Dubai Hills Estate

What Dubai Hills is like

Dubai Hills Estate is one of the first stages of Mohammed bin Rashid City. Emaar developed it as a mixed community of villas, apartments, business parks and a regional mall, with homes grouped around an 18-hole championship golf course. Emaar describes the development as about 2,700 acres, or more than 11 million square metres.

The feel is green and suburban compared with the towers of Downtown or the Marina. Parks, open spaces and a dedicated bicycle route run through the community, and there are schools and a hospital nearby, which is why it is popular with families who live in Dubai. Nearby institutions include the Dubai Hills hospital of King's College Hospital Dubai and GEMS Wellington Academy. Meraas lists the community as a joint venture between itself and Emaar.

The community is close to Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Road, which give quick road links to Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Emirates Hills and Arabian Ranches. Al Barsha and Mall of the Emirates are also nearby.

Dubai Hills Mall is owned and run by Emaar Malls, the same company behind The Dubai Mall. Plans for it were announced in August 2017 with completion expected in late 2019; it finally opened in early 2022. The design centres on a courtyard with interconnected streets branching off it, and three small "pocket parks" were planned for dining, leisure and community events.

What to see and do

• Dubai Hills Mall: Emaar's regional mall opened on 17 February 2022. It is laid out around a central courtyard with streets branching off it, and plans included hundreds of shops and restaurants, a hypermarket, pocket parks and a large cinema complex. There is parking for more than 7,000 cars. Plans also described a 17-screen cinema, an outdoor concert arena, a hypermarket of about 5,900 m² and a large skylight canopy used as a projection screen during events.
• Dubai Hills Golf Club: the 18-hole course at the centre of the community won World's Best New Golf Course at the 2019 World Golf Awards and was named the UAE's best golf course in 2021.
• Dubai Hills Park: Emaar lists the park as one of the community's main open spaces, alongside other parks and play areas.
• Cycling: a dedicated bike route links the neighbourhoods.

For day trips into the desert or around the city, browse our tours, and for the big sights see our attractions.

Getting there and around

There is no metro station in Dubai Hills Estate, so most visitors come by taxi or car. The mall is at the meeting point of Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Road and can be reached from both. Emaar puts the community about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport and 30 minutes from Al Maktoum International Airport; Rome2Rio estimates about 21 minutes by taxi from DXB to the mall with no traffic.

Inside the community, distances between the mall, park and golf club are best covered by car or bike.

Where to eat

Dubai Hills Mall is the main place to eat, with a mix of food-and-beverage outlets and cafés alongside its shops. For a wider choice of neighbourhood restaurants, Al Barsha is a short drive away.

Practical tips

• Plan on taxis or a hire car; public transport options here are limited.
• The mall's covered spaces are a comfortable place for families to spend a hot afternoon.
• If you are playing golf, book tee times directly with the club.
• Combine a visit with Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai in nearby Al Barsha.
• For big-name sights, Downtown Dubai is reachable by road via Al Khail Road; see our Downtown guide.