Town Square: affordable townhouses and apartments for young families

In short: Town Square is a large residential district by developer Nshama on Al Qudra Road. It offers townhouses and apartments at comparatively low prices, plus a large central park, shops and restaurants. It’s aimed at young families and first-time buyers – and at investors who want to let a house on a small budget.

Location and access

Town Square lies inland on Al Qudra Road, near Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. The Marina and Downtown are each about 30 minutes away. Nearby are Mudon, Damac Hills and The Sustainable City. There is no metro.

The concept

From the mid-2010s, Nshama planned Town Square as a “city within a city”: a large, self-contained district with apartments, townhouses, a central park, shops, restaurants, a cinema and a hotel. The aim was affordable housing for families who can’t or don’t want to afford the established villa communities.

Living in Town Square

• Park: A large central park with playgrounds, paths and events.
• Everyday life: Supermarkets, restaurants and cafés in the district.
• Families: Schools and nurseries in the surrounding area.
• Mobility: Long trips to the centre; a car is essential.

Buying property in Town Square

On offer are townhouses with three or four bedrooms and apartments from studios to three bedrooms. Many phases are complete, and new ones are being added.

What matters

• Phase and position: Proximity to the park and shops is an advantage.
• House type: End units often have more garden.
• Build quality: With affordable projects, pay particular attention to workmanship and maintenance.

How buying in Town Square works

In Town Square 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.

Running costs as an owner in Town Square

With a house, some typical costs come on top of the usual items:

• Service charges: for roads, green spaces, security and community facilities. The approved rates are listed in the Service Charge Index of the Dubai Land Department.
• Electricity and water: via DEWA; noticeably higher for large houses with pool and garden than for apartments, especially in summer.
• Garden, pool and air conditioning: regular care and servicing are a must if the house is to keep its value.
• Housing fee: 5 percent of the annual rental value via the DEWA bill – paid by the tenant if you let.
• Ejari: registration of every tenancy contract, AED 177.75 via Dubai REST.

There is no annual property tax. All buying costs are explained in our guide Buying costs in Dubai.

A visa through your property

With a property in Town Square 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.

Typical mistakes when buying in Town Square

• Underestimating commuting time: Tenants who commute to the centre daily do the maths – factor that into the rent.
• Choosing on price alone: Proximity to the park and shops noticeably affects how easily a property lets.
• Overlooking defects in new builds: Inspect thoroughly at handover.

Renting out

Tenants are young families and couples on a limited budget who want a house rather than an apartment. Long-term letting is the focus. Check the numbers with our rental yield calculator.

Compared

Pros and cons

Who Town Square suits

Town Square suits the tactician looking for a rentable house on a small budget, and the relocator with young children.

Our verdict

Town Square makes a house with a garden in Dubai affordable. If you accept the longer distances and choose a good position in the district, you’ll find a solid entry-level property 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.