Who better than our carefully selected community specialists to offer some inside information on what it is to live in a neighbourhood? We have asked agents who specialise in a community to throw some light on buying and renting patterns in the chosen area.
Paul Christodoulou
CEO, AQUA Properties
AQUA Properties has specialised in Al Furjan for the past four years. The agency rents on average eight units a month and sells around two properties a month.
Al Furjan, a Nakheel community, will appeal to families looking for a gated community in ‘New Dubai’ but without the steep price tag. The up-and-coming community is self-sufficient: it features two community centres with pools, salons, laundromats, restaurants, clinics and more.
Searches for apartments (64%) vs villas (36%)
Al Furjan mostly offers apartments. Villas and townhouses make up a smaller percentage, and are currently being built by independent developers while residential buildings are still being constructed. People renting villas are mostly family-oriented and are looking for a serene community for their children to enjoy. They don’t want to endure the hassle currently caused by construction in Al Furjan. Those residents would rather move to Jumeirah Park, which is a more structured community.
Singles or couples renting for a year or two can manage with the construction-related hassle for that period. Especially because it comes with a good price and strategic location, while families will look elsewhere.
On the other hand, people with average salaries, let’s say between AED8,000 to AED20,000 per month, are looking for an affordable living solution, which Al Furjan provides.
Being located near the Expo 2020 site and Jebel Ali, Al Furjan is popular among residents working in those areas.
Searches for Buy (34%) vs Rent (66%)
The only villa sub-community within Al Furjan is Al Furjan by Nakheel, which was constructed first, while the majority of the plots remained empty. They were further sold to various developers who mainly focused on apartment projects. Nakheel’s only apartment project is Masakin Al Furjan. Single expats renting properties in Dubai prefer to lease apartments, mostly due to lower prices.
Furthermore, residents prefer to rent in newer communities, so a lot of them are switching nowadays from neighbouring Discovery Gardens to Al Furjan to live in brand-new apartments.
Those buying in Al Furjan see future potential, where after the Metro line becomes operational (expected May 2020), this community will surely see a higher demand.
Who lives here: Couples (25%), Singles (37%), Families (38%)
I would say that the number of families moving to Al Furjan is slowly increasing. Families prefer mature communities where children have plenty of playing areas and other amenities and facilities. So when the ongoing construction is complete, we should see more families living here. Considering that good schools are located in the area, including the Winchester School in The Gardens and Arbor School in Al Furjan, the number of families will surely increase in time.
Singles and couples, on the other hand, prefer this area because it is well-priced and very well-connected with the recently built Al Yalayis Road and Al Asayel Street improvement project. With the Metro line due to be functional in May 2020, it will become even more popular among those using public transport to commute. In addition, expats who work in Abu Dhabi, but prefer to live in Dubai, choose Al Furjan due to its convenient location.
Most Searched Sub Community: Azizi Residence
Azizi Residence comprises an impressive 18 buildings (12 completed) by a well-established company, Azizi Developments. There are less than 70 towers in total registered in Al Furjan. Many of them are still under construction or just marked as unnamed plots, so are not yet in use. Furthermore, many projects come from smaller, less known developers. Considering those facts, it is to be expected that Azizi Residence is the most searched subcommunity there.
Aside from that, what makes this particular subcommunity appealing is its strategic location right next to the new Metro line, providing easy access to the Metro station and nearby bus stations. An additional benefit of living at Azizi Residence units is the fact that they are chiller-free. Al Furjan in general is a chiller-free area, however, some owners do include chiller in the rent. So those residing in the area prefer to switch to Azizi Residence to be sure they won’t be charged for chiller fees.
Most Searched Building: Masakin Al Furjan
Masakin is the only building project in Al Furjan developed by Nakheel and was launched in 2011. This 7-block low-rise development is among the first that were built in the community. What makes them special is their circular form with buildings surrounding the communal area in between. It is one of the rare high-rise communities in Dubai that is gated and therefore ideal for families who prefer apartment living that provides an additional feeling of safety.
In addition to that, Masakin residents enjoy many family-oriented amenities, including internal landscaped courtyard area with barbeque and playing areas, a large enclosed main pool area, the clubhouse with full gymnasium facilities, eating area, communal area and grocery shop. It can be easily accessed from Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Metro and the D591 Road which makes it easier to commute.
Top searched keywords: brand new, chiller free
Considering that Al Furjan is a new community, and still mainly under construction, it is no wonder that “brand-new” is among the most searched keywords. Especially since many residents move to Al Furjan from older nearby areas, such as Discovery Gardens, mostly because in Al Furjan, they can get a brand-new unit at an affordable price and with free chiller.
In today’s market, buyers are smart and price-driven, and they know what they can get for their budget. They are willing to compromise on the location or amenities if in return they get to live in a brand-new unit with chiller-free rent.
In 2020, with the new Metro line being released, and new projects launched, Al Furjan will become appealing to a larger number of residents because this area will have a lot to offer.
All data powered by Data Finder, the real estate insights and data platform under the Property Finder Group. For a more detailed trends analysis, please visit datafinder.ae
