One of Dubai’s newer residential developments, Al Barsha lies south of the city, directly east of Palm Jumeirah. It is divided into five residential communities and centred around a peaceful lake, while it’s also home to one of Dubai’s most popular shopping destinations, the Mall of the Emirates.
Things to do in Al Barsha
In the heart of the district is Al Barsha Pond Park, where you’ll find a 1.5-kilometre-long running track, exercise equipment and a kid-friendly cycling area. Soak up the tranquil views across the central pond or take advantage of the children’s playground. In the north-east of the park are tennis courts and a soccer field, as well as a restaurant specialising in seafood.
Dominating the northern corner of Al Barsha is the Mall of the Emirates, a multi-level shopping complex home to more than 600 retail stores. It’s one of the top shopping destinations in Dubai and packed with family-friendly attractions that include Magic Planet, the 20-screen VOX Cinema and Ski Dubai, the world’s largest indoor snow park.
In the far south-east of Al Barsha is the Dubai Miracle Garden, which encompasses more than 72,000 square metres of elaborate floral displays. It has been entered into the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest vertical garden, as well as holding the title of “biggest flower structure” thanks to its Airbus A380. Don’t miss the Dubai Butterfly Garden, which exhibits more than 25 different species.
Getting around Al Barsha
Al Barsha is around 15 minutes' drive from the centre of Dubai and 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. The Red line of the Dubai Metro stops at several stations along the edge of Al Barsha while buses travel throughout the district.