Old Town Island

Old Town Island is a compact, mid-density residential district inside Downtown Dubai, developed by Emaar with an arabesque architectural theme that contrasts sharply with the glass towers surrounding it. It sits on a man-made island platform, giving residents a sense of separation from the broader downtown grid.

Location & connectivity

Old Town Island sits directly adjacent to the Dubai Fountain and Burj Lake, with Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard forming part of its boundary. The Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station is roughly a 5-minute walk, and DIFC is a 5-minute drive. Dubai International Airport is approximately 15-20 minutes by car depending on traffic.

Property mix

The community is made up almost entirely of low-rise apartment buildings and a small cluster of townhouses, all styled in sandstone-toned arabesque facades.

• •Apartments: Yansoon (Buildings 1-8), Reehan (Buildings 1-8), Zaafaran (Buildings 1-6), Zanzebeel (Buildings 1-4)
• •Townhouses: Kamoon, Alma

Schools

No schools are located within Old Town Island itself. Nearby options include:

• •Horizon English School — Oud Metha, ~10-min drive, British curriculum
• •Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) — Jumeirah, ~12-min drive, British curriculum
• •Hartland International School — Meydan, ~10-min drive, British/IB curriculum

Healthcare

No hospitals are on the island. Nearby facilities include:

• •Mediclinic City Hospital — Dubai Healthcare City, ~10-min drive
• •Emirates Hospital Day Surgery — Motor City or Jumeirah branches, ~15-min drive
• •Aster Clinic — Business Bay, ~7-min drive

Shopping & dining

Dubai Mall is a 5-minute walk via the covered bridge or Fountain promenade, covering grocery, retail, and dining needs comprehensively. Souk Al Bahar, directly adjacent to the island, houses casual dining and café options overlooking the fountain. For day-to-day grocery runs, Carrefour and Waitrose are both accessible inside Dubai Mall.

Parks & leisure

Burj Park, on the island itself, offers open lawn space with direct views of the Burj Khalifa — a genuine amenity for residents. The Dubai Fountain boardwalk runs along the community's edge, providing a pedestrian promenade that's active every evening. Dubai Opera is a 5-minute walk for performing arts programming.

Nearby areas

• •Downtown Dubai (Boulevard)
• •Business Bay
• •DIFC
• •Za'abeel
• •Dubai Design District (d3)

Things to consider

Pricing here runs at a significant premium versus comparable square footage elsewhere in Dubai — you are paying for the address and walkability, not raw space. Parking and vehicle access inside the island can be tight, and the area sees heavy tourist foot traffic around the fountain, which some residents find intrusive.