The Lakes

The Lakes is a low-density residential community developed by Emaar, sitting within the broader Emirates Living cluster alongside The Meadows and The Springs. It is made up of villa clusters arranged around a series of natural-looking lakes, giving the neighbourhood a calm, green character uncommon this close to central Dubai.

Location & connectivity

The Lakes sits off Interchanges 5 and 6 on Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), putting it roughly a 20-minute drive to DIFC and around 25 minutes to Dubai Marina. There is no metro station within the community itself, but the Dubai Internet City and Nakheel metro stations on the Red Line are reachable by a short drive or taxi. Al Khail Road (E44) adds a useful alternative route toward Downtown and Al Barsha.

Property mix

The community is made up exclusively of villas, ranging from 3- to 6-bedroom configurations across several distinct clusters.

• •Villas: Ixora, Albizia, Bromellia, Deema, Ghadeer, Maeen, Mulberry, Forat

Schools

No schools sit inside The Lakes itself. Nearby options within a short drive include:

• •Raffles International School (Umm Suqeim) — IB curriculum, ~10-min drive
• •Dubai British School (The Springs) — British curriculum, ~5-min drive
• •Regent International School (The Greens) — British curriculum, ~7-min drive
• •GEMS Wellington International School (Al Sufouh) — British/IB, ~12-min drive

Healthcare

No hospitals are located within the community. Nearby facilities include:

• •Mediclinic Meadows — ~5-min drive
• •Saudi German Hospital (Al Barsha) — ~12-min drive
• •American Hospital Jumeirah clinic — ~15-min drive

Shopping & dining

The Lakes Pavilion is the community's own retail strip, covering everyday essentials, a Spinneys, cafés, and a handful of casual dining spots. Ibn Battuta Mall is around a 10-minute drive and covers larger retail needs. The Meadows Town Centre next door adds additional F&B and services.

Parks & leisure

The community's defining feature is its lakeside boardwalk — a walking and cycling path that loops around the lakes and connects to The Meadows trail network. Emirates Golf Club, home to two championship courses, is roughly a 10-minute drive. The Els Club and Dubai Marina's beach and waterfront are both under 15 minutes away.

Nearby areas

• •The Meadows
• •The Springs
• •The Greens
• •Jumeirah Islands
• •Al Barsha

Things to consider

The Lakes has no metro access and households typically need at least one car. Villa prices and service charges sit at the higher end of the Emirates Living cluster, and the secondary market can be competitive given limited supply.