Living in Dubai’s International City has its drawbacks. International City in Dubai, like any other area, has traffic, safety, sanitation, and pollution issues. These issues discourage some individuals from living in International City.
Located in the Al Warsan / Al Warqaa area of Dubai off Emirates Road, International City in Dubai is one of the cheapest housing locations. Launched in 2002 by Nakheel, International City is famous for its low-rise country-themed building clusters.
The residents of International City have access to the magnificent Dragon Mart and several prestigious educational institutions. With the city’s 800 hectares, a multicultural community awaits people dreaming of living there.
However, not all communities are perfect. International City in Dubai has its drawbacks too. Below are the following issues that the International City faces:
- Overcrowded clusters and poor construction
- Sanitation challenges
- Traffic and parking issue
- Safety
- Environment Pollution
The place is not well maintained. A place that is not well maintained contributes to the poor construction issue of the area. Aside from that, in some clusters, people share a single room.
In a studio room, around 20 individuals are sharing. Ten individuals will be staying during the day, the other ten during the night.
Other than poorly maintained areas, the city suffers from sanitation challenges too. According to the residents, the awful smell comes from the sewage treatment plant. This sewage treatment plant is near Al Aweer, the International City.
The residents are complaining of the possible hazardous effect from the stench alone. Some residents are leaving and discouraging people from living in the International City due to this unresolved issue.
Some renters’ poor hygiene and incorrect trash disposal also add to the situation.
Even though the neighborhood is well-served by buses and taxis, residents sometimes spend hours delayed in traffic due to a lack of metro access.
The traffic happens during peak periods. That means that getting into and out of Dubai International City during busy seasons may be extremely difficult.
If you’re considering migrating to International City, keep in mind the area’s traffic and parking problems. Because of the site’s restricted parking, you may not always be able to park where you desire.
The International City in Dubai faces safety issues with its residents. Some residents say that the area has a flawed security system.
An incident in 2013 challenged the city’s security. The incident made the residents question their safeness. Along with this, the overcrowded rooms make it harder to control people going in and out of the city.
Aside from the lingering stench, overcrowded rooms, and unsanitary areas, noise pollution is one of the International City’s drawbacks. The noisy atmosphere makes it harder for some residents to have a relaxing experience living in the city.
The various difficulties that the International City in Dubai is dealing with have become a danger to its reputation. Worse still, some residents are abandoning the area. Because of the city’s problems, some people don’t even suggest it to others.
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How bad is the sewage in International City Dubai?
Some residents blame the sewage treatment plant for the frequent headaches and sore throats caused by the toxic fumes. The Dubai Municipality refutes this assertion, claiming that the odor has decreased by over 90%, and these are just psychological effects of living near the plant.
One of the issues that the International City in Dubai faces is the unpleasant smell coming from the sewage treatment plant.
Located just about 400 yards away from the Emirates Cluster of International City, the Al Aweer sewage treatment plant has been a big concern for the residents in the past years.
A Nakheel spokesperson raised the residents’ concern to Dubai Municipality that owns and manages the plant. However, the Dubai Municipality refutes the claims from the residents.
According to the Dubai Municipality, the Al Aweer sewage treatment plant has resolved this issue way before. The smell reduced to 90% in the last three years. Also, the sewage treatment plant uses chemicals to treat the stench.
The sewage tankers are not the reason for the stench because the number of trucks is now below 200. The Dubai Municipality believes that the residents are just experiencing psychological effects from living near the plant.
Aside from the Al Aweer sewage treatment plant, some residents think that the Tadweer landfill has something to do with the problem. Tadweer landfill is a private waste management company located in the vicinity.
According to a Tadweer official, the landfill is unlikely the reason for the stench since the Dubai Municipality inspectors visit the landfill daily for safety measures concern.
The municipality of Dubai announced plans to upgrade the Al-Aweer sewage treatment plant (STP) as part of its strategic plan 2015-2021. Despite years of persistent complaints, some residents remain optimistic about the future.
Safety issues in International City Dubai
The safety issue ignited in International Dubai City in 2013. The residents without access cards had devised ways to enter the International City’s buildings, emphasizing the city’s “flawed” security. Residents also dissuade ladies seeking to live alone from relocating to International City.
Dubai has a high standard of safety. Although crimes are not rampant, the safety issue is always a concern for people who plans to move to Dubai. International City in Dubai is not foreign to this problem.
Back in December 2013, residents started to raise their concerns regarding the “flawed” security of the International City.
Unidentified residents have been interfering with the electromagnetic locks and inserting bottles, rocks, chairs, plastic cups, and crumpled paper between the main entry doors to keep them open.
The new security feature became a nuisance to the watchmen as well. Even at 3 am, various residents call the watchman on-duty to let them in or fiddle with the lock to keep the door ajar.
The watchman estimated that roughly 40% of the residents in a building do not have access cards for different reasons, and the most common are absentee owners. Tenants with no access cards suffer if the owners of their flats have pending dues with Nakheel.
Since Nakheel issues limited access cards per room type, every day, occupants in an overcrowded unit in the building ring their flatmates to unlock the door for them, defeating the new system’s purpose.
Since 2010, Trakhees, the regulatory agency that oversees freehold properties like International City, has fined a total of 1,310 offenders for overcrowding. The landlords were fined from Dh1,000 to Dh50,000, with a copy sent to the renters.
Aside from the access card security issue, residents discourage women from planning to live alone in the International City. The reason may be due to the questionable safety of the area and not being safe to roam around alone.
Is the International City a good place to live?
The International City in Dubai is known for its affordable rent, area accessibility, sufficient transportation, and diverse community. These advantages make International City in Dubai an excellent place to live.
You might be thinking of relocating to Dubai’s International City. Around 85% of foreigners live in Dubai’s International City. This gated community has a lot more benefits than drawbacks.
There are four residential developments in International City. All of which takes architectural inspiration from many countries.
The following are some of the benefits that make International City in Dubai an excellent area to live:
- Cheaper rents
- Diverse community
- Area accessibility
- Wide variety of restaurants and leisure activities
- Availability of pharmacies and health care centers
- Proximity of schools
Dubai’s International City is known for its low rentals. The rent is less expensive than at Dubai Silicon Oasis. International City is a low-cost gated community located outside of the bustling metropolis.
International City in Dubai embraces cultural diversity and represents their cultures and origins best.
If meeting people from other countries excites you, the International City in Dubai is a good choice.
One of the most significant advantages for residents of International City is that the area’s variety has resulted in the emergence of several regional stores.
International City may be on the outskirts of Dubai, yet it is nevertheless accessible from all parts of the city. It is also convenient for university students because of its proximity to Academic City.
Although there are no Dubai metro stations within or adjacent to International City, RTA public buses run through the area. Some RTA public buses are feeder buses that connect passengers to the nearest metro station in Dubai, Al Rashidiya.
Also, residents may take the bus to nearby metro stations such as Al Nahda Metro Station, Etisalat Metro Station, and Centrepoint Station to join the metro and travel to their preferred locations.
Residents in International City have restaurant choices to select from if they wish to taste a wide range of cuisines.
In International City, there are various authentic restaurants, like the highly acclaimed Chinese hotpot restaurant Nine Squares Restaurant and the local favorite Dyar Al Shaam.
Dragon Mart is located in the International City and caters to those who enjoy shopping. This shopping destination is the local hub of Chinese products.
It has 4,000 stores, a civic plaza, a Carrefour store with 10,000 square meters, a 3-star hotel with 2,400 rooms, a terrace, a food court, and a Novo Cinema.
One of the indisputable advantages of living in International City is the proximity to this massive retail center.
Sports lovers will be pleased to learn that the city’s equestrian center, such as the Desert Equestrian Club, is nearby. International City is also within a 10-minute drive from the famed Melia Desert Palm resort.
The quick access to facilities, especially healthcare, is one of the most tempting advantages of living in International City.
Xie He Medical Centre, Aster Clinic, Apple Clinic, Amber Clinic, Shanghai Medical Centre, and Ibn Sina Centre for Health are some healthcare facilities present in the area.
Aside from these healthcare facilities, the town has many pharmacies, including Life Pharmacy, Al Misk Pharmacy, Al Neem Pharmacy, and I Care.
Another advantage of living in International City is the proximity of schools. Schools that cater to kindergarten and high school are accessible from the International City.
A good example of schools near the International City in Dubai is The GEMS Our Own English High School in Al Warqa’a.
Indeed, Dubai’s International City is a sought-after neighborhood that attracts ex-pats from all over the world due to its numerous advantages.
Which cluster is the best in the International City?
International City in Dubai has nine clusters. Spain, Italy, and English Cluster are the best clusters to dwell in the area. These clusters are well-maintained and have closer proximity to amenities.
With 800 hectares, International City is composed of more than nine clusters. International City has the following cluster as follows:
- Morocco Cluster
- China Cluster
- Greece Cluster
- England Cluster
- Spain Cluster
- Italy Cluster
- Persia Cluster
- Emirates Cluster
- France Cluster
Spain, Italy, and English are the best among these clusters. These clusters are well-maintained than others. Aside from this, supermarkets, medical facilities, fitness centers, restaurants, schools, and leisure attractions are nearby.
The flats in these clusters are also near the bus stops in International City for individuals who rely on public transit.
Nakheel is also currently developing more districts to cater to potential upcoming residents. An example of the current development is Phase 2. If you want to reside in a brand-new spacious flat, Phase 2 is the right one for you.
This new sub-community, located directly behind Phase 1, has swimming pools, sauna rooms, and fitness centers.
On the other hand, Morocco and Emirates Cluster are the worst clusters. Both clusters are the nearest ones to the sewage treatment plant. The stench became a part of the residents’ daily life for years.
Morocco and Emirates Cluster are not well-maintained as well. Most residents discourage people from staying in these clusters.
Is the International City good for investment?
International City in Dubai is a popular location for investors looking for properties with high rental yields because of its healthy ROI and consistent demand from renters. The International City came in top out of the seven regions in Dubai, with a 7.51% return on investment.
According to the report obtained by Emirates Today, the region’s average price per square foot increased by 0.86% in the last six months to Dh447.18.
The basis of the report is on the movement of demand in the region, where the average price of a studio was Dh215,000, and the average of one-room apartments for sale in International City was Dh312,000.
In terms of the largest apartments in terms of square footage, two-bedroom flats in International City cost around Dh688,000 on average. Because of this 7.51% ROI, International City in Dubai ranked first in 2021.
Despite its flaws, International City in Dubai is a fantastic investment because of its affordability, diversity, and convenience, as well as its high return on investment.