Arjan: buying an apartment by the Dubai Miracle Garden

In short: Arjan lies in Al Barsha South, between JVC and Dubai Hills Estate. The district is known for the Dubai Miracle Garden, a huge flower park. For buyers, Arjan is above all a district with many new residential projects in the mid-price segment – similar to JVC, but smaller.

Location and access

Arjan lies inland on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, between JVC, Dubai Science Park and Dubai Hills Estate. The Marina is about 20 minutes by car, Downtown around 25 minutes. Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Street are close by; there is no metro.

What makes Arjan

Arjan is part of the large Dubailand development area and belongs to Al Barsha South. It became known for two attractions: the Dubai Miracle Garden, a park with millions of flowers, figures and a flower-covered aeroplane, and the Dubai Butterfly Garden next door. Both open in the cooler months and draw many visitors.

Around the parks, numerous residential buildings have gone up in recent years, mostly mid-rise with pools and gyms. More projects are under construction.

Living in Arjan

• Atmosphere: A quiet residential district, parts of it still being built.
• Shopping: Supermarkets in the buildings and shopping centres nearby, for example in Dubai Hills.
• Healthcare: A large hospital is in the district.
• Families: Schools nearby in Al Barsha South and Dubai Hills Estate.
• Traffic: Quick access to the major roads; limited without a car.

Buying an apartment in Arjan

In Arjan you buy apartments – studios and one- to three-bedroom units in modern, mid-rise buildings. A large share of supply is off-plan projects by various developers; there is also a growing number of completed buildings.

What matters

• Developer: As in JVC, many developers build here. Experience, punctuality and build quality determine future value.
• Amenities: Pool, gym, parking and good layouts make the difference when letting.
• Position in the district: Proximity to main roads, parks and completed neighbouring buildings.
• Future supply: What else is being built nearby?

How buying in Arjan works

In Arjan there are ready properties as well as projects under construction. The process differs:

• Ready property: sale agreement in line with RERA (Form F) with a deposit of usually 10 percent, a no objection certificate (NOC) from the developer, then payment and transfer at a Registration Trustee of the Dubai Land Department. Details in our guide Buying a ready property.
• Off-plan: reservation, purchase agreement with the developer (Sale and Purchase Agreement), registration in the interim register Oqood and payments according to construction progress into an escrow account. On handover you receive the title deed. Details in our guide Buying off-plan in Dubai.

For ready properties, budget around 6.5 percent in buying costs; for off-plan mainly the 4 percent registration fee. Both can be done from abroad – with video viewings and a power of attorney.

Typical mistakes when buying in Arjan

• Looking only at the price: The cheapest apartment in a project often has the worst view or layout – and is the hardest to let.
• Not checking the developer: Ask about completed projects, visit them and talk to owners before buying off-plan.
• Ignoring the competition: Look at how many apartments nearby will be completed in the coming years.
• Calculating with wishful rents: Use realistic rents from comparable, already completed buildings – not the figures in the sales brochure.

Running costs as an owner in Arjan

After buying an apartment, these are the main ongoing costs:

• Service charges: for maintenance, security, pools and common areas, calculated by the size of your unit. The approved rates for each building are listed in the Service Charge Index of the Dubai Land Department.
• Electricity and water: via the utility DEWA; many buildings add a separate charge for district cooling.
• Housing fee: 5 percent of the annual rental value, billed through the DEWA account. It is paid by whoever lives in the home – so by your tenant if you let it.
• Ejari: every tenancy contract is registered; via the Dubai REST app this costs AED 177.75.
• Management: if you aren’t on site, a property manager handles letting and upkeep for a fee.

Unlike in many countries, there is no annual property tax in Dubai. All items are explained in our guide Buying costs in Dubai.

A visa through your property

With a property in Arjan you may also be able to get a residence visa:

• Golden Visa: ten years of residence if your properties in Dubai are worth at least AED 2 million in total – also with a mortgage or, under certain conditions, off-plan.
• Investor visa: a shorter visa for owners who don’t reach the Golden Visa threshold.

The detailed requirements are explained in our guide Golden Visa with property.

Renting out

Tenants in Arjan are mainly professionals and small families looking for modern, affordable homes between the Marina and Downtown. Long-term letting is the focus. Check how an apartment works out with our rental yield calculator.

Arjan or JVC?

Pros and cons

Who Arjan suits

Arjan suits the tactician and the portfolio investor who want to invest in modern apartments on a manageable budget. Our investor type profile explicitly names Arjan as a typical location for this strategy. Always compare with neighbouring JVC.

Our verdict

Arjan is an interesting district for investors who want a modern, affordable entry – in a good location between the Marina and Downtown. As in JVC, choosing the right project determines success. If you go for an experienced developer and well-designed apartments, you’ll find solid investment properties here.

Frequently asked questions

Updated: October 2026. This article describes the district in general terms. Prices, rents and service charges change all the time; for a specific property we check the current figures with you.