The Valley: Emaar townhouses on the road to Al Ain
Emaar quality at a lower price, but further out: what The Valley on the road to Al Ain offers families and investors.
In short: The Valley is a residential community by Emaar on the Dubai–Al Ain Road. It offers modern townhouses and villas in several phases – at prices well below those of the more central Emaar communities. The trade-off is distance: Downtown is about 25 to 30 minutes away.
- Location and access
- The concept
- Living in The Valley
- Buying a house in The Valley
- How buying in The Valley works
- Running costs as an owner in The Valley
- A visa through your property
- Typical mistakes when buying in The Valley
- Renting out
- Compared
- Pros and cons
- Who The Valley suits
- Our verdict
- Frequently asked questions
Location and access
The Valley lies on the Dubai–Al Ain Road, south-east of the city. Downtown is about 25 to 30 minutes by car, DXB airport about the same. Towards the city lie Al Barari and Dubai Silicon Oasis. There is no metro.
The concept
Emaar launched The Valley in the early 2020s as a family community on the edge of the city. The idea: houses with the standards and upkeep of an Emaar community, but at a price young families can also afford. The community is being built in several phases, with parks, pools, sports areas and a community centre.
Living in The Valley
- Peace and quiet: On the edge of the city, with lots of space and desert views.
- Families: Parks, pools and playgrounds; schools in the wider area.
- Everyday life: Basic shopping in the community, larger shopping centres by car.
- A community in the making: More phases are being built and handed over.
Buying a house in The Valley
On offer are mainly townhouses with three or four bedrooms and some villas. Besides units directly from Emaar, there are ready second-hand houses.
What matters
- Phase: Older and newer phases differ in size, design and price.
- Position in the community: Proximity to parks and community facilities.
- Handover: For new builds, a careful handover inspection.
How buying in The Valley works
In The Valley you mostly buy villas or townhouses – ready and second-hand, or new from the developer:
- Ready house: viewing, sale agreement in line with RERA (Form F) with a deposit of usually 10 percent, a no objection certificate (NOC) from the developer and transfer at a Registration Trustee. For houses a technical inspection of air conditioning, pool, roof and pipes is worth it. Details in our guide Buying a ready property.
- New build: purchase agreement with the developer, registration in the Oqood register and payments according to construction progress into an escrow account. Details in our guide Buying off-plan in Dubai.
For ready houses, budget around 6.5 percent in buying costs. Many villas are worth more than AED 2 million and therefore qualify for the Golden Visa.
Running costs as an owner in The Valley
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 The Valley 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 The Valley
- Ignoring the distance: Commuting time to the centre determines your target tenants.
- Calculating with central rents: Use rents for comparable houses on the city edge.
- Relying only on the Emaar name: Phase, position and price still decide here too.
Renting out
Tenants are young families looking for a new house at an affordable price who accept longer commutes in return. Check the numbers with our rental yield calculator.
Compared
| Feature | The Valley | Arabian Ranches 3 | Town Square |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | Emaar | Emaar | Nshama |
| Location | Al Ain Road, city edge | Next to Arabian Ranches | Al Qudra Road |
| Segment | Mid-range | Mid-range to upscale | Affordable |
Pros and cons
In favour
- Emaar quality at a lower price
- New houses
- Quiet location on the city edge
Worth considering
- Far from the centre
- Infrastructure still developing
- No metro
Who The Valley suits
The Valley suits the relocator looking for a new family house at a sensible price, and the portfolio investor with a long-term view.
Our verdict
The Valley offers new Emaar houses at a price no longer available in the centre. If you accept the distance and bet on the development of the city’s edge, you’ll find a solid family house here.
Interested in The Valley?
We compare phases and house types and run realistic numbers with you.
Frequently asked questions
Who is building The Valley?
The Valley is being developed by Emaar.
Is The Valley freehold?
Yes. As a foreigner you acquire full ownership here, registered with the Dubai Land Department.
Is The Valley worth it as an investment?
That depends on the purchase price and the phase. New Emaar houses at moderate prices appeal to young families; the distance to the centre does, however, cap the rent. We’ll run the numbers with you on a specific property.
Nearby districts
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.
Questions about your purchase?
Our team in Dubai answers them personally – in English, German, Swedish, Spanish or Norwegian, free of charge and without obligation.
