European gardens. Above all, this is a neighbourhood that values privacy and permanence over passing trends.
While there are no malls or retail centres inside the gates, Emirates Golf Club is the community heart, with wider options just minutes away in JLT, Dubai Marina, and Jumeirah Islands. Day to day, life here is quiet and residential, with tree-lined streets, long-standing residents, and a level of discretion that continues to define its appeal.
Top international schools, including DIA, Emirates International, and Dubai British School, are all within easy reach, as are business hubs like DMCC and Media City.
3. District One
Tucked within Mohammed Bin Rashid City, District One is one of Dubai’s most conveniently located villa communities, just 10 minutes from the Burj Khalifa and DIFC. Built around the world’s largest man-made Crystal Lagoon, this waterfront neighbourhood spans more than 45 million square feet – 60% of which is dedicated to green space. Villas and low-rise residences are arranged around the water and richly planted parks, creating a sense of calm that’s rare to find so close to Downtown Dubai.
There are three main villa styles here – Contemporary, Mediterranean, and Modern Arabic – each designed with a different type of homeowner in mind. Homes range from four-bedroom villas to ten-bedroom estates, many with private pools and direct access to the lagoon. While some areas feel spacious and leafy, designed for long-term family living, others cater to busy professionals who value privacy and a quick drive to DIFC.
At its heart, the Crystal Lagoon is the defining feature: an extraordinary stretch of turquoise water fringed by sandy shores, bringing a resort-like energy to daily life. Residents can swim, kayak, or paddleboard in total privacy, with no public access.
Schools such as North London Collegiate, Hartland International, and Swiss International Scientific School are all nearby, alongside the soon-to-open Meydan One Mall. For buyers looking for space and privacy without compromising on connectivity, District One remains the premier choice.
4. Tilal Al Ghaf
Tilal Al Ghaf is one of those prime gated communities that’s still very much unfolding. Developed by Majid Al Futtaim and set just off Hessa Street, the masterplan puts nature at the fore, with some enclaves, such as Ghaf Woods, planting over 35,000 trees to naturally bring down temperatures by as much as five degrees. There’s a freshwater lagoon, long stretches of parkland, and a 10km network of cycling and walking trails that weave through the neighbourhood.
Villas here have a distinctly organic design language. In enclaves like Harmony, Aura, and Alaya, layouts are light-filled and generous, many of which span three floors. The outdoor spaces are just as considered, with richly landscaped gardens, private pools, and leafy rooftop terraces with views across the park.
Some homes in Tilal Al Ghaf have already been handed over, while others are still off-plan, keeping investor interest high and supply limited. Since launch, resale premiums have steadily risen, with early buyers now seeing strong returns on capital values.
What draws most people here is the pace of life. The area is quieter than other new-build areas, with little traffic and a strong emphasis on active living and community life. The lagoon is swimmable, the woodlands are private, and future plans for schools, retail, and wellness hubs suggest that the long game is being taken seriously.
Final Thoughts – Contact Us
Whether it’s a custom-built mansion in Emirates Hills or an off-plan villa in Dubai Hills Estate with long-term investment potential, demand for gated living in Dubai has never been stronger. To explore exclusive listings you won’t find anywhere else, connect with Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty and an expert will get in touch.
