Where is Business Bay and how is it connected?
Business Bay is a central, mixed-use district that sits along the Dubai Water Canal and is reached from Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. Business Bay Metro Station (R26) is on the Red Line, the next stop from Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, and Dubai Properties describes its Executive Towers as close to both Sheikh Zayed Road and the metro station.
The canal shapes much of the district's appeal. The Dubai Water Canal, inaugurated in November 2016, is 3.2 km long with a 6.4 km waterfront and connects Business Bay to the Arabian Gulf, running via Safa Park, Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah 2 to Jumeirah Beach Park. It was built as a joint venture of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Meydan and Meraas.
Within Business Bay, location still varies a lot from tower to tower. Some buildings face the canal, some face Sheikh Zayed Road or Al Khail Road, and some sit deeper inside the district. Before you choose a unit, check the walking route to the metro, which side of the building the unit faces, and how traffic flows in and out of the plot at peak times.
Who develops Business Bay?
Business Bay is one of the destinations of Dubai Properties, which is part of Dubai Holding. Dubai Holding describes the district as combining corporate skyscrapers, residential complexes, commercial spaces and premium hotels along the Dubai Water Canal.
Dubai Properties' own projects in the district include:
- Executive Towers, a cluster offering studios, lofts, one- to four-bedroom apartments, penthouses, podium villas and offices.
- Bay Square, a mixed-use cluster in central Business Bay near the metro station.
- Business Bay Marina (formerly Marasi Riverside), with five marinas, more than 1,250 berths, a canal promenade and what Dubai Properties describes as the UAE's first water homes.
Many towers are launched by other developers on individual plots. Emaar, for example, markets Avarra by Palace, which it describes as being in the heart of Business Bay. This means specifications, amenities and service charges vary widely between buildings, so assess each project and its developer separately. Browse projects by Dubai Properties or Emaar, and read our guide on how to judge a Dubai developer.
What property types are launched in Business Bay, and who buys them?
Most Business Bay launches are apartment towers, with units from studios upwards and penthouses on the upper floors. Waterfront homes are rarer and tied to specific canal-side projects such as Business Bay Marina. Emaar's Avarra by Palace, for example, lists one- to four-bedroom apartments and a six-bedroom penthouse.
Dubai Holding says the district attracts entrepreneurs, professionals and families. In practice, buyers usually fall into three groups:
- People who want to live close to work in Business Bay, DIFC or Downtown and value the metro link.
- Investors looking at smaller apartments for long-term rental to professionals.
- Buyers who want canal or skyline views from a higher-floor apartment or penthouse.
Because Business Bay is mixed-use, some buildings combine residential floors with hotel, serviced or office components. That can mean more amenities, but also higher service charges. Ask exactly what is in the building, and what is planned on the neighbouring plots, before you decide.
If you want a waterfront home elsewhere in Dubai, compare our off-plan waterfront properties.
What should you check before buying off-plan in Business Bay?
In a dense district of individual towers, the checks below protect both your money and the unit's long-term appeal:
- Registration and escrow. Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007 requires a separate escrow account for every off-plan project. Search the tower on the DLD Project Status Enquiry or the Dubai REST app to confirm the developer, completion date and escrow bank.
- Oqood. Off-plan sales must be entered in the Interim Property Register under Law No. 13 of 2008. See our Oqood guide.
- Views. A canal or Burj Khalifa view on a brochure is not guaranteed; check the floor, orientation and what can be built on neighbouring plots.
- Service charges. Compare approved rates for completed towers in the DLD Service Charge Index, especially for buildings with hotel-style amenities.
- Parking and access. Confirm allocated parking and how the building is reached at rush hour.
- Payment plan. Test instalments in our off-plan payment calculator.
