The Lakes — Zarafa

Zarafa is one of the smaller residential clusters inside The Lakes, a master-planned community developed by Emaar as part of the broader Emirates Living district in Dubai. It consists primarily of 3- and 4-bedroom villas arranged along lake-facing plots with shared green corridors.

Location & connectivity

Zarafa sits within The Lakes, which is bounded by Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) to the east and Al Asayel Street to the west, placing it roughly a 10-min drive from Dubai Marina and 20 mins from DIFC. The nearest Metro access is Dubai Internet City or Nakheel Metro stations on the Red Line, both reachable in under 10 mins by car. Direct road access via Interchanges 5 and 6 on Sheikh Zayed Road makes commuting straightforward.

Property mix

Zarafa is exclusively a villa cluster with no apartment buildings. Units are typically 3- and 4-bedroom layouts across two storeys with private gardens.

• •Villas: Zarafa cluster (3-bed and 4-bed semi-detached and detached configurations)

Schools

No schools sit inside Zarafa itself. The following are the closest options by drive time:

• •Dubai British School Jumeirah Park (British curriculum) — ~5-min drive
• •GEMS Wellington International School (British/IB) — ~8-min drive
• •Regent International School (British) — ~7-min drive
• •Dubai National School (MoE/American) — ~10-min drive

Healthcare

No hospital is located within the community. Nearby options include:

• •Mediclinic Meadows — ~5-min drive
• •Emirates Hospital Day Surgery, Motor City — ~15-min drive
• •Saudi German Hospital, Al Barsha — ~12-min drive

Shopping & dining

The Lakes Town Centre serves as the immediate retail hub with a Spinneys supermarket, cafés, and everyday services. Ibn Battuta Mall is roughly a 10-min drive for larger retail and dining options. The Meadows Town Centre and Souk Madinat-area restaurants in JBR are both accessible within 15 mins.

Parks & leisure

Zarafa residents have direct access to The Lakes' shared walkways and lake-edge jogging paths that wind through the broader community. The Els Club at Dubai Sports City and Montgomerie Golf Club are both within a 15-min drive for golf. Jumeirah Beach and JBR Walk are approximately 15 mins away by car.

Nearby areas

• •The Meadows
• •The Springs
• •Jumeirah Islands
• •Emirates Hills
• •Jumeirah Park

Things to consider

Zarafa is a small cluster, so resale inventory is limited and turnover is low — buyers may need to wait for the right unit. The community is entirely car-dependent, and while Sheikh Zayed Road access is easy, peak-hour congestion at nearby interchanges is a regular factor.